Got this 72 Ford LTD recently. A new battery took a few weeks to die. I just moved it from side to side of the street for a few weeks, as per the city's alternate side of the street parking regulations.

All seemed to work after a mechanic replaced an small electrical part situated to the right of the righmost headlight, behind the fender and behind the battery. (Forgot its name and function.) I was shown that the charging system is working, and drove home.

The car continues to conk out after a short drive. I suspect an undiagnosed elctrical leak.

The horn never worked. I pressed hard everywhere on the steering wheel but got no response. So I removed, from the steering wheel, the piece that covers the horn's innards. (See pics)

I don't understand what contacts need cleaning, or even what contacts need be made - to make it work. (There's cruise control buttons I never use, but that adds to my confusion.)

BUT - upon trying to re-attach the cover to the steering wheel, while fidgeting to place it right, the horn's sound would go off that moment. It happened a few times. So I knew the horn problem could now be narrowed down to a contact problem at the steering wheel level.

With the cover piece now in place, the horn still won't work.
I include pics I hope you can help resolve my issue. Thank you in advance.

I have a question:
Can the horn's poor contacts cause my "slow" draining electrical leak?