Horn Issue - MOT on Friday

Hi all,

So since I bought my Mk1 Cabby just over a month ago the horn has never worked. I did notice some one had cut one of the wires at the back of the steering column. When I touch the broken wire together (think the wire is Brown-Blue, or the other way) the horn relay clicks. I tested the horn using a test lead I made and found the horn didn't work so I bought a new one.

Now when I touch the broken wire the horn sounds all the time.

I pulled out the multi-meter to do some checks. I removed the horn button from the steering wheel and tested this in both states (pressed and not pressed) this checked out ok.
If I remove the connector from the back of the column and put my multi-meter across the brown and black wire (that connect onto the switch) I have continuity. Am I right in saying that it should be open circuit. I have removed the steering wheel and found the metal ring on the back was damage so replaced it with another from a donor steering wheel. Upon refitting the fault is still the same.

How should the metal tab sit that is on the end of the column? Should this touch the metal ring on the back of the steering wheel?

Thanks

the tab should touch the bronze ring behind the steering wheel, the horn wire to the horn, it might be earthing somewhere

I think I have found the issue but not sure how to cure it…
I found that if I remove the steering wheel and remove the 3 screws that hold the steering switch on (the stalks etc) and then refit the steering wheel the horn works correctly.
When I refit the screws the fault returns. Could it be that the bronze ring on the back of the steering wheel is touching the screws causing it to earth out all the time?
The screws "look" like the correct ones so not sure how I can cure this  

is the tab still there on the stalk bit?, is it pulled out enough?

it could be the ignition housing needs to be pushed back a little to stop the screws touching.

I found that the brass ring on my steering wheel was worn in the 'dead ahead' position and wouldn't work. If I positioned the wheel a couple of splines off centre it worked - and still does- perfectly. Perhaps the brass ring on yours is protruding aright lay more than it should?? 

is this a genuine vw wheel or aftermarket? and/or has it been converted from late big spline to early?

big spline was from around 1988 onwards. often when people convert from late to early they forget to fit the plastic spacer which stops the wheel from shorting out on the screw heads…

Thanks for the info everyone.

rubjonny in answer to your questions the steering wheel is a genuine vw one. My car is a 1990 cabby but has the small spline steering wheel. I have tried to move the steering lock housing further back but no luck.

I think the previous owner has had the steering wheel off etc as there was 2 big spline steering wheels in the boot (I've only had the car just over a month and not sure what the previous owner had stripped down etc).

Does anyone have a parts diagram showing the steering column / wheel assembly to sure which washers etc go where / if I'm missing any.

Thanks again

yeah you should have a big spline on your car, do you have the fat black spacer 171419549? if not get one of those and you should be sorted

its 2.42+VAT from VW

rubjonny where does the fat black spacer sit?

Will get a steering wheel adaptor to convert back to large spline and get the spacer too.

Thanks  

it slips on the column before you fit the wheel, you dont need it if you fit the spline adaptor for that you need the spring to match it

Thanks again rubjonny will get this ordered and hopefully all will be fine then!

Just to clarify does the fat black spacer sit the steering wheel side of the spring or the other side?

If the other side does it work by putting pressure on the spring thus forcing the steering wheel further away from the column switches / stalks?

there is no spring with the spacer, you just fit spacer then the wheel. if you fit the large spline adaptor then you need the adaptor and the matching spring, the spacer is then binned!