Classic/Antique Car Repair/1940 pontiac horn

Advertisement

Expert: - 5/5/2011


Question
2527 coupe, horn button is ok (banjo wheel) but horn blows all the time. There is a insulator under the button between the steering shaft and the column that keeps it from blowing until the button is pushed. How can i get this contact and the insulator out the top (or not) without pulling the shaft out the bottom? appears to be shorting as i move the steering shaft left and right. thanks

Answer
That wire runs down through the hollow center of the steering shaft and exits at the bottom of the steering gear box. Locate the lower end of the wire and disconnect it from the wiring harness. Now tie a long string to the bottom end of the wire ad then slowly pull the wire out from the top. You will probably find that the insulation on the wire has been worn away and that it has been grounding to the shaft causing the horn to blow. Working carefully solder a new wire to the insulator contact at the top. Tie the string to the bottom end of the new wire and pull it down into the shaft. If you don't use the string trick then you will have to pull the shaft.  

Classic/Antique Car Repair

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.