Horn troubleshooting tips
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 16,499
Likes: 2,384
From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Horn troubleshooting tips
The horn in my 82 does not work when pressing the horn button on the steering wheel. The horns will activate if the alarm goes off. The fuse is new. Is there a way to test the contacts under the horn button (cap)? Would the horns work at all if the horn relay is bad? As I stated, the horns will work if the alarm is activated. Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
rust forms between the two pieces(plates) of steel that are held together by the plastic rivets. this prevents current flow. test the circuit by grouding the horn contact button(the spring loaded cylinder that the horn contact finger pushes against) and see if that sounds the horn. if the horn sounds, it's a bad contact. remove the rivets and wire brush, or buy a new one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
This paper is pretty good at explaining how the horn works along with diagnostics.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...osis13JN06.doc
This picture is very accurate as to your steering wheel and horn parts.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...sRev08AU04.doc
Jim
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...osis13JN06.doc
This picture is very accurate as to your steering wheel and horn parts.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...sRev08AU04.doc
Jim
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 16,499
Likes: 2,384
From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
This paper is pretty good at explaining how the horn works along with diagnostics.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...osis13JN06.doc
This picture is very accurate as to your steering wheel and horn parts.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...sRev08AU04.doc
Jim
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...osis13JN06.doc
This picture is very accurate as to your steering wheel and horn parts.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...sRev08AU04.doc
Jim
Thanks again for your help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
This paper is pretty good at explaining how the horn works along with diagnostics.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...osis13JN06.doc
This picture is very accurate as to your steering wheel and horn parts.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...sRev08AU04.doc
Jim
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...osis13JN06.doc
This picture is very accurate as to your steering wheel and horn parts.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...sRev08AU04.doc
Jim
While removing my wheel the spring and all the parts shot out at me and I think I reinstalled them incorrectly. The horn doesn't work now and the car needs an inspection by the end of the month.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Those papers are posted in Microsoft Word. I just have been way too busy to update my papers to pdf format. Sorry.
BTW, the small spring (similar to a ball point pen spring) goes into the horn tower first. Then the plunger (aka eyelet, that looks like a small blunt nail) with the upset end first against the spring. Then the plastic bushing (aka insulator). That bushing is either a press fit to the plastic horn tower or the tower will have a channel and the bushing may have a tab that cams into the channel.
Some kits come with an eyelet that is too long and you are expected to cut the pin to length. You want the eyelet to be spring loaded against a leg on the underside of the upper horn contact #7. It should always be in contact with the leg but not "crushing" the spring.
You can see the spring #2, eyelet #3, and insulator #4 in the above picture.
Jim
BTW, the small spring (similar to a ball point pen spring) goes into the horn tower first. Then the plunger (aka eyelet, that looks like a small blunt nail) with the upset end first against the spring. Then the plastic bushing (aka insulator). That bushing is either a press fit to the plastic horn tower or the tower will have a channel and the bushing may have a tab that cams into the channel.
Some kits come with an eyelet that is too long and you are expected to cut the pin to length. You want the eyelet to be spring loaded against a leg on the underside of the upper horn contact #7. It should always be in contact with the leg but not "crushing" the spring.
You can see the spring #2, eyelet #3, and insulator #4 in the above picture.
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Those papers are posted in Microsoft Word. I just have been way too busy to update my papers to pdf format. Sorry.
BTW, the small spring (similar to a ball point pen spring) goes into the horn tower first. Then the plunger (aka eyelet, that looks like a small blunt nail) with the upset end first against the spring. Then the plastic bushing (aka insulator). That bushing is either a press fit to the plastic horn tower or the tower will have a channel and the bushing may have a tab that cams into the channel.
Some kits come with an eyelet that is too long and you are expected to cut the pin to length. You want the eyelet to be spring loaded against a leg on the underside of the upper horn contact #7. It should always be in contact with the leg but not "crushing" the spring.
You can see the spring #2, eyelet #3, and insulator #4 in the above picture.
Jim
BTW, the small spring (similar to a ball point pen spring) goes into the horn tower first. Then the plunger (aka eyelet, that looks like a small blunt nail) with the upset end first against the spring. Then the plastic bushing (aka insulator). That bushing is either a press fit to the plastic horn tower or the tower will have a channel and the bushing may have a tab that cams into the channel.
Some kits come with an eyelet that is too long and you are expected to cut the pin to length. You want the eyelet to be spring loaded against a leg on the underside of the upper horn contact #7. It should always be in contact with the leg but not "crushing" the spring.
You can see the spring #2, eyelet #3, and insulator #4 in the above picture.
Jim
I just hope I found all three after they sprang out at me or that I can find the third piece. I only remember two.
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