best way/location to place horn wires? HELP, I am stumped (1 Viewer)

[wantatlc]

so, I have an aftermarket GT Grant steering wheel and aftermarket air horn on my FJ40 and the horn wires I run up the steering column....

BUT the problem is, the only way to get the wires to the horn button is by a little hole at the backside of the Grant wheel where it mounts to the steering column (the only open hole). BUT, when I run them through said hole, over time the turning action just rips/shreads/mangles the wires every single time. I have tried wrapping the wires in tape like 5 times to make them beefy - does not work. I have tried on top of column or below column - same outcome. I hae tried split loom to protect the wires - eats through that. Since there is only 1 way into the steering wheel via that hole and to my horn button, it seems no matter what that in the end the wires get fowled in the turn signal, cut, shreaded, etc. There is no hole in the center bolt or in the steering column to run the wires straight up into the center of the wheel, so what am I supose to do?

how is it done on the original FJ40? where do the horn wires go. is there something there (nuts) I am supose to attach to so that the turning action does not fowl the wires?

I am stummped and I am tired of replacing fowled, cut, mangaled wire or fighting the wire wrapping around the steering column.

What can I do?

 

[Poser]

There are not any "horn wires" in a stock column that attach the steering wheel to the harness in the column..


There are two conductive pieces in stock columns, one that is stationary that is attached to the column, (this also has the electrical lead/wire attached to it that comes out of the column under the dash) and the other conductive piece that wears/rubs against the stationary piece that allows the horn switches in stock or aftermarket steering wheels to complete the horn circuit, supplying power to the relay, and then from the factory relay, to the horns.


What year column do you have? Is your ignition key in the column, or on the dash?


There were two different styles of this affair, depending on the column.


Good luck!


-Steve

 

[wantatlc]

I have a 1974, the key is on the column.

yes, I understand your setup, but do not know if it will apply to me as I have an aftermarket horn and Grant steering wheel. That is, there are 2 leads coimg out of the Grant horn button and I underatand the completing of the horn circuit, but do not know how it would be done in my case. That is, what do the wires on the horn button connect to.

this is my basic setup: http://www.grantproducts.com/install/97524-00-01.html

thanks if you can help as I am lost on this one... and tired of fixng wire or my horn going off as I turn a corner!

 

[DSRTRDR]

have you tried to thread a wire or string through the column first from the steering wheel end down that you could use to pull the wires through rather than pushing them?

 

[Poser]

If you remove your steering wheel and adapter, you will see your turn signal switch assembly. (This is the white colored plastic piece that has the turn signal lever built into it) There is a little metal tab/spring type of piece with a contact at the end, (note the color of wire that connects to that point on the turn signal switch assembly) which, should ride on the steering wheel adapter, and on the adapter, there should be a small screw or spade connector that will also connect to an area on the adapter that will allow the metal tab from the turn signal switch to contact it, and make a connection throughout the 360 degrees of rotation, WITHOUT having wire get all wrapped up around the column, AND your small wires from your Grant horn button would connect to a spade or screw on the adapter. This would allow you to use your horn button as the switch, and not have to run wires up through the column as you have found out, does not work. (You will only need one wire from the Grant horn button to make your horn work)


Since you located the wire that attaches to that spring tab I was talking about, follow that down the column, and see where it attaches to the harness under the dash. Disconnect this junction, isolating the steering column wiring from the rest of the truck, and verify with an ohmmeter that in fact your horn switch is working properly...


There should be NO REASON why you need to run your two air horn wires up the column, and to the steering wheel, aside from the fact that it is not working, and never will, you have the means to connect the wires to the factory horn lead from the column where the Toyota horn lead connects.


Depending on your horn set up, you will most likely need to use a relay, like the stock set up does, in order to get power to your horns, or air solenoid to control your horns.


You cannot put the leads from the horn, right to the horn switch, as you have found out. There is not a Land Cruiser horn, or any other that I can think of for that matter, that came from the factory with wires connecting right to the horn button, because as you have found out, they would not work.



Good luck!


-Steve

 

[wantatlc]

have you tried to thread a wire or string through the column first from the steering wheel end down that you could use to pull the wires through rather than pushing them?

thats the issue, there is no way to go down through the column as the bolt that holds on the stering wheel is solid (solid center, not like a donut) so nothing can go through - if so, this would be a piece of cake. assuming there were, where is the exit hole on the botton of the column if I even could?

 

[wantatlc]

okay Poser - let me give this whirl. I understand the concept 100% and I am familar with the white turn signal switch asembly. lets seem what happens. THANKS!