Horn/cruise control quit. Please help?

jethro b · #1 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 01:29 AM

For some reason my horn and cruise quit at the same time on my early 98' E350 with 5.4L. Both the fuse and relay check out fine. Unless there is another fuse somewhere I missed it has me completely baffled. The Haynes manual is about useless also. The only help it gave me is that it shows the 2 circuits connected somehow in the wiring diagram so the problem must be connected. Any help resolving this matter would be greatly appreciated. Jeff S.

Clubwagon · #2 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 09:13 AM

Your "clock spring" failed. Common.

Remove the airbag, then the wheel, change the springs.

Simple fix.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

jethro b · #3 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 10:56 AM

Are these gonna be a dealer only part? I found the section in the service manual to change them and it does look simple. Any special pointers or tricks I should know before attempting this? Thanks a bunch Steve. You da man!

Clubwagon · #4 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 11:04 AM

Yep.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

jethro b · #5 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 11:11 AM

OK Thanks again.

jethro b · #6 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 11:32 AM

Any suggestions on the best place to order this part from? The dealer quoted my like 120 bucks. I've found it online for $56.50 shipped. Thanks again. Jeff

Clubwagon · #7 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 11:37 AM

I got them at the dealer. Its been long enough I don't remember the cost. Less than $100 or I *would* have remembered.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

jethro b · #8 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 12:13 PM

Thanks I will order them online. Have a good one. This is a load off my mind. I was thinking my cruise and horn would never work again. haha

jethro b · #9 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 02:29 PM

OK swapped out the clockspring assm. and still no horn or cruise. 57 bucks down the tubes. Now what?

71shovelhead · #10 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 08:04 PM

check for ground in the steering column, the horn switch is a grounding circuit

jonesg · #11 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 08:06 PM

Have you looked at the horn inside the hood?, mine is above the coolant bottle, the wires on mine were rusted out, as was the mounting bracket for the horn.

I don't know if it affected the cruise as I never use that feature.

jethro b · #12 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 10:37 PM

I'll jump the horns with power and see if they both work. When it warms up I'm gonna get busy with a test light and see what is getting juice and what isn't. It's just so strange that both things would quit at the very same time. A year ago I had almost every part of the cruise system replaced and was happy to have it working again and now this. Thanks for the advise and if anyone can think of other possibilities please post them up. Thanks again, Jeff

jcbx · #13 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 01:32 PM

does anything of this help you ?

Sincerly
JCBX

jethro b · #14 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 04:29 PM

Thanks, this might help me diagnose this. If all else fails I can always wire up a new horn circuit and just say the heck with the cruise.
Luckily I don't use this van much anymore. It has 350,000 miles and will get used locally now.

jethro b · #15 (**permalink**) 02-27-2008, 11:31 PM

Bump, this is becoming very hard to diagnose.