How to replace a clock spring

Sounds like you have a short to ground somewhere. A good place to start looking is the clock spring. A simple ohm test should tell you if the clock spring is shorted or not. If it isn't the clock spring I would look at the lead from the clock spring to the horn button or the harness from the bottom of the column to the horn itself, but you definitely have the lead that goes to the horn receiving 12v when it isn't supposed to.

Is the air bag light lit on the instrument cluster ? If so , could be clock spring problem . Do you know what a clock spring is ?
Chrysler Van Clock Spring
How cars clock spring works

If not the clock spring , horn relay or the TIPM - totally integrated power module , chrysler , dodge an jeep have recall for some models on the TIPM .
Defective TIPM Is Causing Dangerous Power Problems in Chrysler Vehicles

VEHICLE RELAYS Operation Diagnosis

I would think the clock spring is bad ,the clock spring is ribbon wire wound in side a plastic body inside top of steering column. The steering wheel has to be removed to get at it. It is used so you can turn the steering with out losing power for the horn and cruise control. How cars clock spring works

You may of forgot to plug back in the ground wire that connects to the horn bracket under the air bag. It's just a single wire and should have a tiny black connector on the end of it.

Just because the cruise and the horn are operative does not mean the clock spring is good check the clock spring there is most likly an open in the clock spring.
Tommy

The clock spring in the new one you installed is most likely the problem. It is the part behind the steering wheel that the airbag, horn, and cruise controls plug into. It is very common on Chrysler minivans. Unfortunately it sounds like you inherited the problem with the used unit.

They are not that hard to replace. You will need a steering wheel puller. Sometimes you can rent them from your local auto parts store.

Disconnect the battery and wait about 20 minutes.

Remove the air bag from the steering wheel.

Remove the center nut that holds the steering wheel to the shaft.

Unplug the horn and cruise connectors from the clock spring.

Use the steering wheel puller to remove the steering wheel.

Unplug the back connector to the clock spring.

Remove the snap ring that holds the clock spring to the shaft.

Remove the clock spring.

Since the one on the old column worked you can reuse that one if you choose. I would pull the one on the new column first so you know what to expect when you remove the old one from the old column.

This is what the part looks like



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horn going off at times is a symptom of a broken clock spring does yourcruise still work?is your air bag light on? if so then you need to replace your clock spring to just disconnect your horn you can remove the relay in the pdc

The computer controls the horn and looks for a signal from the Remote Keyless Entry system or the horn button. Due to the fact that the horn works with the RKE but not when you press the horn button, would cause me to suspect that the Clock Spring mechanism, which is also used to activate the Driver's Air Bag, might be malfunctioning. When the Clock Spring breaks, the computer does not get a signal from the horn button so it can not opperate the horn. If I remember correctly, when the Clock Spring goes out, the Air Bag light on the dash either does not light up for 2 seconds when you first start the vehicle, or it comes on and stays on all the time, which is to let you know that the Air Bag is not functioning, and the primary cause is the Clock Spring. So check your owners manual to see if the Air Bag warning light on the dash is functioning normally. Your local Chrysler dealer can quickly and easily check the function of the Clock Spring, Horn, and Air Bag system, through the use of the DRB scan tool. If it is in fact the Clock Spring that is malfunctioning, the Air Bag module and the steering wheel must be removed in order to replace the Clock Spring, which should be left to a trained professional, that has been educated on the proper handling of the Air Bag system. You wouldn't want to accidentally deploy the Air Bag, as you could be injured. That and Air Bag modules can be expensive to replace.

this is caused by a defective/shorted rotating ribbon contact under the steering wheel called a clock spring, to replace this part u must disarm the airbag remove it and the steering wheel and then replace the clock spring, this is a dealer only part.

Before I even got done reading your post I was thinking clock spring. They aren't the easiest things to change but are definitely changeable. You will, however, need a steering wheel puller, more than likely. Most clock springs aren't cheap either.

Hope this helps out,
AadoubleA