Honda Car Forum

...What's up? For about 2 weeks my '92 Honda Civic's steering wheel was making a terrible squeaking and grinding noise whenever I made a turn. Then the noise stopped and so did my horn around the same time, coincidentally. Anyone know what's up? Are they connected?

This is the electrical contacts for your horn that have worn out.The contacts are usually a ring of copper or brass and a spring loaded carbon button that rides the circumference of the ring.When the carbon button wears out or breaks that was the grinding noise you heard then the spring will pop out and usually fall into the steering column somewhere.

My '93 accord was steering wheel was squeeling when I turned it. I put some power steering fluid in and it stopped. Go to a quick-lube place and have them check your power steering fluid. If its low, they should be able to fill it up. I drive an old car too, and I have to carry around an assortment of fluids just in case: oil, coolant, power steering fluid.

What has most likely happened to you is a broken "slip ring" or cable reel. The cable reel is located between the steering wheel and steering column. It contains a ribbon wire that twists around a common axis. The purpose of the cable reel is to allow the steering wheel to turn freely while allowing electronic communication to pass through uninterrupted. Functions such as the horn, cruise control and airbag pass through this device. The sound you were probably hearing was the wire inside the reel breaking apart and eventually failing.You will need to replace it. I would recommend buying a used one from a junkyard since they are mostly reliable parts. You will need to remove the steering wheel and steering column covers to access the reel and its connections. Be sure to use caution when handling the airbag, and insert the red "dummy plug" while the airbag is removed. The plug is located on the access cover of the steering wheel.