1981 horns not working, possibly missing. Picture request.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 8
From: Redruth Cornwall
1981 horns not working, possibly missing. Picture request.
So the horns on my '81 don't seem to be working but I can't even see them.
According to my AIM and Shop manual, they should be up front between the head lights. The wiring diagram shows a dark green feed.
Can anyone post a picture of the horns in place and also show me where the cables run.
By the alternator I looked in the loom and found a dark green wire but I can't see where it should exit the loom to power the horns.
Any help appreciated.
According to my AIM and Shop manual, they should be up front between the head lights. The wiring diagram shows a dark green feed.
Can anyone post a picture of the horns in place and also show me where the cables run.
By the alternator I looked in the loom and found a dark green wire but I can't see where it should exit the loom to power the horns.
Any help appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
I have seen them also attached to the outboard side of the headlight actuator supports.
You have to look inside the loom between your headlights and find it and follow it.
Have you found the horn relay???
DUB
You have to look inside the loom between your headlights and find it and follow it.
Have you found the horn relay???
DUB
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 8
From: Redruth Cornwall
When I press the horn button I hear a relay click under the dashboard.
Will check the outboard side of the lights as you suggested.
Will check the outboard side of the lights as you suggested.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Paul,
Trying to actually "see" the horns is difficult to say the least. They are located on the forward side of the front wheel wells, just below the top of the body.
Look at this picture; if you could see behind the headlight outer bearing, this is where the horn is at. One on each side of the car. Take note of the wiring harness under the headlight frame.
Look inside the front wheel well or liner, looking towards the front; do you see this bracket?
I just painted these so they stand-out a bit. This is part of the horn bracket.
An actual picture of one of the horns:
See that wire harness?...that is the same one as in the first picture.
As I said, a bit difficult to see.
LannyL81
Trying to actually "see" the horns is difficult to say the least. They are located on the forward side of the front wheel wells, just below the top of the body.
Look at this picture; if you could see behind the headlight outer bearing, this is where the horn is at. One on each side of the car. Take note of the wiring harness under the headlight frame.
Look inside the front wheel well or liner, looking towards the front; do you see this bracket?
I just painted these so they stand-out a bit. This is part of the horn bracket.
An actual picture of one of the horns:
See that wire harness?...that is the same one as in the first picture.
As I said, a bit difficult to see.
LannyL81
Last edited by LannyL81; May 19, 2014 at 03:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 8
From: Redruth Cornwall
Paul,
Trying to actually "see" the horns is difficult to say the least. They are located on the forward side of the front wheel wells, just below the top of the body.
Look at this picture; if you could see behind the headlight outer bearing, this is where the horn is at. One on each side of the car. Take note of the wiring harness under the headlight frame.
Look inside the front wheel well or liner, looking towards the front; do you see this bracket?
I just painted these so they stand-out a bit. This is part of the horn bracket.
An actual picture of one of the horns:
See that wire harness?...that is the same one as in the first picture.
As I said, a bit difficult to see.
LannyL81
Trying to actually "see" the horns is difficult to say the least. They are located on the forward side of the front wheel wells, just below the top of the body.
Look at this picture; if you could see behind the headlight outer bearing, this is where the horn is at. One on each side of the car. Take note of the wiring harness under the headlight frame.
Look inside the front wheel well or liner, looking towards the front; do you see this bracket?
I just painted these so they stand-out a bit. This is part of the horn bracket.
An actual picture of one of the horns:
See that wire harness?...that is the same one as in the first picture.
As I said, a bit difficult to see.
LannyL81
Lanny, is this the horn?
Looks like a pain to get to!
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
This should help you fix them.. if you are hearing the click of the relay under the dash, your problem is forward of the firewall.. and probably the horn or a missing, corroded ground.
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; May 3, 2016 at 08:38 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
If you tap on the horn housing while someone is pressing on the horn button...this may allow it to sound off. Like Willcox mentioned...it is outside where your horns are...either bad/dirty ground or dirty power connection on the horn itself...or just bad /old horns.
DUB
DUB
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Paul,
You found the horns...well at least one of them anyways.
I think the best path for removal would be out the bottom; will have to remove part of the fender liner; held-in with push-in type retainers. Then you can unbolt them from within the fender liner and disconnect the two electrical connections.
You could always take out the headlight assemblies; that will definitely give access....but that is a lot of work, unless you really want to rebuild the headlight assemblies.
I took both horns out and one of them I dumped a bunch of rust out it! I was going to replace both horns, but was able to get them working and sounding pretty good by lots of tap'ing on them and turning the note adjustment screw, which required some oil to loosen it up first. I could only find universal plastic replacement horns which would have required some mods to get to fit, so I did not get them. No inspections here require working horns.
Let us know what you find-out and end-up doing.
Lanny
You found the horns...well at least one of them anyways.
I think the best path for removal would be out the bottom; will have to remove part of the fender liner; held-in with push-in type retainers. Then you can unbolt them from within the fender liner and disconnect the two electrical connections.
You could always take out the headlight assemblies; that will definitely give access....but that is a lot of work, unless you really want to rebuild the headlight assemblies.
I took both horns out and one of them I dumped a bunch of rust out it! I was going to replace both horns, but was able to get them working and sounding pretty good by lots of tap'ing on them and turning the note adjustment screw, which required some oil to loosen it up first. I could only find universal plastic replacement horns which would have required some mods to get to fit, so I did not get them. No inspections here require working horns.
Let us know what you find-out and end-up doing.
Lanny
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 8
From: Redruth Cornwall
Cheers Lanny.
Will have a go at removal. I have to get 2 tires on the front so may just remove the wheels and drop them at the auto shop. May make access easier.
If I cant get to them easily enough, my inner bubba will surface and a set of universal horns will be fitted in the middle of the headlights as previous years and I will either make a connector to go from the original wiring plug or splice in to the loom in the middle. Summer is approaching and I want to make the most of it this year.
Will have a go at removal. I have to get 2 tires on the front so may just remove the wheels and drop them at the auto shop. May make access easier.
If I cant get to them easily enough, my inner bubba will surface and a set of universal horns will be fitted in the middle of the headlights as previous years and I will either make a connector to go from the original wiring plug or splice in to the loom in the middle. Summer is approaching and I want to make the most of it this year.
Paul,
You found the horns...well at least one of them anyways.
I think the best path for removal would be out the bottom; will have to remove part of the fender liner; held-in with push-in type retainers. Then you can unbolt them from within the fender liner and disconnect the two electrical connections.
You could always take out the headlight assemblies; that will definitely give access....but that is a lot of work, unless you really want to rebuild the headlight assemblies.
I took both horns out and one of them I dumped a bunch of rust out it! I was going to replace both horns, but was able to get them working and sounding pretty good by lots of tap'ing on them and turning the note adjustment screw, which required some oil to loosen it up first. I could only find universal plastic replacement horns which would have required some mods to get to fit, so I did not get them. No inspections here require working horns.
Let us know what you find-out and end-up doing.
Lanny
You found the horns...well at least one of them anyways.
I think the best path for removal would be out the bottom; will have to remove part of the fender liner; held-in with push-in type retainers. Then you can unbolt them from within the fender liner and disconnect the two electrical connections.
You could always take out the headlight assemblies; that will definitely give access....but that is a lot of work, unless you really want to rebuild the headlight assemblies.
I took both horns out and one of them I dumped a bunch of rust out it! I was going to replace both horns, but was able to get them working and sounding pretty good by lots of tap'ing on them and turning the note adjustment screw, which required some oil to loosen it up first. I could only find universal plastic replacement horns which would have required some mods to get to fit, so I did not get them. No inspections here require working horns.
Let us know what you find-out and end-up doing.
Lanny
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 27
I fixed my horn on my '82 by simply taking the horn button off. Then the mechanism underneath was rusty, so I removed it and cleaned up the contact points with some emery cloth. Put it back together and it worked perfectly. Took all of 20 min to do and cost me nothing.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
I fixed my horn on my '82 by simply taking the horn button off. Then the mechanism underneath was rusty, so I removed it and cleaned up the contact points with some emery cloth. Put it back together and it worked perfectly. Took all of 20 min to do and cost me nothing.
DUB
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 27
I never once said in my post that what I did to solve my problem is what will solve his problem, I simply said what I did to fix my horn, FWIW. It's at least something to check, and hardly takes any effort at all. It could also be the relay itself, just because a relay is "clicking" doesn't mean the contacts are conducting electricity.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Before disassembling the front end, why not just jumper 12 vdc from the battery to the power line going to the horns (AFTER the relay). If the horns don't work, you know you have a horn problem or a wiring problem beyond where you are feeding the voltage. If they DO work, you don't need to disassemble anything to get to the horns or pull them out. Your problem would be the relay (the most likely fault), wiring, or possibly a bad ground (did you change/repair/replace the ragjoint on the steering column?).
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
Before disassembling the front end, why not just jumper 12 vdc from the battery to the power line going to the horns (AFTER the relay). If the horns don't work, you know you have a horn problem or a wiring problem beyond where you are feeding the voltage. If they DO work, you don't need to disassemble anything to get to the horns or pull them out. Your problem would be the relay (the most likely fault), wiring, or possibly a bad ground (did you change/repair/replace the ragjoint on the steering column?).
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
This is exactly why the paper above says to test the horns.. there is a connection you can break to use for testing.. If you hit the horn with 12 volts and it fails, run a jumper ground and try again. This will tell you if the horn is the issue or if the ground is at fault..
Willcox
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
I never once said in my post that what I did to solve my problem is what will solve his problem, I simply said what I did to fix my horn, FWIW. It's at least something to check, and hardly takes any effort at all. It could also be the relay itself, just because a relay is "clicking" doesn't mean the contacts are conducting electricity.
And even though you repaired yours in 20 minutes...I can tell you from experience that when removing a horn button...there is always a chance that it will come apart....and why open another can of worms when it was not needed. Which can easily occur. No need for the guy to get into an area that can cause more grief.
DUB