Scott, I always suspect the horn ring first since they do wear out over
time.  However this time the problem is in the horn button itself.  There
are plastic fingers that interlock at three points inside the button.
Around these fingers there are springs.  The springs keep the two halves of
the inside of the horn button from touching when you aren't pushing on it.
There are two metal sheets with dimples on them that are held apart and
when you press the horn, these two metal sheets touch at one of the dimples
which completes the circuit and the horn sounds.  One of the fingers is
totally broken away.  The spring was sitting inside the horn button
randomly moving around every time I turned the wheel.  So you get a version
of horn roulette where you spin the wheel and then take your chances about
whether the horn is going to sound or not.  It is not a fun game :-(

A good used horn button will fix the problem.  Just be careful not to punch
your horn button in anger.  It may lead to the button getting revenge on
you later :-)

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

On Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 4:27 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

>  I probably have one Ken.
> Are you sure it's not something to do with the horn contact ring on the
> back of the steering wheel ?
> that's what usually messes up.  Pretty common considering the age of all
> these Fine Machines.
> That horn ring should be lubed once a year too .  I don't think any of
> them ever do get lubed.  They wear badly, eventually, in just one spot -
> that corresponds to driving straight down the road most of the time.
> scott
> turbovans
>
>  On 2/26/2013 12:51 PM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) wrote:
>
> I am in need of a nice condition padded horn button for a late model
> Vanagon.  Black pleather is what I need and it needs to not be broken.
> Current one is randomly honking whenever the demons inside tell it to.  I
> tried sprinkling with Holy Water but at this point I just need to exercise
> it into the trash can.  If anyone can help me out please pmail me.
>
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16www.vanagain.com
>
>
>