busy13b

iTrader: (5)

The car is an '85.

The car is a new purchase for me and I've had no horn or self cancelling turn signals since day 1. Read through several good threads on the collapsed steering column issue and got to looking at mine.

It appears that I have too much gap between the steering wheel and the switch assembly so the horn is not making contact, nor are the "nubs" used to cancel the turn signals seated at all.

Without trying too hard, the steering column does not slide back/forth, but I also did not want to apply much pressure.

Is this a situation where instead of the steering column being collapsed down, it's been over-extended? In other words, the nylon pins have been sheared and still need to be dealt with? Perhaps the steering wheel just needs to be tightened down further?

StevenTT

Good day, if i may brainstorm this issue:

1. The Steering wheel is held with a 21mm socket. There should be no play whatsoever when pulling and pushing the steering. Don't be afraid to shake it too and fro aggressively. If its loose or shaky its better that it happens now than while diving. The 2 plastic tabs must go into the steering wheel or else it either will not tighten or it will go on with a strain on those 2 tabs.
2. The combination switch itself has an adjustment on the column. Its a 8mm or 10mm locking ring with a phillips screwdriver grove on the top of the lock ring bolt. This may allow for the switch to get closer to the horn ring on the steering wheel.
3. The spring and or the horn trigger mechanism within the combination switch could be shot, thus it no longer extends far enough to contact the steering wheel ring.
4. The self cancelling turn signal is dependent on a ball and spring locked into position. Sometime the piece of plastic holding the spring breaks, therefore no self cancelling.

Oddly enough i had a similar issue with a Mazda B2000/B2200 pickup. No horn contact, no cancellation. I compared the combination switch to my GSL SE and they were the same rear jacks. The only difference is that one of my stalks had cruise control.
That being said, you should:
Remove the steering center, test using a multimeter to see if you are getting continuity between the metal contact and the metal pin.
If not, remove the steering wheel, un-tighten and slide off the combination switch and inspect it. You would be able to examine the cancellation issue as well and check on the pin and spring horn contact.

busy13b

iTrader: (5)

Welcome to the forum StevenTT - and thanks for your excellent first post!


This is great to know, and quite possibly, will be the cure for me. My steering wheel has no back and forth play, so this seems the most logical issue.

I'll update this thread as I try your troubleshooting steps.

busy13b

iTrader: (5)

To update this thread:

It turns out my combination switch was in fact sitting too far back on the steering column. By taking off the steering column covers, I was able to loose the mentioned locking bolt, and slide the combination switch closer to the steering wheel.

In doing so, you must be careful as there are two plastic nubs for the turn signal cancelling mechanism that must go into corresponding holes in the back of the steering wheel.

Doing so restored horn and turn signal cancellation functionality!