[dave`12]

I think you have nailed it, something has got paint on it. (sanding the parts did not help).

Here is a picture of the steering wheel. I did not think any part of this needed to be clean, am I wrong?

Maybe the circle around the hole for the shaft? How about the inside part with the ridges that catch the steering shaft?

Got it to honk again while pressing on the steering wheel rim!

thanx