A few days ago while driving merrily along, smoke started to pour from my steering column, smelling of burning plastic. The smoke stopped after I turned off the ignition, but since then, my horn has a mind of its own. It goes off spontaneously, but stops when I hit the center of the steering wheel. Previous posts seem to suggest I have a burned-out switch and/or broken clockspring.

Is this something I can replace safely myself, or will the airbag behead me?

Any guesses on what a dealer or mechanic would charge for the job?

‘95 854T 40,000 mi.

The smoking is a symptom I've never heard of, but the plastic horn contacts are a known problem. Definitely disconnect the battery, and the airbag will be safe. Unfortunately, the horn contacts are not an individually-replaceable part. Volvo will only sell you a new steering wheel! But you may be able to repair or bypass the broken contact (there are four total contacts in the wheel).

You can fix it yourself. Just disconnect the battery before you remove the airbag from the steering wheel. But of course you're gonna have to find out where the smoke came from. The T-30 Torx screws in the back of the steering wheel secure the airbag to the wheel. Remove these two screws and the bag will come off, then unplug the lead from the back of the bag. The horn contacts are in a plastic ring around the steering column, maybe that's where the burning plastic smell came from anyway. You'll have to get that from the dealer.


Mike
'95 850T

When they say be careful with the screw, be careful with the screw. There are four contacts, just disengage the one that broke "through" because of broken plastic. Pull it from its home, and tape it up. I WILL figure out a way to really fix that horn problem one day without replacing the steering wheel. It's one of my many missions.