The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay turn signal unit grounding

THE UNIT THAT IS STRAPPED TO THE STEERING COLUMN IS IT BEING GROUNDED by the fact it is strapped to that column or is it grounded elsewhere? I HAVE one more question THE HORN works once in a while and the horn button sparks when pushed.IT only sparks when the horn does not sound . SHOULD I TAKE THE HORN OFF THE INSIDE FENDER ,GRIND IT and the fender and get new bolts for good ground,or run a wire to ground. SORRY FOR THE TWOFER. THANKS FOR ANY HELP

a ground on the signal unit would depend on the unit, but there's no reason it would be needed, the unit just transmits power to the lights, which have their own ground

the horn button supplies a ground to activate the horn, the sparking would indicate to me you need to check the condition of the button parts and wiring ..... also, the year is relevant, and whether it has a horn relay, they're wired different .....and no need to yell

Bill

The truck is a 1951 half ton would it have a relay. THANK YOU

If your signal switch has a pilot light that flashes in the housing, the housing will have to be grounded to the column.

The spark from the horn button means you have a bad connection at the button. Disconnect the battery, pull the horn button off the wheel and the nut that holds the wheel. Clean the rust out of the spring plate. That is what comes off after the nut. Check that the little button has a spring and a conductor and that it is still good. Clean it all up put it back together and hook up the battery. It will most likely work just fine.

IT DOES AND I WILL GROUND IT. THANKS

Does the horn button come off by prying on the button? I do not want to break it, i have never been in there before. THANKS

Just pry it off, back of it looks like this, it just holds on the 3 raised areas you can see. Presses back on with your hand.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129375202/in/set-72157631868452754

Thank you for the pics will do .

OK ,took the button off some rust and dirt.I think it would be called a contact plunger????was a little grubby. ALL CLEANED.I did not see any wires running down the column,it seems the contact plunger runs on a rim under the steering wheel.Are there power wires under the dash or further down on the column? where does the power connect to the button.Should I follow the wires back from the horn. THANK YOU, Horn is still off and on .

there is no "power" to the button, there should be a wire that's part of the upper mast bearing [invisible unless you take the bearing out] that runs down the mast and when you press the button the contact plate and the plunger/contact brush causes a ground to be applied to that wire .... the wire from the bearing should come out of the mast just below the dash

Bill

Wire is lower down the column about 2/3 thirds down and on top. It can get ratty over time and it can be fixed. But still a good place to start. The horn is grounded through the button and the column so make sure it the column is snug in the brace mount at the bottom of the dash. Two bolts and a clamp. Then run a wire from there to ground for a test. If that fixes it then clean the place where it is mounted and the clamp. It could be as simple as that.