New steering wheel is killing my battery! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

70c10 · 09-22-2002, 02:03 PM

I recently installed my new Grant steering wheel and my battery is dead again. I'm pretty sure it's because of the brass plunger in the column making contact with the back of the turn signal cam. This cam rides on this plunger at all times so the horn will work. I noticed when I removed the other late model wheel that was on there the cam was removed so it couldn't kill the battery. Why is this killing my battery. Somehow this is causing a slow constant drain. Any ideas?

*Zkast* · 09-22-2002, 02:06 PM

The grant wheel adapter grounds the horn ring because of a poor design. You'll either need to disable the horn switch (remove the wire from the connector or unplug the horn relay. When grounded, this relay will pull about 2amps which is enough to pull a good battery down in 2 days or a weak battery in 1 day.

I've gone though and modified my horn ring so it doesnt ground on the adapter, also added a spacer ring between the adapter and horn ring.

70c10 · 09-22-2002, 05:28 PM

Zkast,
How did you modify this horn ring and how did you make a spacer?. I finally have a horn that works and now it's killing my battery!. Not cool!!!!!

*Zkast* · 09-22-2002, 05:38 PM

I'll get a few pics of what I had to do. The one I modified is complete already but I just bought a rebuilt tilt and will need to do the same thing to it. I'll take pics and describe as I go.

Might be a few days

70c10 · 09-22-2002, 05:45 PM

Zkast,
That sounds good. This thing is driving me nuts. I'm gonna send Grant an email and let them know alot us with these trucks are experiencing probs with the horn assemblies. Thanks again!

Longhorn Man · 09-23-2002, 02:21 AM

Interesting, i have never had a problem. Installed them in 4 trucks now.
Dopuble check that you have the right instal kit, there was a chainge in 70 if I remember correctly.

70c10 · 09-23-2002, 07:51 AM

Andy,
You are correct about 1970. My column is a 67' and I had to get the kit for that year. But the plunger is in constant contact with the back of the turnsignal cam which is ultimately in contact with the steering shaft via the nut. All these contact points are necessary to make the freakin' horn work but at the same time kill the battery!.

Stout72 · 09-23-2002, 11:20 AM

Hmmm, that may be why the horn wire is disconnected in my Grant. That's the way it was when I bought the truck. Since the horn is out of the truck, I thought that might be why. I'll be watching this thread for the remedy. Thanks.

barn9 · 09-23-2002, 11:25 AM

I had that same problem, had the wheel on and off so many times, I had to get another horn kit. I called Grant customer service and was treated with no respect whatsoever, in fact the guy was a real dick. He told me that the kit was engineered for that installation and that it was quite evident that it was my fault if it didn't work, that I must not have followed the instructions. The guy was a total a**hole. I ended up putting a generic horn button under the dash, and wiring it in where the old connection is at the relay. And I never miss an opportunity to tell the world
GRANT HORN KITS SUCK!

70c10 · 09-23-2002, 11:54 AM

Hey Barn,
I knew it was it a matter of time before you saw this post!, LOL!. How do you really feel about Grant?

70c10 · 09-24-2002, 08:07 AM

ttt

09-22-2002, 02:03 PM	#1
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	New steering wheel is killing my battery! I recently installed my new Grant steering wheel and my battery is dead again. I'm pretty sure it's because of the brass plunger in the column making contact with the back of the turn signal cam. This cam rides on this plunger at all times so the horn will work. I noticed when I removed the other late model wheel that was on there the cam was removed so it couldn't kill the battery. Why is this killing my battery. Somehow this is causing a slow constant drain. Any ideas? Attached Images __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

09-22-2002, 05:28 PM	#3
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	Zkast, How did you modify this horn ring and how did you make a spacer?. I finally have a horn that works and now it's killing my battery!. Not cool!!!!! __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

09-22-2002, 05:45 PM	#5
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	Zkast, That sounds good. This thing is driving me nuts. I'm gonna send Grant an email and let them know alot us with these trucks are experiencing probs with the horn assemblies. Thanks again! __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

09-23-2002, 07:51 AM	#7
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	Andy, You are correct about 1970. My column is a 67' and I had to get the kit for that year. But the plunger is in constant contact with the back of the turnsignal cam which is ultimately in contact with the steering shaft via the nut. All these contact points are necessary to make the freakin' horn work but at the same time kill the battery!. __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

09-23-2002, 11:20 AM	#8
Stout72 Not my good side. Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fairfield, California Posts: 222	Hmmm, that may be why the horn wire is disconnected in my Grant. That's the way it was when I bought the truck. Since the horn is out of the truck, I thought that might be why. I'll be watching this thread for the remedy. Thanks. __________________ 72 Chevy K20 Custom Camper, 350/350, 4" lift, dual shock suspension front & rear. Daily driver and a work in progress. 00 Suburban LT 90 Camaro RS 79 Yamaha XS1100 Special (Ol' Reliable)

09-22-2002, 02:06 PM	#2
Zkast Account Suspended Join Date: May 2002 Location: Olathe, Kansas Posts: 929	The grant wheel adapter grounds the horn ring because of a poor design. You'll either need to disable the horn switch (remove the wire from the connector or unplug the horn relay. When grounded, this relay will pull about 2amps which is enough to pull a good battery down in 2 days or a weak battery in 1 day. I've gone though and modified my horn ring so it doesnt ground on the adapter, also added a spacer ring between the adapter and horn ring.

09-22-2002, 05:38 PM	#4
Zkast Account Suspended Join Date: May 2002 Location: Olathe, Kansas Posts: 929	I'll get a few pics of what I had to do. The one I modified is complete already but I just bought a rebuilt tilt and will need to do the same thing to it. I'll take pics and describe as I go. Might be a few days

09-23-2002, 02:21 AM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Interesting, i have never had a problem. Installed them in 4 trucks now. Dopuble check that you have the right instal kit, there was a chainge in 70 if I remember correctly.

09-23-2002, 11:25 AM	#9
barn9 Half a bubble off! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Winfield, Ks, USA Posts: 5,588	I had that same problem, had the wheel on and off so many times, I had to get another horn kit. I called Grant customer service and was treated with no respect whatsoever, in fact the guy was a real dick. He told me that the kit was engineered for that installation and that it was quite evident that it was my fault if it didn't work, that I must not have followed the instructions. The guy was a total a**hole. I ended up putting a generic horn button under the dash, and wiring it in where the old connection is at the relay. And I never miss an opportunity to tell the world GRANT HORN KITS SUCK! __________________ Just call me LB. '71 Cheyenne, 402BB, hauls blondes, brunettes, or redheads.

09-23-2002, 11:54 AM	#10
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	Hey Barn, I knew it was it a matter of time before you saw this post!, LOL!. How do you really feel about Grant? __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

09-24-2002, 08:07 AM	#11
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	ttt __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads



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