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Horn issue

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Old Oct 11, 2014 | 11:24 PM
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Default Horn issue

1977 here. I go to the local auto store and buy a Horn Relay, put it in the car and honk the horn, everything works... but the horn is a hair trigger so I pull the cap off trying to adjust it some while firing off the horn repeatedly, which my neighbors love. I pull the cap off, The horn sounds off constant.. i then grab for the relay and pull it out. horn stops sounding..

Here lies the problem, I put the horn button cap back on, and put the relay back in and nothing... no beeps.

The horn relay is now warm, and im not seeing a "Horn fuse" in the fuse panel, thinking I maybe have blown a fuse.. but I cant find it to check, any suggestions/answers? or did I just fry the horn relay?

Thanks
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Old Oct 12, 2014 | 11:20 AM
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No fuse.. you may have cooked your new relay.. I'm not sure.

You might test the relay to see if it's working.. if not replace and start over. I'd take a look at the upper contact and see if it is damaged or if the insulating material broke loose. To take it out of the loop for testing just remove it. To make the horn operate simply ground the upper pin to the column hub.

Willcox


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Old Oct 12, 2014 | 02:04 PM
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thanks

Last edited by Giant_Robot; Oct 12, 2014 at 05:34 PM.
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Old Oct 12, 2014 | 05:41 PM
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The insulating material looks fine and I dont see any of the above metal touching the metal below the insulation. So it 'seems' the contact is operating correctly.

As soon as the new relay is plugged in, the horn sounds off. Annoying as initially it was just a hair trigger, now it's no trigger at all, auto fire.
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Old Oct 12, 2014 | 06:59 PM
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Something is grounding out the relay that's for sure... Remove the upper contact.. plug in the relay and see if it blows then. If it doesn't you have your issue found.. If it does, then I'd take a look at the wiring between the relay and the upper contact. Check the turn signal switch connector at the bottom of the column.. possibly something touching the wire there??
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Old Oct 12, 2014 | 07:01 PM
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indeed... ive removed it and it blows.

got a new new relay just now, to see if thats the problem
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Old Oct 12, 2014 | 07:20 PM
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new relay, same issue... definately grounding out somewhere.... ..
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Old Oct 12, 2014 | 09:09 PM
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your issue is definitely in the column.. The only way for the horn to blow is if there is ground on that pin. You might remove the pin and test again.. if not your gonna have to go digging in the column for the issue.

Willcox
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Old Oct 12, 2014 | 11:19 PM
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Got it working, Thanks! The spring had been pushed through the lower contact and was touching the column.
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Old Oct 13, 2014 | 09:15 PM
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Sweet.. good deal and glad you figured it out.. These things can drive you nuts.
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