Weird Problem...Leaking Steering Wheel, Horn, & CC

[Black Mammoth]

My wife drives a 01 EB with 42k miles. I won't be able to take a look at the car until Friday (I'm out of town). Last night she said that the horn was on solid for about 5 minutes. Then it would go off and then be on solid for another 5 minutes or so. Finally it stopped. There was nothing she could do to get it to shut off. Then she mentioned earlier in the day that the cruise control wasn't working and that there was some fluid leaking from the steering wheel. She said that there aren't any lights in the cluster gauge on and/or blinking.

She has an appointment tomorrow at the Ford dealership. As her being a woman AND taking it to a dealership, I'm afraid they are going to try and take us to the cleaners. I'm trying to get an idea of what the problem is so I can filter the dealer BS crap.

I'm thinking that it could be the following. Part of the air bag busted, causing the leaking fluid. Then that would cause the shorts in the steering wheel to make the cruise control not to work and the horn to stay on constantly.

Can anyone back this up or give me an alternate theory? Also, do we know what kind of $$$ we are talking about? I'm afraid it's going to be over $1000.

Thanks

 

[stretch]

I don't know what's causing the problem or how to fix it, sorry. I thought the airbags ran off of a compressed gas and wouldn't think they could leak liquid. You should be able to pull the fuse for the horn to at least shut it up. Sorry I couldn't help more. Good luck with the dealership.

 

[Robb]

My theory is that something got spilled in it. Got kids? The airbag should just be a solid chemical igniter. Whatever fluid it is could easily cause the horn shorting.

Robb

 

[Black Mammoth]

Thanks for the replies. No kids or anything like that. It's not something we spilt. Actually the car wasn't driven for 3 days. Then my wife took the car to go to a friend's house. She noticed the liquid and the cruise control not working. I'm not sure what would be leaking...other than maybe an air bag. But I do suspect that the liquid leaking is causing the cruise control and horn not to work properly.

Also, where is the fuse for the horn if it does go off? She was looking for it last night, but couldn't find it.

Thanks

 

[Black Mammoth]

More Info...

The fluid has a slight odor, it is quick evaporating and it is clear.

Any ideas?

 

[TPLYNCH]

Stumped... sorry

 

[Black Mammoth]

Problem Fixed!

I have to hand it to the Ford Dealership. They didn't screw me over that bad They said that there shouldn't be any liquid under/inside the steering wheel. They found the liquid, but they weren't sure where it came from. The fuse was blown on the cruise control. The horn was sticking because of the liquid substance. Anyway, they charged me a min of $30 for opening up the steering wheel. They cleaned up the stuff, cleaned the contacts, and replaced the fuse. The total was $58. It's a bit much for what they did. But at least the problem is solved. We only have one theory how the liquid got inside. It's possible that there was some snow/ice on my wife's gloves (after cleaning the snow off the car) and it possibly melted off while she was driving.

 

[tenikiwon]

I would think that she must have had a TON on snow/ice on her gloves. My sunroof leaks and it flows down the windshield of drips on the steering wheel and the only problem I have is that if the steering wheel isn't all the way up the blinkers don't work and the button for the washer fluid is a PITA to get to go on.

 

[professorweed]

I believe the fluid leaking from the steering wheel can only be from one source--the wheel is cushioned slightly with a gel-filling that has now began to leach out. This appears to be the cause of the horn/cruise control problem, as the goo is evidently caustic enough to leach out, it should also be caustic enough to foul those switches.
I also have a leaking S/W and the goo coming out of mine is black and viscous.
I also believe the dealer is aware of the faulty nature of these S/Ws and found a way to not honor warranty on your problem, but rather made money off you by feigning ignorance.