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Steering column grounding???

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 5:37 am
by Gene-C
I see several have used the steering column support as a central grounding point as well. My question is how do you do this while retaining the original VW design for the horn. Do you somehow isolate the column with rubber? Looking at my recently aquired berrien steering support, I see that if I attach my wiper motor to the support and ground the motor the column WILL have to isolated for the horn to work. HMMMM? Any ideas, besides scrapping the stock horn button location in the wheel? MURZ

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 3:20 pm
by Gene-C
I believe the column is grounded on Bugs. The horn is supplied with +12V and the switching, to ground, happens in the column. One side of the horn button is isolated and the other is connected to the coulmn which is grounded. When the horn button is pushed it completes the circuit to ground. That's the way I remember it, but I'm sure someone that "really" knows will post in.

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 3:26 pm
by jspbtown
In my opinion this is by far the best description of the VW horn system through the years. It saved me on a Speedster project I was doing. http://www.thebugshop.org/bsfqhorn.htm

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:03 pm
by newmanx59
[QUOTE="MURZ"]I see several have used the steering column support as a central grounding point as well. My question is how do you do this while retaining the original VW design for the horn. Do you somehow isolate the column with rubber? Looking at my recently aquired berrien steering support, I see that if I attach my wiper motor to the support and ground the motor the column WILL have to isolated for the horn to work. HMMMM? Any ideas, besides scrapping the stock horn button location in the wheel? MURZ[/QUOTE] Typically there is a clamp with a rubber cushion (grommet) to mount the column under the dash and another grommet at the firewall. This would isolate the column. The column will have a male spade connector on it to ground the column itself. This should isolate the wiper motor ground from the horn circuit. They are stock VW parts, available from Wolfsberg West.

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 9:46 pm
by Gene-C
I knew somebody would know!!
Nice article!