Horn goes off when I turn the steering wheel!

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joshV
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Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2004 12:57 pm

Horn goes off when I turn the steering wheel!

Post by joshV »

This has gotta be the most annoying/embarassing problem ever. Going around roundabouts etc with the horn going full chat!
Anywho I have now located the fuse for it so can at least drive the car for now. Does anyone know where the dodgy connection could be. I didn't want to remove the airbag yet to cause any problems with that. The bad connection is definitely between where the plug enters the base of the wheel and the horn buttons. Any pointers?
Oh also it says in the Haynes manual that if I remove the screws holding the airbag that they need to be replaced. Is this always the case? I don't quite see how they would need replacing if they just normal allen screws.
Pedro_Hilario
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Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:12 pm
Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Post by Pedro_Hilario »

Hey, I've been there before! If you hear it closely there is also a scrapping sound when turning the steering

My problem was caused by the little piece of metal that connects the horn to the steering wheel. If you look at the steering wheel connects to the dash (steering wheel column) you will see a little piece of metal connecting. If that is offcenter, it will make a connection when you turn and thus make the horn go off.

It's located between item 3 & 4

Image

If you can get a small screw driver there and adjust it, the better.

Otherwise you will have to take the wheel off taking all the necessary precautions of the airbag! Unplug it, the battery, remove the 2 bolts without getting your face in front of the airbag, etc etc!
No replacing necessary. I've taken them off 5/6 times already.


Pedro
The_phat_controlleruk
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Post by The_phat_controlleruk »

Woohoo, thought I was going mad. Had a new column and rack fitted and mine started doing this, will look into this on sunday, cheers.
JoeG07
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Post by JoeG07 »

lol you gotta see the funny side tho
joshV
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Post by joshV »

Brilliant thanks pedro. It was as you described next to the brush contact for the horn, there was a screw which had vibrated its way almost all the way out causing it to contact very easily to chasis and BEEP!
Problem now is the airbag light doesn't go out anymore! I think it was because I drove the car with the airbag unit out of the car as needed to pick someone up suddenly - d'oh!
Does this have to go to VW to reset a chip setting or something?
Pedro_Hilario
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Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:12 pm
Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Post by Pedro_Hilario »

joshV wrote:Problem now is the airbag light doesn't go out anymore! I think it was because I drove the car with the airbag unit out of the car as needed to pick someone up suddenly - d'oh!
Smart....

I think that if you keep the battery disconnected for about half and hour the ECU resets, etc etc. Maybe it will reset the airbag light. Otherwise you can use the vagcom cable.

I'm guessing VW dealer wont be cheap.

PHG
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