Horn buttons on steering wheel

[sg5054]

Is it my imagination or something else( the onset of CRS maybe) but the horn buttons on my 98. 5 are hard to use. I mean they require an above average amount of effort to use and are hard to find quickly. You got to find the exact spot. The airbag has never been acivated. any thoughts?

 

[rrausch]

I have the same problems with my '95. I have two horn buttons, inset into the middle area of the wheel, and they are hard to hit in emergency situations. Several times I have needed them QUICKLY and have missed them. Not a good feeling. I think if they protruded a little, instead of being inset they would work a lot better. I'm thinking about glueing something to them to protrude a little.

 

[Wiredawg]

Try Graphite

I have a '96 gasser Ram that had the same problem. I used graphite in a tube to lube. Worked great.



Wiredawg

 

[LSMITH]

You guys are not crazy, they are almost impossible to hit when you need the horn. The buttons on mine are plenty easy to push, but are tiny. I have tried to push them with the heel of my hand and it doesn't work, a single finger is about all I can use to get the horn.

 

[cbconway]

Same problem

Ditto, here. The manual says don't mess with the airbag in the steeing wheel & so I've left the horn button alone, but I need it sometimes. Anybody have any ideas??

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

screw the horn!!! get a bigger bumper and just throlle up:-laf

 

[Thomas]

I haven't hit the buttons in the wheel (OEM horns) for several years. The small button below the shift knob (Grover air horns) is easy to locate and easy to push.

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

where'd you mount the horns? approx price of the project? I've been thinking of adding some my self.



I'd wire the dash buttons and the shifter buttons in paralell so both worked. . just in case.



Thx,

Mark

 

[Thomas]

Mark,



The horns were purchased as kit #1180 (chrome horns) from Rickson. Kit #1605 is identical except horns are painted and cost is about $15 less. A call to Rickson will get you current literature along with current prices—he can supply you with any Grover horn. I spent about $250 total, including materials that I purchased in addition to the Grover kit: a relay, push-button, and some wire.



The horns are mounted to the rear of the front frame cross member, angled so that moisture will drain from the bells. The air tank is mounted inside the left end of the front bumper. The compressor is mounted forward of the driver-side battery and cruise control servo—a tight fit. Model year 2001. 5 has no servo (more room). I used material that I had on hand to fabricate mounts for the horns, tank, and compressor.



The trigger coil of the relay I purchased is attached to a key-on source of +12 volts and the switched side is attached to the compressor. Any air leaks—there are none—won't discharge the batteries of my parked truck. The OEM horns and the Grovers are two separate systems. The OEM horns still function as they did from the factory.

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

Just another thing to add to the 'things i'l just have to do list'!! I'd just love to startle a few imports into improving their driving habits

 

[The patriot]

My horn is impossible to use too. Went to the dealer, he said theyre all like that. I told him he has his work cut out for himself.

Suffice to say, nothing got done about it.



As a side note, I have some (4) brand new Grover air horns for sale. Actually theyre my brothers. Theyre 25" long, and the bell on the horn is 6" dia.

They were in a storage shed for about a year, so theyre a little dusty. I chrome polished one of them ,and they look brand new. Never been on a truck.

I dont know what these things go for, so I'll sell them for $75. 00 each shipped conus.

You could PM or e mail me. I'm putting them in the classified today.

Ad # 2279.

Eric

 

[TWeir]

I also have the same problem and though that it was my imagination. It is not a good feeling when you are beating on the wheel trying to find that horn button and nothing happens.

 

[GAmes]

Electric buttons???????Way too complicated for me. I'd like to attach pictures of my air horns, but can't figure it out so will add another post.

 

[GAmes]

Out side view, don't want anything to block the volume.

 

[jsimpson]

I used Hadley Ambassadors (Bullys were too weak; took them off and put them in the Vette). REALLY TIGHT FIT!!! Thomas, where'd you get the switch and what's the part number? I really LIKE that switch~~~

 

[MOWPAR]

The '99 gasser that I had was very hard to find the horn button on but no problem with the '01.

They must have fixed something.



Jim

 

[Thomas]

jsimpson—most of what you see in the low resolution photo is a home made bracket. The bracket began life as a 5/8 X 1 X 1 3/4 piece of aluminum. The switch is a small SPST push button switch from Radio Shack. I figure that if the switch is good for 50,000 cycles I may never have to replace it

 

[jsimpson]

too bad Thomas, that homemade bracket is MIGHTY nice. I bet you could sell those quite easily. They could be used for all sorts of purposes!:--)

 

[azcummins]

Why not get a foot switch like in fire engines? They are big enough to hit with your shoe easily and I think they are made of rubber instead of metal. Anybody know where I could get one?

 

[jsimpson]

I use a foot switch to manually control my gear vendors overdrive controller. I got it from Gear Vendors. It's an old fashioned headlight dimmer switch!