92 Legacy Clock Spring? horn doesn't work

[brendanr279]

Hey guys. I've been having troubles with diagnosing why my horn doesn't work. So far I've hooked it straight to the battery and the horn works. I've replaced the relay under the driver side dash. I've checked the contacts right where you depress the horn on the steering wheel and they make contact. I don't know what's going on.

 

I've heard before that it may be the "clock spring". I was wondering how I might diagnose this. Is it complicated? Are there any other symptoms of a faulty clock spring that might reinforce the suspicion?

 

I just remembered. I had brought it to a dealership for a quote on a repair and mentioned the horn as well. They told me it was the relay, but I've just replaced it and its not helping. There were two relays of the same make underneath the dash. I replaced the one with a green plug, which I'm pretty sure is the horn. Didn't work, so I switched it to the other with a white plug, didn't work. I tried all the combinations I could. Unless both have to do with the horn (which i doubt is the case) and both the two relays are faulty then the relay should not be the problem.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

ps I don't have cruise control

[davebugs]

Usually that is the clock spring.

 

I don't know how to have you test it further. Other than pushing the horn and seeing if anything changes with the wires going into the relay.

[cohophysh]

I have had 2 90 legacies where the horn wouldn't work, for me it was just the relay. Are you positive you have the right relay cause I know the relay I replaced was behind the fuse box under the dash on the driver's side...and what is a clock spring?

[davebugs]

Clock spring is the ribbon cable where steering wheel meets steering column.

 

It's all coiled up in there. Has a ribbon for horn, airbag is appropriate, radio controls on newer cars, etc. Sometimes cruise depending on the car.

 

Anything on the rotation steering wheel that is electrinic has to have a wire in this ribbon cable.

[Fairtax4me]

Clock spring can be checked with a powered test light, or just a continuity/resistance check with a VOM. Connect one lead to the horn contact in the wheel, find the wire for the horn that runs up the column. Should be a connector for it somewhere under there. Connect the other lead to that wire and see if there is continuity between the two. High resistance or no continuity indicates a break (open circuit) in the ribbon cable.

 

Also check the reading while you spin the steering wheel, if there is a break in the ribbon cable it may connect for a second while he wheel is in motion and give an erratic continuity reading. A meter with an audible beep to indicate continuity can be useful for this.