grinding noise from the steering column

[roza31]

I've had a rattling grinding noise coming from the steering column so I checked it out. Sorry, don't know much about this stuff but this is what it looks like. In back of the steering wheel inside the column housing, is a green wire which is obviously for the horn. This wire makes contact on a metal ring on the back of the wheel but isn't fixed to the ring so it slides freely around as the wheel is turned. Well mine doesn't slide freely. The ring looks a bit oxided over and the wire tip a bit frayed so maybe clean them up a bit but the way it's made looks a bit shoddy like maybe there should be another bit on the end of the wire so it'd slide or roll smoothly. Just creaks and groans from age I guess. I checked it out in the manuel and there's no info or pics. Has anyone ever had this prob? Any info or suggestions appreciated. Thanks

[tehekho]

I've had a rattling grinding noise coming from the steering column so I checked it out. Sorry, don't know much about this stuff but this is what it looks like. In back of the steering wheel inside the column housing, is a green wire which is obviously for the horn. This wire makes contact on a metal ring on the back of the wheel but isn't fixed to the ring so it slides freely around as the wheel is turned. Well mine doesn't slide freely. The ring looks a bit oxided over and the wire tip a bit frayed so maybe clean them up a bit but the way it's made looks a bit shoddy like maybe there should be another bit on the end of the wire so it'd slide or roll smoothly. Just creaks and groans from age I guess. I checked it out in the manuel and there's no info or pics. Has anyone ever had this prob? Any info or suggestions appreciated. Thanks

Clean it and coat with a thin lubricant.

[roza31]

Thanks tehekho I'll do that. I wasn't sure if lubricant might be a problem with contact between the plate and the wire. Might even go a step further and solder a ball on the tip of the wire so it'll slide smother over the polished plate.

[ferozamaniac]

The plate must been warned out or the pin of the wire is broken, on my feroza it has a small bump on the top of the pin.

[roza31]

Thanks for the informed answer ferozamaniac. I thought that might be the case, I have no pin just a frayed wire end. I'll try a ball of solder on the tip and see how we go.