Horn doesn't work after swapping for a FBMFSW

[ordi]

I recently swapped the standard steering wheel for a FBMFSW from a TT with DSG paddles. Everything seemed fine - the DSG paddles work and light up - but when I try the horn, not a peep. The horn worked before with my old steering wheel. I've checked the fuse, and checked all the plugs were attached correctly.

I've taken the airbag off again, to look at the wiring. There are three spade connectors on the back of the airbag, but only two are connected up. Is that right? I'll try put a picture here, but if that doesn't work, I'll try describe it.




Holding the airbag so the green connector is on the left and the orange connector is on the right, there is one spade connector around the 12 o'clock position, and another around the 7 o'clock position. These are both connected up. But there is a third, unused connector around the 1 o'clock position. What is this for? There doesn't seem to be an unused wire to attach to it.

I can't see any other stray wires sprouting from the steering column or slip ring. Nothing is mentioned in the how-to guides I've found. Those all suggest it's a pretty straight-forward plug n play, straight swap. Mine's an 05 five door Sportback. My old wheel was the shield-shaped airbag, not a multi-function one, but it was also a dual airbag with green and orange connectors. The TT one has a round airbag if that makes any difference?

Any ideas anyone?

 

[amar06fbr]

did you use your old loom?

 

[ordi]

did you use your old loom?

Nope, should I have used the old loom? Looking at the loom on my old airbag, that's only got two spade connectors branching out from the green and orange plugs too.

 

[fangio]

The horn wires are just earths. Connect the vacant spade to one of the other earths. If you look at what happens when you press the horn to the base, you'll see that all they do is complete the circuit through the other two wires. Look very closely where the two parts meet and you will see some tiny contacts; four I think.

 

[ordi]

The horn wires are just earths. Connect the vacant spade to one of the other earths. If you look at what happens when you press the horn to the base, you'll see that all they do is complete the circuit through the other two wires. Look very closely where the two parts meet and you will see some tiny contacts; four I think.

Sorry, I wasn't that clear in my description. I don't have a vacant spade connector. But the opposite. There's an unused connection point/terminal type thing. I don't know what the technical term for it is. It looks like there should be a spade connector attached to it. The problem is, I don't have am unused (third) wire with spade connector. There are only two spade connectors coming out of the airbag - each wrapped in the yellow sleeve in the picture. There isn't a third wire to connect to the terminal at the 1 o' clock position.

 

[fangio]

No, you're reading it wrong. Make up a short piece of wire with a female spade crimped to one end and join the other end to a part of the loom that goes to the horn wires, then connect it to the male spade that's vacant near your orange plug. There are three connections for the horn.

Make sure you insulate the join in the wires or the horn will sound if a bare wire contacts the metal!

I've done exactly the same swap.:icon_thumright:

 

[JS3]

PS any pics of the completed install?

 

[fangio]

Sorry, no. It's easy enough.

 

[LEE69]

Think he wanted a picture of the wheel now fitted.
I have the correct controller, just need to find the wheel/loom lol

 

[ordi]

Think he wanted a picture of the wheel now fitted.I have the correct controller, just need to find the wheel/loom lol

Here is mine fitted now. Horn now works. I ended up buying a replacement airbag wiring loom off a well-known auction site with three earth's rather than trying to modify mine with only two. I'm no electrician so didn't fancy messing about with mine especially seeing as the airbag was involved.

 

[LEE69]

Very nice