Swapped steering column, now horn doesn't work
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From: Eureka, CA
Swapped steering column, now horn doesn't work
I put a tilt column in my 76 F250 4X4 with manual trans. Everything except the horn works. Some of the tilt columns wires are a different color than the old one and has one more wire (yellow). So I assume this yellow wire is one of the two horn wires on the new column but what do I need to do with it for my horn to work?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: NorCal
Try this first...... install a jumper wire over the rag joint and then test the horn.
If it works, make a short section of wire with a large eyelet on each end and then bolt the eyelets to each side of the rag joint.
If it works, make a short section of wire with a large eyelet on each end and then bolt the eyelets to each side of the rag joint.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
What's the tilt column from? Introduced in 1978 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline.
1976/79 F100/250 4WD, 1979 F350 4WD have a one piece lower steering shaft and coupler that is connected to the input shaft of the steering box with a rag joint (steel/rubber coupler).
1966 F100 4WD, 1967/75 F100/250 4WD have a multi-piece lower steering shaft and coupler that is connected to the steering box w/a clamp and thru bolt.
1976/79 F100/250 4WD, 1979 F350 4WD have a one piece lower steering shaft and coupler that is connected to the input shaft of the steering box with a rag joint (steel/rubber coupler).
1966 F100 4WD, 1967/75 F100/250 4WD have a multi-piece lower steering shaft and coupler that is connected to the steering box w/a clamp and thru bolt.
Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
D8TZ-3B676-B = 1978/79 F250 4WD, 1979 F350 4WD
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Senior User
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From: Eureka, CA
However, I fail to see what shaft I have has anything to do with my horn not woking.
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Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
But it's supposed to have one as all 1976/79 4WD's used it, including Bronco's.
1973/75 F100/250 4WD same pic as 1966/72 F100/250 4WD. Notice the clamp and thru bolt that connects lower coupler to steering box.
Now look at this 1978/79 Bronco pic. Same one piece lower coupler setup as 1976/79 F100/250 4WD, 1979 F350 4WD
3A525 is the steel/rubber coupler that some people call a rag joint. Connects 3B676 to input shaft of steering box.
These two pics are from the CD catalogs available from hipoparts.com
My 1973/79 Ford Truck Parts Catalog is on microfiche. I just bought a 'magic wand' scanner that can scan microfiche once the slide is placed in the viewer, but haven't figured out how to use it yet.
1973/75 F100/250 4WD same pic as 1966/72 F100/250 4WD. Notice the clamp and thru bolt that connects lower coupler to steering box.
Now look at this 1978/79 Bronco pic. Same one piece lower coupler setup as 1976/79 F100/250 4WD, 1979 F350 4WD
3A525 is the steel/rubber coupler that some people call a rag joint. Connects 3B676 to input shaft of steering box.
These two pics are from the CD catalogs available from hipoparts.com
My 1973/79 Ford Truck Parts Catalog is on microfiche. I just bought a 'magic wand' scanner that can scan microfiche once the slide is placed in the viewer, but haven't figured out how to use it yet.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Austin, TX
A '76 has a horn relay. A '78/79 will only have a relay if it had cruise control. The two setups use slightly different wiring configurations.
Your '76 only ran the "ground-out" signal from the horn relay up to the steering wheel. When you push the button, you're grounding out the relay coil. That's why people are talking about the rag joint - the steering column needs to be grounded in this case. A '78/79 without cruise is completely different. These trucks run hot-at-all-times power up to the column to the switch; switched power runs back down out to the horn. These trucks switch power to the horn directly with no relay. This is why you have an extra wire with your new column.
You need to modify the wiring of your new column to match what the truck is expecting. The BLUE with YELLOW stripe wire coming up to your column is the "ground-out" signal from the horn relay. Modify your horn switch so that this wire gets grounded out to the column when the switch is pressed. You'll need to make sure the column is grounded as well. The extra YELLOW wire from the new column will go to nothing.
Your '76 only ran the "ground-out" signal from the horn relay up to the steering wheel. When you push the button, you're grounding out the relay coil. That's why people are talking about the rag joint - the steering column needs to be grounded in this case. A '78/79 without cruise is completely different. These trucks run hot-at-all-times power up to the column to the switch; switched power runs back down out to the horn. These trucks switch power to the horn directly with no relay. This is why you have an extra wire with your new column.
You need to modify the wiring of your new column to match what the truck is expecting. The BLUE with YELLOW stripe wire coming up to your column is the "ground-out" signal from the horn relay. Modify your horn switch so that this wire gets grounded out to the column when the switch is pressed. You'll need to make sure the column is grounded as well. The extra YELLOW wire from the new column will go to nothing.
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