So up until yesterday, I thought that my '86 4runner's horn was just completely broken. I had no idea if it was the horn itself or the wiring. Then, I was pulling out of a parking space and had my wheel cranked hard to the left. I hit my horn and it worked! It only works when the wheel is cranked left though. Anyone know how I could get it to work all the time? Thanks!

 

most likely the right that sits behind the steering wheel. they wear out and then the horn only works when the wheel is in a certain spot. its the ring that has a bolt with a spring on the threads touching it. I'll see if i can get ya a pic

 

Thanks! A picture would be great. Also, how would i go about accessing that bolt behind the steering wheel cover?

 

hehe tried looking for a picture online, and it may be too late to take one now.

theres like 6 screws holding the column cover on, pop it off and you'll see what im talking about. its like a gold color ring that sits right behind the wheel on the combination switch. i can already see the one on my 85 is getting so worn out its almost see through, and its starting to get little pinholes in it

 

actually, correction. im glad i caught myself. the "horn ring" is actually on the steering wheel itself, and the little "bolt" with the spring on it is sticking out of the combination switch.

 

I have an 85 std cab truck and my horn was doing the same thing and i just pulled the steering column cover off and i could see the ring and i just bent it in a little bit and now the horn works most of the time unless its cut really sharp. Its a temporary fix i reckon. Hope this helps some!

 

just took these pics, just for you!!

the first picture i labled, couldnt get a a good angle so you cant see the actualy "ring" itself, but atleast you know where it is now. second picture i took, i pulled the contact back so you could see how it works.

the wires on the horn button are connected to the "ring" then the contact is fixed, and has a spring on it, so its always touching the "ring". then when the wheel goes around the contact rides on the ring, always keeping in contact, so you can turn the wheel 360 degress and always be able to honk the horn.

wouldnt be so easy if there was wires in the wheel. they'd get ripped right out.

so did you check all your fuses? and even the horn itself? i beleive if the horn isnt working and its a fuse problem, the hazards wouldnt work, nor the interior dome light. to check the horn just take it off and hook it up to a battery charger, or a car battery you have around and it should sound off.

 

I had to do the same repair on mine and have it lsited in my build thread. If you go to my build thread on post #31 and #32, it shows what I did to get it working. Will need to rent a steering wheel puller from a parts house. My first post will tell of other fixes you can do.

 

The horn is grounded through the steering column.
If you have too much grease/dust on the bearing, it won't ground.
Take the steering wheel off and give the bearing a good cleaning with WD-40.
Check the contact piston and ring, make sure it's got a contact connection.

 

On my 87 the horn was not working and I tried to fix it but to no avail, so I took and unplugged the horn and ran wires to a spring loaded momentary switch back to horn to a small long removable panel on the right side of steering wheel under the cluster and drilled a hole and hooked up the horn to use the spring loaded momentary button, took a while to get used to not pushing center of steering wheel for the horn...But it worked...;}

 

I just installed an aftermarket horn this weekend in my '87 4Runner. Another option that may be contributing is the horn contacts may be dirty / varnished / whatever reason to not make a clean contact.

There is one single screw on the back side of the steering wheel cover directly in the center. You have to turn the wheel a bit to see/access it. Remove that screw and pull the steering wheel cover off (gently because there is a spade electrical connection that you will disconnect. The horn 'button' is contained within this cover.

Flip it over and remove the 4 screws that attaches the plate to the back side of the cover. Clean the contacts gently with scotch brite or contact cleaner.

Its an easy check and its free.

 

Thanks for all the help guys, especially 85gijunk4x4. I'll get a chance to look at it tomorrow, and ill tell you how it all goes.

 

Hey guys, it turns out that the brass contact ring was worn pretty thin. I ended up just bending it up a little so that it contacted the screw again. My horn now works perfectly. Thanks again for all the help!