Hey All, Ive been pondering an idea, of putting a momentary switch for an air horn in the back of my steering wheel, where the factory radio controls would go if you had the option. Anybody do anything like that?? I know switches can go there, hence the factory ones, but how do you wire it up? How do you go by wiring it up, and not having the wires swivel and twist when you turn the steering wheel?? How does the factory wire the switches into the back of the wheel??

I think this would be an excellent spot for an aux horn switch since it would be right next to my fingers for a quick blast, I dont want to drill and mount a switch into my dash or something, I would really like to go into the back of the wheel, to keep it hidden, out of sight, but right there when you need it.

Any suggestions or input will be apreciated!! Thanks

 

I know what you mean, maybe use a finger toggle, Momentary on switch to blast your horn....

I used a on-supply-on switch for mine. Spliced into the stock horn wire, and ran one to the factory horn, and one to the air horn, I just switch which one I want to use, and uses the horn either way. Once you run an air horn and you hear that puny little factory one, you'll use your air horn all the time. Anyway I can get a picture if you want. Other than not drilling holes or hiding it, that may be tricky. Although you may be able to use a really small push button switch. Be hard to get that steering wheel off, I know that's gonna be more difficult than drilling a hole.

 

Nobody on this site knows how the wires are ran through the wheel and coulmn?? I'm wondering if Dodge uses some sort of "swivel" electronic contact, sort of like an older horn switch.

Any help or info in mounting for tis switch idea, please throw it my way.

 

I made a bracket and mounted an on/off push button switch on the floor to the right of the parking brake braket - I wanted the air horn separate from the OEM horn. I thought about putting it somewhere on the steering wheel, but unless you drop it in the middle, you wind up searching for a button to push when you're in a turn. I also didn't want to mess with the steering column mounted air bag....

 

The radio control MUX signal is connected from the timer module to the switches in the wheel via the clock spring along with those for the air bag, speed control, and horn. I don't know off hand if the clock spring is different if you have radio controls on the wheel or not. The radio controls place a different resistor across the MUX pins depending what is being pressed and the timer module sends the info over to the radio by the buss. On the vehicle side the connection is pin 1 and 2 of connector C1 (white) on my Dakota (pin 2 is grounded in the harness). It may be the same for Ram. A bundle of wires runs from near the ignition switch to two connectors that connect to the clock spring (C1 white and C2 yellow). Another bundle goes to the multifunction column switch.

Spounds like if C1 pins 1 ans 2 are not connected to anything in your wheel, then you may be able to take advantage of them. You need to check the wiring for your specific truck, however. I'd hate to hear your air bags go off every time you toot the horn :-)

The service manual has a pretty decent description I think. The clock spring is a flat wire bundle wound arround the column several times, looks something like a clock spring.... it winds up or un winds with the wheel turn.

Cold Case

 

Hey COLDCASE, thanks for the reply, thats what I was looking for. I just wanted an idea of how they did it from the factory. I might talk to a mechanic at the dealership next time I'm due for an oil change, and ask what he thinks about maybe him wiring up a switch for me in the wheel, and just letting the wires hang under the dash for now, until I get my compressor and tank. I know I'll have to pay a bit, but this is the way "I" want to do it. I dont want an extra toggle switch in my dash, or some sort of bracket and lever contraption mounted somewhere, I want a simple little momentary switch, behind my wheel for a clean install like the factory. Thanks again