1981 vette horn
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 300
Likes: 83
1981 vette horn
My horn has not worked on my vette since i purchased it 3 years ago had other problems to address first. took the assembly apart 2 weeks ago . decided to buy every thing and replace it new. removed the steering wheel and the first thing i replaced was the spring assemble the pin with the spring on it plus the black do hicky that goes on top of the spring and twist into the plastic grove to hold it in place. I thought but just a guess that the rod because it has a spring it would move if pushed down. it does not but maybe thats the way it works. assembled the rest of the parts very carefully . i noticed with a flash light that the L bracket that touches the pin which blows the horn were touching each other. also replaced the horn relay still no horn, I have the shop manual for this car it tells me that it is fused threw the courtsy fuse that fuse is good. to be honest i really dont know if there is a horn up front. I have looked but like a lot of others they cant find the horns. any suggestion that i should look for thank in advance
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,597
Likes: 2,540
You should have started with the horns themselves and directly applied voltage to see if they work.
1981-corvette-horn-location
1981-corvette-horn-location
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 300
Likes: 83
I dont disagree with you but you have to jack the vehicle up to get at them. iam 83 years old not a easy task trying to avoid taking it to a shop and paying $90 dollars an hour if can possibly do it my self
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 352
Likes: 42
That picture of the 81 horn location is WRONG! At least it was for my 81 built in St Louis. MY horns are WAY out to each side in the fender area. You can barely see them by opening the hood and in that area between the hood and the bumper you can see the wire to one of them. Reach up in there and you'll feel them. I was able to get the wire off one and hook up a test light. Then I could see that they were getting power when I hit the horn button.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,596
Likes: 3,082
From: Shamong, NJ
Early 81's have one horn mounted on the support near the top center of the area behind the grill, and the second horn mounted on the front bumper support (much like the illustration in the link above). Later 81's have both horns mounted behind the grills, but moved outside of the headlights, more or less in the area behind the parking lights, if that makes sense. I think the change took place around May or June 1981, about the same time production started in Bowling Green. A friend has my 81 Assembly Manual, so I can't describe exactly how they're mounted, or check to see if there is a date for when the change took place, but I know St Louis 81's have been seen with both mounting locations, while Bowling Green cars all have the later, outboard mounted the horns.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 300
Likes: 83
while we are on this subject and i have people chiming in which i really appriciate. the horn assembly really puzzles me. you have no electrical power going to the horn assembly the only power i know of is that going to the directional lever. with that in mind what makes the horn blow is when you depress the horn ring. it has some thing to do with the small plunger with the flat side of the plunger setting in that small hole that has a spring and a retaining plastic retainer that keep the pin in the center on the hole, this pin must move to let power from the relay go to the horns. my question is how??? I have searched my bench manual for the horn operation it only gives me trouble shooting info, the assembly manual only gives you a picture drawing on where it goes also have searched you tube this is quite a challenge
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 381
Likes: 90
From: Portland, the original!
Let folks know where you are and maybe we can lend a hand.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 352
Likes: 42
How the horns work is this - When you press on the horn button you GROUND the power to the horn relay (under the dash) that relay then sends + 12 VDC to the two horns. The hole with a spring in it is used to get the ground signal to the relay. Did you check your relay? You can test the relay with a couple of jumper wires and a 12 VDC source. Oh, and check the fuse of course that feeds power to the relay and horn circuit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,410
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From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Start by downloading Jim Sheas Steering Papers.
The steering column is a complex unit with many parts.
To start you can sit in the driver's seat and replacing the 'bent over' part.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com
The steering column is a complex unit with many parts.
To start you can sit in the driver's seat and replacing the 'bent over' part.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 300
Likes: 83
docohm thanks for the reply now i have some one who is thinking like me. so as mentioned I replaced all the horn parts in the steering column, plus the relay. I have checked the relay and it has power. now lets back up a little, the key in the column is that pin with the spring in it. the one i took out was very small and the black holdrt which holds the pin and spring assembly in place was shot. so on you tube they said the long pin that comes with the kit cut it off so it is about 1/4 inch longer than the original pin which i did also i had three spacers under the horn assembly which i reinstalled when i put it back togather . so when you press on the outer ring on the horn assembly this presses on the round flex plate which has a L. shaped bracket on it that sets on top of that spring assembly is it suppose to touch the pin or what this is the clue to the horn power it makes or breaks a circuit do you know how close I should have the L b racket to the pin harbor freight has horns for sale for $9.99 iam going to but a set locate the horn wire and test it that way instead of jacking up the vette thanks for all of your help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 300
Likes: 83
I hope this info helps people in the future. this morning I ordered a new spring loaded pin, just incase. the new pin and spring the pin is longer and the spring is stronger. prior to starting this project I looked it up on you tube, some guy said the pin is to long you must cut 1/4 inch off if it which i did WRONG. there are 2 green wires going threw the wire harness i shaved off a little coating on the 2 wires not knowing which one it was took my probe light and had my wife push the horn ring no power on ether wire. o.k. next step I had some directions i down loaded one section was to take the steering wheel and horn assembly apart to the pin ground that pin .bingo the horn blew. so now i know the horn works, the assembly kit comes with shims so when i put it back to gather its only a matter of getting the right shims in so it is a fraction from the spring loaded pin.
thanks for all the help hope this post helps some one in the future
thanks for all the help hope this post helps some one in the future
