Horn button

[bikernut]

my horn in my 2003 GMC 3500 works part s if I hit it long enough and stay working until I let it set for a day or longer. How do I take the horn button of the steering wheel or really how do I take the air bag off the steering wheel so I can get to the horn guts and see what is wrong? What I am going to find inside once I remove the bag? Has any one else ever have this problem? thanks

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by bikernut

my horn in my 2003 GMC 3500 works part s if I hit it long enough and stay working until I let it set for a day or longer. How do I take the horn button of the steering wheel or really how do I take the air bag off the steering wheel so I can get to the horn guts and see what is wrong? What I am going to find inside once I remove the bag? Has any one else ever have this problem? thanks

Most likely rust between the air bag module (SIR) & steering wheel....
Disconnect the negitive battery cable...Wait 30 minutes
Turn the steering wheel so the side of the SIR module is at the 12 o'clock position in order to gain access to the access holes behind the steering wheel. (1st pic)

Insert a small/long flat-bladed screwdeiver into each access hole and push the leaf spring in order to release the notched pin that retains the inflator module. (2nd pic)

EASILY pull SIR module toward you. (3rd pic)

Release the lock on the electrical connector (4th pic)

[bikernut]

great pictures, am I going to see the same setup as in older trucks for the horn or do they have something different now? thanks

[Lugnut64052]

Thanks for the pictures, clinebarger. I'm having the same "part-time" horn issue.

I looked up the removal procedure in Mitchell and tried to get the horn button off. After much digging around in those pockets I could get one side to pop loose, but not the other. Highly frustrating.

Was wondering what motion we're supposed to be using. Merely pushing does not make it release. Finally started levering back and forth, up and down and one side eventually popped loose. Is this right?

[bikernut]

finally got up the nerve to tackle the air bag removal and didn't really find anything wrong, took off the horn pivots and still didn't see much wrong but I took some sandpaper and roughed up the area when the pivots make contact and that was the problem as they with glazed over or tarnished whatever anyone want to call it but I have my horn back and now I can get my state inspection sticker as all issues for safety are fixed.

[OLDIRON69]

My 2005 2500HD has the same issue, I cannot locate the slots on th eback side of the wheel. Should it be the same?

[bikernut]

no slots just 2 small holes one located on each side of steering wheel and you use a small allen wrench to push in the locking tab a bit to release the air bag retainer, but make sure you have disconnected the battery(s) and let the vehicle set a while ( I let mine set over night)to let the air bag deactivate