For the past couple of months the horn on the Caterham has been playing up. In a car so little which often can’t be seen by folks in their big 4X4’s its important to be able to let people know you are there.
However I have found that on several occasions I have pressed the horn in a moment of need and nothing has happened which is most alarming resulting a few very close shaves. I had checked the normal things like fuses and even changed the solenoid but this did not resolve the problem. I had dismantled the horn switch which sits in the steering wheel hub and cleaned up all the contacts but though slightly improved it was still hit or miss as to whether it would sound.
I had discovered there was a small device that had a spring loaded brass bar that touched a contact ring behind the steering wheel on the steering column. Unfortunately the only way to get to this was to remove the steering wheel some thing I had never done before and it filled my mind with thoughts of wonky steering or worse if I attempted the repair. With the MOT looming at the end of the month I had two choices let the garage sort it probably at some considerable cost or have ago myself.
Well nothing ventured nothing gained so the other day socket spanner in hand I tentatively loosened the nut that holds the steering wheel in place. This was easy it came undone with out any trouble. Then I gave the steering wheel a tug, but it would not budge. The problem was I was treating the car like a delicate flower when all it needed was a good hard tug which removed the wheel in one go.
This immediately revealed the problem the faint colour of a copper ring could be seen around the steering column but it was so dirty and oxidised that no wonder contact could not be made. The device on the steering wheel which I discovered from the manual is called a pencil was badly worn. After a quick look on the Caterham web site I discovered that a replacement pencil was £5.93. This was not going to break the bank but I’m a great believer in trying to mend things first rather than simply replace.
Using my small electrical rotary tool with a wire brush I quickly cleaned the copper ring back to a bright shine. Then putting the pencil in a vice and using an abrasive head in the tool I reground the end of the brass rod so it was flat once more. Everything was then replace in reverse order and hay presto the horn was fully functioning again and would certainly pass the MOT.
However I have found that on several occasions I have pressed the horn in a moment of need and nothing has happened which is most alarming resulting a few very close shaves. I had checked the normal things like fuses and even changed the solenoid but this did not resolve the problem. I had dismantled the horn switch which sits in the steering wheel hub and cleaned up all the contacts but though slightly improved it was still hit or miss as to whether it would sound.
I had discovered there was a small device that had a spring loaded brass bar that touched a contact ring behind the steering wheel on the steering column. Unfortunately the only way to get to this was to remove the steering wheel some thing I had never done before and it filled my mind with thoughts of wonky steering or worse if I attempted the repair. With the MOT looming at the end of the month I had two choices let the garage sort it probably at some considerable cost or have ago myself.
Well nothing ventured nothing gained so the other day socket spanner in hand I tentatively loosened the nut that holds the steering wheel in place. This was easy it came undone with out any trouble. Then I gave the steering wheel a tug, but it would not budge. The problem was I was treating the car like a delicate flower when all it needed was a good hard tug which removed the wheel in one go.
This immediately revealed the problem the faint colour of a copper ring could be seen around the steering column but it was so dirty and oxidised that no wonder contact could not be made. The device on the steering wheel which I discovered from the manual is called a pencil was badly worn. After a quick look on the Caterham web site I discovered that a replacement pencil was £5.93. This was not going to break the bank but I’m a great believer in trying to mend things first rather than simply replace.
Using my small electrical rotary tool with a wire brush I quickly cleaned the copper ring back to a bright shine. Then putting the pencil in a vice and using an abrasive head in the tool I reground the end of the brass rod so it was flat once more. Everything was then replace in reverse order and hay presto the horn was fully functioning again and would certainly pass the MOT.
No comments:
Post a Comment