i have 2 problems, my horn and my check engine light. - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jcrook22 · 04-23-2010, 08:40 PM

my camry 96 steering wheel pad. i dont kno what its called, but its what you push to honk the horn. its sort of stuck towards the left. its as if i am holding it down on the left side. so if i drive over bumps it honks and its starting to get to the point where i have to hold it up so that it isnt honking the entire time im driving. is there an easy fix for this? i took out the fuse for the horn but it kinda sucks not being able to honk at anyone, especially in LA traffic

and my check engine light is on. i change the oil and it goes away. but then comes back after a month or so. i got the radiator replaced about 2 years ago. and when i park and get out of my car it smells like burning rubber. at first i thought it was the brakes. but its not. and i can see a tiny bit of smoke or steam.

hill8570 · 04-23-2010, 08:55 PM

Year and engine (4-banger, 6-banger)?

Have you tried to snoop around to try to figure out, more or less, where the smoke / steam is coming from?

jcrook22 · 04-23-2010, 08:59 PM

96 4 cyl LE ive only seen the smoke twice. its barely visible. i noticed it at night time through the beam of the headlights. i took it to the toyota dealership nearby. they changed the oil and replaced all the fluids. and like i said the light turned off for a month or so, then i came back on.

***fenixus*** · 04-23-2010, 11:18 PM

bring it to local autozone and get the codes scanned for free. post back with error code numbers, it may point out the faulty part.

i don't know how to fix the steering wheel horn problem, you might need to replace the wheel.

93celicaconv · 04-25-2010, 01:16 PM

As for your horn, there is a switch under your steering wheel air bag assembly. The air bag assembly is supported by springs on both sides. Sounds like one of your springs broke, so it is easy to have the air bag assembly contant your horn switch now.

Take it to your Toyota parts dept., and let them know what you have. They will know what part to get for you, if you want to repair it yourself. It is pretty easy, just need to take covers off around the steering column to expose the bolts that hold the air bag assembly in place. It won't activate your air bag if you unbolt it and just lift it out a little, as long as you don't take the wiring harness off (and you shouldn't need to take that harness off).

Otherwise, just ask the dealer what the cost would be to replace that spring. I'll bet it will be pricey though.

***LynchburgCSI*** · 04-25-2010, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93celicaconv

As for your horn, there is a switch under your steering wheel air bag assembly. The air bag assembly is supported by springs on both sides. Sounds like one of your springs broke, so it is easy to have the air bag assembly contant your horn switch now.

Take it to your Toyota parts dept., and let them know what you have. They will know what part to get for you, if you want to repair it yourself. It is pretty easy, just need to take covers off around the steering column to expose the bolts that hold the air bag assembly in place. It won't activate your air bag if you unbolt it and just lift it out a little, as long as you don't take the wiring harness off (and you shouldn't need to take that harness off).

Otherwise, just ask the dealer what the cost would be to replace that spring. I'll bet it will be pricey though.

NOOOOOO.

First take the wheel and airbag apart yourself (DIY in the Sticky on the main page.) If you can see anything obviously wrong, PM me. I've dealt with horn/steering wheel issues before.

SMR · 05-03-2010, 01:40 AM

I've got a 95 camry with a horn stuck in the on position. I tested the wiring from the horn switch down to the steering column. I believe I found the problem...The spiral cable has a short in it. I tested it by unplugging the two wire harnesses on each end. Two of the pins on one end are shorted since there is continuity. What happened originally was that the cruise control switch activator would honk my horn ! Basically the cruise control and the horn wires inside of the spiral cable are touching each other grounding the connection. I am going to salvage yard to replace my spiral cable. Coincidentally, I probably messed up the spiral cable after replacing my steering rack by turning the steering wheel too far. (all other functions including the air bag are working)....what do you think Lynchburg?

BTW: Did you get your problem fixed JCrook?

***LynchburgCSI*** · 05-03-2010, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMR

I've got a 95 camry with a horn stuck in the on position. I tested the wiring from the horn switch down to the steering column. I believe I found the problem...The spiral cable has a short in it. I tested it by unplugging the two wire harnesses on each end. Two of the pins on one end are shorted since there is continuity. What happened originally was that the cruise control switch activator would honk my horn ! Basically the cruise control and the horn wires inside of the spiral cable are touching each other grounding the connection. I am going to salvage yard to replace my spiral cable. Coincidentally, I probably messed up the spiral cable after replacing my steering rack by turning the steering wheel too far. (all other functions including the air bag are working)....what do you think Lynchburg?

BTW: Did you get your problem fixed JCrook?

I say replace the spiral cable. Directions are somewhere deep in here: http://www.**********s.com/camry/ I'd look up the exact PDF... but I need to start a paper thats due in 5 hours.

jcrook22 · 05-03-2010, 02:41 PM

yes. one of the springs broke. i went to he parts yard and picked up a new one. and replaced it. but in checking the wires as you said. i noticed that my cruise control does not work at all. and noticed that the wires were also grounded together.

SMR · 05-05-2010, 01:11 AM

Yesterday, I went to the salvage yard and pulled a spiral cable out of another 95 camry. I tested the pins and found no shorts. So, yes...I have same problem that you guys had. Thanks for the confirmation. It took me a long time to figure out the issue. I knew that the issue wasn't caused by a stuck relay since I could apply voltage to it and here it clicking. I carefully tested the horn wire with an ohmmeter by following the wire from the horn switch down thru the spiral cable and into the steering column. I knew that it was being grounded somehow. Then I thought of pulling out the spiral cable and voila...two pins were shorting out.

P.S. I know about **********s and Camrystuff websites...that is where I found the wiring schematics!