How do you repair the horn on a 1984 jaguar xj6. The problen is in the steering column. The metal rod in the center is not making contact inside at the bottom of the hole.

It needs to be grounded to some metal part on the car. If the mount is rusted or broken you can drill a hole on the horn its self and attach a wire to it using a metal screw then attach the other end to something metal on the car.

It sounds like the wiring between the horn button on the steering wheel and the dashboard is chafing. The insulation has been slowly rubbed off due to movement of the steering wheel. This is the only point between the moving parts (steering wheel) and non-moving parts (steering column). When the steering wheel is turned, the wiring contacts other metal and simulates the horn button being pressed.

It shouldn't be an expensive repair - but contacting your trusted local mechanic will remove any questions. If you do not have a regular mechanic, check with several to to make sure you're getting a fair cost estimate.

I hope this helps & good luck!

Most fuel-pump relay units are located under the dashboard near the steering column. In some cases, the unit is located in the area where the steering column is mounted or near the engine's firewall. The end of the fuel pump relay is typically located near the center of the floorboard, under the carpet in the front section of the passenger's or driver's side footwell.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Odometer Correction Tool

check the power to the horn with a test light.have someone push the horn button and look for power at horn.next listen for a click sound it will come from the horn relay if it is working.find the horn and apply power to the horn and it should honk.if not replace horn.other wise there is a contact in the steering wheel that it touches .that ring or contact might be at fault.or relay if no click heard.

There should be two hoses coming out of the steering box at the lower end of your steering column. Follow these hoses to the steering pump. Let me know if this helps. Thanks.

The Data Link Connector is located below the steering column and adjacent to the transmission tunnel.

The metal plate in reference above has small copper contacts. If they do not meet the horn will not work. We used a dremel on ALL of the contact point and it made no difference, the horn still only works about 5% of the time. After a whole lot of testing (I have the same issue with my 2000 Toyota Sienna) we found that the ground is weak, too weak for the relay most times. At this point I am going to run an alternate ground by "borrowing" the wire for the mute button for audio controls through the clock spring. The existing ground connects to the steering column. Before we discovered this I spent $285 on a new clock spring :(

If its in the steering wheel or the column its called a relay, A lot of times, the horns burn out so I would recommend taking an electrical tester, unplugging the wire that simply slides over a metal tong on the horn, taking the tester and putting it in the metal contacts inside the plastic part that slides over the tong and having someone hit the horn and see if the tester lights up, or shows any sign of power. Hope that helps!
-Steve

sounds like the horn contact terminal inside the steering wheel got disconnected and is hitting a metal part of the steering column which triggers the horn. the terminal that got disconnected is probably has positive polarity and the metal part of the steering column has negative polarity. If they come in contact with each other... *honk* *honk*

A fuse always blows for a reason. The reason your fuse must have blown was because of a short to ground in the horn switch. That means the power side of the horn switch is currently touching ground or metal or that the switch is bad on the inside. The more remote possiblity is that you have a short somewhere in the wiring harness. It is always typical for a component to go bad before a harness.

Here are some notes directly from chrysler, let me know if you need any clarification:

Testing and Inspection Notes WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-BAGS, REFER TO AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELTS/AIRBAGS BEFORE ATTEMPTING STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Remove the lower steering column cover/knee blocker. Check for continuity between the metal steering column jacket and a good ground. There should be continuity If OK, go to Step 2. If not OK, refer to Steering and Suspension/Steering Column and check for proper installation of the steering column mounting nuts.
2. Remove the driver's airbag module. Unplug the horn switch wire connector. Remove the horn relay from the Power Distribution Center (PDC) . Check for continuity between the steering column half of the horn switch feed wire connector and a good ground. There should be no continuity If OK, go to Step 3. If not OK, repair the short circuit as required.
3. Check for continuity between the steering column half of the horn switch feed wire connector and the horn relay control circuit cavity for the horn relay in the PDC. There should be continuity If OK, go to Step 4. If not OK, repair the open circuit as required.
4. Check for continuity between the horn switch feed wire and the horn switch ground wire on the airbag module. There should be no continuity If OK, go to Step 5. If not OK, replace the faulty horn switch.
5. Depress the center of the airbag module cover and check for continuity between the horn switch feed wire and the horn switch ground wire on the airbag module. There should be continuity If not OK, replace the faulty horn switch.