93' Dakota steering column ground?

Hi guys, I was wondering if anybody knows where the steering colum shaft picks up it's ground from? The truck is a 93' Dodge Dakota 4 wheel drive with a V6 in it. The problem is no horn. The ground side of the horn relay coil is switched through the horn button in the steering wheel. If I ground the steering shaft the horn works. Does the steering shaft/wheel pick up a ground through a clock spring or does the shaft/wheel ground through the steering box to the frame?

should be bolted (if not welded) to the chasis all over the place.  also, im guessing you checked the fuse, just incase.MECP certified installer

Hi Sroth, The steering tube is grounded in a few places,however the shaft that the steering wheel bolts to makes no contact with a ground source other than via the steering box. I'm thinking that the steering wheel/shaft probably grounds via a clock spring or some kind of sliding contact in the steering wheel. I was hoping some one would remember the set-up or have a diagram that they could e-mail me. I do thank you for your input. The ground is the problem,there is no doubt!   

Most cars that I noticed when removing the steering wheel, have the horn wire grounded at a different spot other than at the steering column. The wires are run to the wheel, but are grounded elsewhere. Have you done a continuity test on the wire to see where the break might be ? The wire might be severed ot broken near the shaft and that's why your getting the problem when you ground the shaft.Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Hi Jeff, The negative wire from the relay coil goes up to the horn button,then through the switch in the button and straight to the metal frame of the steering wheel. After passing through the switch it simply grounds to the steering wheel. Maybe that is not the factory set-up, I don't know but I have worked on Chevy G-Vans that ground the same way. That's why I need to know where this thing is supposed to ground. Maybe it's supposed to ground through a clock spring.    

Have you tested to see if the relay is still good ?Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Jeff, Yes I have checked the relay. In fact the owner of the truck had me install a temperary toggle switch for now. He said when I figure it out he will be back. What I did was, I took the - wire from the relay (the same wire that runs to the steering wheel) and ran it to a spring loaded toggle and then to ground. It works fine like that but I don't like it. Another bit of info, If I take a jumper under the hood and jump the steering column shaft to ground the horn works fine. Right now the - wire runs up the steering column through the horn button then to the steering wheel where it is supposed to ground. I'm thinking that someone picked up that ground on the steering wheel. I don't think that Dodge designed it that way. I'm thinking that the ground is supposed to travel back down the column to ground under the dash somewhere. It would have to do that via a clock spring or some kind of contact at the steering wheel (if that makes any sense). I don't have a wiring diagram. If I did I would know. Thanks for the help. Kevin