Horn Button ....

[bob12]

Noticed a little problem today in that the left hand button works but not the right .... so clearly the horn earth on the steering wheel and the horns themselves are OK.

Haven't look at the problem yet .... BUT anybody got any tips for 'lifting off' the horn button on the steering wheel of a 1990 745 before I snap the (assume) plastic snap clip on the plastic of the button? Where do you best prize it off from?

Cheers, Bob.

[Laird Scooby]

I might be wrong Bob but i'm fairly sure access to the horn buttons is made fairly easy if you remove the steering wheel centre pad first, you can then see the horn button from the side and if memory serves correctly, how to remove them.
The centre pad just pulls off from memory as well.

[bob12]

Thanks Dave. Had a quick look (and I mean quick!) on my breaker yesterday and there is no visible access to the horn push from inside the wheel cover all you see is the earth plug/wire between the wheel and column. This morning had another quick glance when I passed by and looks like there maybe a small hole in the back of the wheel spoke just about where the button is. On another Forum someone suggested that the plastic button just flips off. Still a work in progress .... when I get the urge, and at least I am not hornless as the left hand button works.

[Laird Scooby]

Just had a look at the Haynes Book of Fantasy and i quote :

"These are removed by prising them out of the steering wheel. They are difficult to remove without damage (photo)."

The one photo that is shown is not very clear and shows the button out being held delicately by a grubby paw.
The hole in the back of the steering wheel spoke seems to correspond to a rivet of some description to hold the soft rubber cover onto the metal steering wheel frame.

I don't know how much Volvo charge for horn buttons but it might be an idea to buy a new one from them or try spraying some contact cleaner into your existing horn button rather than trying to remove (and probably break) the existing button from either your car or the breaker. Or just swap steering wheels?

[bob12]

Thanks again Dave. You have prompted me to have a closer look! Yes, looked at Haynes which as usual is not much help except there is a pic of sorts! That made me turn to FAQ's where there are some partly helpful words, but not quite correct.

So went out to the breaker armed with a small butter knife/spreader with a flat thin springy blade about 2 cm wide raided from the kitchen cutlery draw! Took it very cautiously and moderately easily removed the black plastic button. It's held in place with 4 plastic protrusions/nubs 2 top and 2 bottom. They are not hook shaped but slot into suitable holes in the plastic frame of the switch. The button has a plastic 'pin' in the centre of the moulding which pushes on a copper sprung contact plate with centre spot contact that makes the connection with a fixed contact in the wheel housing when you push the button. By design this spring action keeps the button out in place.

The gap between the top plastic knubs is about 2cm so the butter knife was the ideal size to use as it levered evenly. At the top edge you insert the knife into the gap between the steering wheel spoke and the top edge of the button the object is to gently lever the top of the cover up away from the steering wheel so that you release the top 2 knubs and then the bottom 2 come away easily

I think I might well give the button on my car a squirt with switch cleaner first as the whole thing is rather simple :

[Laird Scooby]

If your sandwiches taste of plastic you'll know why now Bob!

Surprised you got it out intact but at least you can see better where the problem might be now.