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Steering column grounding
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36148		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  daddanjer [ Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Steering column grounding
Hello, I am trying to get the horns to work on a 66 Dart. I have tracked down problem to the steering column grounding. I'm sorry if this is a "stupid Question" but where do you ground column. I tried to connect a jumper to find a good location but no success. I know it has to do with the grounding because when I connect a good ground to metal ring inside of wheel and depress horn ring they sound. Am I to ground something inside of column? When I test the main steering shaft for ground there is none. Sorry... Please advise. Thanks
Author:  daddanjer [ Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:29 am ]
Post subject: 
Hello all, I tried to ground column to every location I could think of including -term. Nothing worked except when I put jumper wire directly to steering shaft. Does anyone know if the ground for horn is built into column. I have read that some systems used a collar or brushes inside housing to ground rotating shaft. 1966 Dart. Please advise. Thank you.
Author:  66aCUDA [ Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:58 am ]
Post subject: 
You have slip rings in the column You must disassemble the column and see if one spun or the wire got broken off. I have NOT done this on a Mopar so take this with a grain of salt (use your 66 service manual). Pull the steering wheel and the rings should be exposed under it clean lube and check them repairing as necessary. Put the steering wheel and horn ring back on.
Frank
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:46 am ]
Post subject: 
Sounds like your horn switch — the round black bakelite item behind the horn ring, with the metal backing plate — is either dead or disconnected, or the copper contact ring on the back of the steering wheel (or its mating spring-loaded roller wheel sticking up from the turn signal switch) is dirty or corroded or broken. The horn switch completes the ground leg of the horn relay's circuit.
Author:  daddanjer [ Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hi guys, Thanks for info. I will give both a try. Thanks again
Author:  daddanjer [ Thu Jul 09, 2009 6:30 am ]
Post subject: 
Hi everyone, I tested the horn ring and cleaned the copper ring + spring post behind wheel. The Bakelite had continuity and contacts behind wheel looked great. My next step is to pull column. Does any have or know of a link that will show how to remove the column with a exploded view so I can see where ground may go. I have never removed a column and I want all to be safe when I do this. I have the service manual for the car but it does not show how to do this. Go figure :? Thanks for all of your tips and help, ED
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:05 am ]
Post subject: 
IF your problem is actually an ungrounded column, which I kind of doubt, you needn't go to the hassle of pulling the column. Go under the hood. Drill a small hole in the exposed portion of the steering column jacket. Use a short self-tapping screw to secure a 16ga wire with a ring terminal on the end to this hole. Attach the other end of that wire to a good underhood ground. Now your column's grounded.

But first, I'd check for continuity along the black turn signal switch wire. It carries the horn switch ground. Put one end of your continuity tester on the little roller wheel and the other end of your tester on a known ground. If no continuity, check the black wire itself, check its connection under the dash, and repair or replace as needed.
Author:  daddanjer [ Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hi everyone, well I have tested every wire and connection for horn. From wire on inner horn ring to roller on signal switch to wire coming out of column to bulkhead. Then from bulkhead to horn relay. All have continuity and all carry a current when horn button is pushed but horns will not sound. Now when I put a jumper from ground under hood to steering shaft under hood and depress button horn sounds. As soon as I lift off ground jumper horns stop. Horns will not sound if I hook ground to anything other than rotating part of steering. The very strange thing I came across as I was testing is that when horn button is pushed steering shaft has ground. Any further thought will be greatly appreciated. I thank you all for your suggestions so far.. ED
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
Wow, that's a really strange one. It, ah, shouldn't be that way. You're sure you tried connecting the ground to a scraped (unpainted) portion of the steering column jacket?
Author:  daddanjer [ Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hi Dan , yeah I tried many different spots. It really is puzzling. It does'nt happen to often but I had to walk away from this one for a minute. I really want to find a exploded view of column before I take it apart just to see if there is some type of ground inside. Then again when I put my cont tester onto metal ring that holds down signal switch and touched steering shaft there was no cont beep. But as soon as I pushed bakelite ring I had cont to shaft. This is a tough one.
Author:  dakight [ Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:03 am ]
Post subject: 
Did you check the connection at the column harnes plug? Sometimes a wire can get pulled out or partially out of the connector and fail to make contact. There is nothing magic about the column. It's just a rotating shaft supported on each end by bearings ir a bushing. The entire horn circuit goes through the copper ring on the steering wheel and the roller on the turn signal switch. The shaft itself is not specifically grounded.
Author:  66aCUDA [ Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:09 am ]
Post subject: 
DO NOT take your column apart the problem doesnt lie there. I have seen Many Many times that a wire will read ok and not work. Start as DaKight says and clean up each and every connection then replace the wires, then the horn switch. Do it in this order and check after each step.
Frank
Author:  daddanjer [ Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:30 am ]
Post subject: 
Hi guys, Thank you for tips and info. I will follow each of them this weekend. I will keep everyone updated. Thanks again for your help. It is very much appreciated. ED
Author:  daddanjer [ Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hello everyone , first thing is I wish to thank all of you for your tips and suggestions on resolving the issue with the horns on our Dart. By following your ideas I tracked down the problem. It is the steering coupler. I verified this by eliminating all wiring issues then checked under hood for ground up the length of steering shaft. I started at gear box and worked my way up. once There was ground from gear box to coupler but no ground after coupler. I then put a wire into roll pin hole on coupler and attached it to steering shaft. Horns work like new!! I still need some info on changing coupler. if anyone has maybe a link to a site that shows how to remove and replace I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks again for everyones time and ideas. Ed
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
Details are in the factory service manual. You can get a complete coupler (or a coupler rebuild kit) with a new-design no-hassle cover cap from Steer & Gear.
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