My horn was working intermittently and so, I pulled the housing off the steering column to clean out the contact to the ring plate and also pulled the horn cover off the steering wheel to check the contacts and ground cable. They all looked "ok" and clean.

My hazard lights work fine and after checking the electrical schematic to the truck, it looks like the horn and hazard lights are connected to the same fuse.

I pulled the horn from the front right side of the truck. What do I do now to check for horn function? Is it as simple as using some wires and connecting the horn directly to the battery?

Any suggestions?

 

It could be the rotary coupling "thingy" that allows the connection to be made and the wheel to still be turned. The connector wears down and stop hitting. When you go to take the steering wheel off loosen the nut but don't take it all the way off. Sooo you don't hit yourself with the wheel when you pull it off. Bryan

 

If you want to check the actual horn just connect it directly to the battery, I don't know if polarity matters but just to be sure connect it the same way it was in the truck. If the horn works then it could be the connections in the steering wheel, or maybe a relay if you have one in an 88.

 

bryan - I've checked the spring-loaded pin that makes contact with the ring plate under the steering wheel and it's fine. Are you referring to another contact that can only be accessed by removing the steering wheel?

 

eric-the-red : great to hear from you again. I'll wire the horn up and listen for noise. Thanks again.

 

Finally fixed the horn. It was this loose wire running from the opposite end of the spring loaded connector that rides on the ring-like plate under the steering wheel. Talk about an unobvious connection. Anyway, it's good to have the horn back again, even if sounds like a roadrunner 'beep beep'.

Thanks for all your help guys!