More truck maintenance this past weekend. For a while, my horn hasn't worked. Well, I did figure out that it worked when you turned the wheel to the left. This isn't so much a problem if someone is on their phone at a green light, but turning into oncoming traffic while driving is not recommended.
It's funny because I don't typically use my horn. However, after I noticed that it stopped working, it seemed like I needed it all the time. (ATL drivers suck at staying in their lanes) Though my county doesn't require vehicle inspections, I know that a working horn is required to pass an inspection. So while the horn isn't critical to the function of the vehicle, I figured it was worth replacing. Plus, the air bag sensor, radio controls and cruise control all run through the same spiral cable. So if the horn wasn't working, there's a good chance the rest of it would stop working as well.
The old one, right before it came out:
Everything removed:
Almost done:
All back together:
This seems to be a pretty well documented process. I watched several videos before starting and they were all pretty much the same....full of BS and 4x the required length of time.
Process is pretty straight forward:
Remove side pieces of steering wheel and use a T-30 bit to loosen the two screws holding the airbag in.
Disconnect horn wire, 2 connectors at the clock spring and 2 connectors at the airbag
Paint pen or punch to mark the steering wheels orientation (recommended to have the wheels straight to begin with).
Remove the 19mm nut.
Pull on steering wheel or use a puller (harmonic balancer puller worked well).
Remove plastic trim under steering wheel.
Disconnect 3 clips and pull out on the old clock spring while releasing the plastic tabs that hold it in. (I found that a pick worked well to get the top one. It was a PITA and the pick kept me from fighting it)
Move steering wheel position sensor from old to new.
Installation is the revers of removal.