'72 Super Beetle is silenced...

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'72 Super Beetle is silenced...

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'72 Super Beetle is silenced... - 2/23/2008 2:25:40 PM

Sanguinius

Posts: 51
Joined: 1/15/2008
Status: offline

Yep the horn's broke. It didn't work when I got the car and it still isn't working. I'm beating my head trying to figure this one out. Looks like the previous owner had started thinking about installing a separate horn button but gave up when he found that the button wasn't actually the problem. I've cleaned contacts, changed horns, and just can't seem to find the reason it won't make noise. Anyone have any ideas?

Post #: 1

RE: '72 Super Beetle is silenced... - 3/1/2008 5:15:42 AM

GrilledCheese

Posts: 10
Joined: 12/18/2007
Status: offline

Might try the fuse, as it does't take much in way of corrosion to keep things from working on the air cooled's. I used to clean mine about every 6 months with a piece of ScotchBrite. Just take them out one at a time clean the fuse ends, and then the holder, then replace. I spent quite abit of money the first time this happened trying to fix the electrical gremlins in my '71, because I took it to an auto electrician. I was told to clean the fuse, as explained above. No more problems.

(in reply to Sanguinius)

Post #: 2

RE: '72 Super Beetle is silenced... - 3/3/2008 8:42:33 PM

Smokin Dog

Posts: 286
Joined: 10/25/2007
Status: offline

The horn blows by pressing the horn button and that makes a complete ground, the horn has current on it all the
time. If you remove the horn button you will see a wire going down the center of the steering collum and it comes
out under the car at the flex joint just before the steering
sector. Make sure the wire is connected at the joint and it
has a strap that connects the wire to the lower side of the
flex joint, that intern makes a complete ground into the
steering sector. The connection is bad about breaking at
that flex joint.

(in reply to Sanguinius)

Post #: 3

RE: '72 Super Beetle is silenced... - 3/5/2008 6:14:18 PM

Sanguinius

Posts: 51
Joined: 1/15/2008
Status: offline

Ok smokin, I'm trying to figure out exactly where you're saying the wire comes out. I saw the wire under the center of the wheel. Where it comes out at the flex joint, are you talking about under the hood/underneath the car itself? Basically you're saying I need to put it up on the ramps to take a look at the connections down there?

(in reply to Smokin Dog)

Post #: 4

RE: '72 Super Beetle is silenced... - 3/5/2008 7:15:51 PM

Smokin Dog

Posts: 286
Joined: 10/25/2007
Status: offline

Put it on ramps, look under the front part of the car,
just above the master cyl, you will see the steering shaft
going to the steering sector. On this shaft there will be a
rubber flex joint, looks almost like a universal joint, the
wire going through the shaft comes out at the joint, and
fastens to a clip or bolt. the wire circuit has to pass over
this rubber joint and connect to the shaft on the sector
side to complete the circuit, it's a ground wire for the
horn, it grounds through the steering sector. They usually
brake off on the steering wheel side of the shaft. If I
remember correctly its a brown wire. This is a easy fix.
Some times the rubber joint would rub against the bottom
of the gas tank and break the wire.

(in reply to Sanguinius)

Post #: 5

RE: '72 Super Beetle is silenced... - 3/7/2008 8:53:49 PM

Sanguinius

Posts: 51
Joined: 1/15/2008
Status: offline

Ah ok gotcha. Thanks hopefully this rain will quit so I can bring her out of the garage and put her up on ramps. After looking at the wires in the same area that operate the brake lights, it wouldn't surprise me if that wire had busted. I'll update what I find out. Thanks again Smokin Dog.

(in reply to Smokin Dog)

Post #: 6

RE: '72 Super Beetle is silenced... - 5/27/2008 5:30:15 PM

Sanguinius

Posts: 51
Joined: 1/15/2008
Status: offline

Sorry been away for a bit long but found it was a REALLY dirty ring behind the steering wheel. Cleaned it up a bit will need to clean it a bit better later. But I passed safety inspection (Not sure how but it did) and I've been driving it daily ever since!

(in reply to Sanguinius)

Post #: 7