Car back from body shop - horn buttons don't work

[MuRCieLaGo]

Originally Posted by Vette Guy

That side doesn't look broken. It should ever so lightly twist into the connector receptacle down in the center of the steering column. It's been years since I fixed mine, so I'm providing my best recollection. I'm searching for a photo for where it should be connected....

Only found one for a C5, but the idea is the same.

I know the cable goes into the hole but something has to be preventing it from coming out... I really don't know.

[ZWILD1]

You really need to pickup a copy of the GM FSM and the 8A electrical section booklet that contains all the cars electrical schematics. I had a situation with my 77 Trans Am tilt wheel. The guts are pretty much the same. The horn plugged in the same way. I took a picture of a couple pages out of the FSM. I need to get section 8-A myself.

[ZWILD1]

Sorry about the two pics. I rotated them and they flipped back when I posted them. In figure 5 part 7 is the part that the horn spring goes into. This maintains contact as you turn the steering wheel through it's full motion. Section 8-A really gets into the possible wiring issues. The owner of my car had one but was moving and couldn't find it. He gave me a complete Service Manual set on CD but I can't get it to come up on my pc. Hope the views of the column help out. The basic function was the same on my 77 T/A. They haven't really changed that much from then to our 90-95 cars.

[Vette Guy]

The connector has a ‘tab’ on the side, which should insert into the ‘key way’, once it bottoms out in the receptacle, gently twist it clockwise so the nub or tab goes into a retaining slot - similar to an automotive bulb.


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[MuRCieLaGo]

Originally Posted by Vette Guy

The connector has a ‘tab’ on the side, which should insert into the ‘key way’, once it bottoms out in the receptacle, gently twist it clockwise so the nub or tab goes into a retaining slot - similar to an automotive bulb.


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Alright that's the information I was looking for!

I found the problem. The clip is broken. The broken piece was still laying there when I removed the steering wheel. I'm confident it could be glued, if only I knew how to remove it... Do you guys think it's safe to remove that retaining clip? The big sticker kind of scares me.

[Vette Guy]

Can you use a set of tweezers and carefully gel superglue it in place?


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[MuRCieLaGo]

Originally Posted by Vette Guy

Can you use a set of tweezers and carefully gel superglue it in place?


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Haha, I thought about it! It's very tempting, but pretty risky too. There's not much room. I'm lucky enough to have the broken piece in hand...

EDIT: Alright, I manage to glue it in place. I'm going to put a second coat of glue tomorrow morning. Hopefully it'll be good!

[Vette Guy]

Keep us posted!


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[MuRCieLaGo]

Originally Posted by Vette Guy

Keep us posted!


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Thanks for asking,

I used Permatex Plastic Welder. It worked for 1 day, then it failed again. I glued it again and I also glued the black plastic part to the (broken) retainer. Hopefully it'll work this time.

[GOLDCYLON]

So the plastic cam nub is broken off. It needs to make constant contact so push in an very small wedge a slither of wood or paper in the hole to retain it into position. It’s the ghetto method but it works, GC