[Poita]

Hi all,

1992 SWB Vitara...

I have had this issue since I got the car, but got sick of not being able to honk at stupid drivers!

The horn only works when the car is OFF.
The moment I turn the key, it stops working. I measured the cable which connects to the wiper on that back of the steering wheel and its it's 12V, so is the horn plate. So all good there.
The issue seems to be that when the ignition is ON the steering wheel plate which the horn contacts when pressed is no longer GND. Using a couple croc clips I fixed this to the chassis GND and bingo the horn works, remove it and it stops working. BUT I can't see anyway to permanently GND it. The only way I can see that is can be grounded is through the centre shaft of the steering column as the only wire going to the wheel is the 12V supply.

Any ideas what could be going on?

Cheers
Pete

[got_bar_work]

Doesn't Suzuki switch neg not pos
That would mean the pos should be coming back from the neg side of the horn

[royce]

does your steering column show as ground? if not check the plastic spacer thing on the engine bay side of the column still has its earthing wire there

[Poita]

royce wrote:

does your steering column show as ground? if not check the plastic spacer thing on the engine bay side of the column still has its earthing wire there

It shows as GND yes, but whether I am just measuring the potential or actual GND connected to the battery is a different matter. I will look for that cable, I tried finding something like that but it was getting dark.

Thanks!

[fordem]

There should be a ground wire across the rag joint - make sure it's not broken.

[royce]

so the steel plate in the wheel isnt showing ground but when you ground it the horn works and the column is ground?

does the column not show ground when the ignition is on?

both those should have continuity to each other, I would say you are seeing earth through something in the column switches with key off as your proper earth is gone

[Poita]

Just checked it... You Sir Royce are a champion, the wire was snapped at the crimp (one down for the crimp vs soldering debate )
Will have to fix it tonight.

[Poita]

Made a new cable today. Was a pig getting the bolts undone! But the horn is working now. The old cable ended up being broken on both ends, and was just hanging on by a tiny bit of insulation!

Thanks for the help!
Pete