New Steering Wheel on GQ - horn switch

Submitted: Friday, Oct 20, 2006 at 08:07

ThreadID: 38651 Views:2695 Replies:3 FollowUps:1

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Member - Norm C (QLD)

My son has just put a new (smaller) steering wheel on his GQ shortie. He is 6 ft 4 and had trouble getting his legs under the big original wheel.

We now have a problem with the horn. The positive wire on the old wheel was connected via a 'pressure switch', so there was no actual wire running right through the steering column to the horn button.

On the new wheel, there is no provision for this, so the positive wire needs to come all the way through to the horn button. Problem is, as you turn the wheel, the wire twists around and eventually pulls free or breaks. Simply leaving enough slack in the wire doesn't seem to be a viable option.

We had thought of mounting a switch somewhere else (ie not in centre of steering wheel), but I'm not sure if that would make the vehicle unroadworthy.

Anyone come across this and solved the problem before?

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Reply By: HGMonaro - Friday, Oct 20, 2006 at 09:08

Friday, Oct 20, 2006 at 09:08

I have the same problem with an after-market wheel on my Monaro. I've tried several loops of wire around the steering shaft (it tightens up going one way then unwinds going the other) but it eventualy gets tangled and/or breaks. If the bare wire contacts metal, it 'shorts' out and activates the horn! Very embarassing at the wrong momment! One day I'll put a seperate button on the dash, the Monaro being old enough to probably get away with it if checked by the law. I've always wondered (but never investigated) how others who've fitted aftermarket wheels have gotten around this. Some cars (old Capri's, maybe Escorts) had the horn on the end of the indicator stalk (push it in towards the sterring column) so at one time, it didn't have to be on the wheel itself, no idea of current rules though!

AnswerID: 199974

Reply By: Kumunara (NT) - Friday, Oct 20, 2006 at 09:33

Friday, Oct 20, 2006 at 09:33

Did you check that the new steering wheel complies with ADRs. Quite often the smaller steering wheels do not. The unfortunate problem is that the auto accessory shops do not commit an offence when selling you a steering wheel that does not comply. Buyer beware.

Also the horn being wired to a switch elsewhere (I presume you mean on the dash) is illegal. It must be wired to the steering wheel.

Some vehicles came out with the horn button on a stalk on the steering wheel ie indicator stalk. This is legal.

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AnswerID: 199981

Follow Up By: Blaze - Sunday, Oct 22, 2006 at 01:12

Sunday, Oct 22, 2006 at 01:12

I know you should know about where the switch should be positioned Kumunara, but I asked Road Traffic in Adelaide earlier this year for Lukes (son inlaw) car and was told as long as the Switch was pressure type, (so it wouldn't stay on if bumped) and was in easy reach of the driver.. eg Truck air-horns with cable, it was fine. I guess like the old FJ Holden which was a button on the dash. Of course I'm not saying the information I was given is correct because the Australian road rules are thicker (sic) than all the australian phone books put together. :-)

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