[TonyBray]

Ok, my horn has started going off sporadically while driving. It seems to be a combination of turning and braking. I cannot get it to happen by turning the wheels in the garage. But if I am turning into my driveway and hit the brakes while turning, it will go off. I have had the airbag and steering wheel off twice now and checked the wires from each horn switch to the plunger and there are no bare spots. I opened the switches themselves and made sure the metal springs inside were properly seated. In desperation, I pulled fuse #3 to kill it all together. My best guess is that the bare wire is south of the contact ring in the steering column. Anyone else had a problem here before or care to hazzard a guess?



--Tony

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[Mike in NJ]

I can tell you what I'm pretty sure is wrong, but you aren't going to like the solution.



There is a circlip that sits in a groove in the steering shaft that holds the steering shaft in its proper position, and prevents the shaft from sliding down/forward through the bearing collar towards the engine compartment. When it is doing its job, this clip also ensures that there is an adequate gap (a very small gap) between the steering wheel and the horn contact ring which is beneath it. If the circlip pops out of its groove, the shaft will slip down slightly, and allow the body of the steering wheel to intermittently contact the horn contact ring. This results in intermittent horn beeping that is dependent on wheel position, brake application, etc.



You can try resetting or replacing this circlip, but the slot in the shaft may be damaged, in which case it may not hold. If this is the case, the only solution (other than pulling the horn fuse) is replacement of this shaft. Back in May, the part was $328 from Sunset, and needed to be shipped from Germany. The replacement procedure will include the need to drill out the tamper resistant screws that hold the steering shaft collar to the underside of the dash.



This has all been confirmed with Porsche mechanics as well as the front-engine expert on PCA.ORG. It is not a common failure, but it is not unheard of either.



-Mike



EDIT: The circlip is located on the steering shaft, directly above the bearing collar. You need to remove the steering wheel and the horn contact/airbag wiring spool assembly to get to it.

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[TonyBray]

Mike,



If this is the case, then I should see some rub marks on the back side of the steering wheel somwhere? Would the steering wheel move in/out when pulled?



--Tony

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[Mike in NJ]

[quote name='TonyBray' date='Jul 7 2006, 11:06 AM']Mike,



If this is the case, then I should see some rub marks on the back side of the steering wheel somwhere?  Would the steering wheel move in/out when pulled?



--Tony

[right][post="23780"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

I have no idea whether you would see marks or not, but this isn't that tricky to diagnose. Try this:



Shove the wheel away from you (towards the engine) and then pull it towards you. If the horn beeps when you push it, and then stops when you pull it, you have the problem I described above.

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[TonyBray]

Gotcha... Will check this weekend.



--Tony

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