Horn Relay question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
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Horn Relay question
Just put a new contact mechanism in my steering column, as well as installing a new horn. It will honk, but intermittently. When I press the horn button I can hear the relay click even when the horn doesnt blow. Can the relay click and not function properly? Thanks...Don
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
If the relay clicks, there's nothing wrong there. I had the same type of problem with my anti-theft alarm. It was the horn. Check your ground.cc
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
The relay has contacts just like the points in your distributor. It also has a coil winding. When the coil is energized it causes the points to contact each other.
Generally, when a relay fails, it does so completely not intermittently. On the other hand, a bad ground will cause intermittent failure. Especially on a Corvette.
cc
Generally, when a relay fails, it does so completely not intermittently. On the other hand, a bad ground will cause intermittent failure. Especially on a Corvette.
cc
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Yes. The relay can 'click' and the horn may or may not work. The 'click' is the energizing of the relay solenoid (coil) that is powered by the horn switch. Once energized, the contact points need to pass current for the horn to work. Those points are probably burned/corroded.
Remove the horn relay from the car (mark the location of all the wires first, of course). Bend open the housing tabs on the bottom. Take off the case and look for the contact points. Fold a piece of wet/dry sandpaper so that it will work on top and on bottom. Stick it between the contact points and put a bit of pressure on the arm so the contacts will close on the sandpaper. Run the paper back & forth to clean off the contacts. If you don't end up with clean, smooth contact points, buy a new horn relay. If you do, put it back together, re-install in the car and put another 20K miles on it.
Remove the horn relay from the car (mark the location of all the wires first, of course). Bend open the housing tabs on the bottom. Take off the case and look for the contact points. Fold a piece of wet/dry sandpaper so that it will work on top and on bottom. Stick it between the contact points and put a bit of pressure on the arm so the contacts will close on the sandpaper. Run the paper back & forth to clean off the contacts. If you don't end up with clean, smooth contact points, buy a new horn relay. If you do, put it back together, re-install in the car and put another 20K miles on it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 151
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Thanks for the suggestion. when i took the horn off i noticed the area where the ground wire connects had some surface rust on it. i sanded it down a little, but not sure if it cleaned it all up. 7t1, thanks for the suggestion on the relay. i kinda had that thought in mind but wasnt sure if it was doable. I'll give it a try tonight. thanks to all for your help Don
