Horn relay?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 715
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From: Warner Robins GA
Horn relay?
Hey guys,
I had my car parked for awhile while I did some maintenance. Now that it's back and ready to go, I've noticed my horn is very quiet. I made my alarm go off on purpose to see if the issue was in the steering wheel, and the alarm was quiet as well.
When I beep the horn, I can hear a click near my radio. Is this indicative of a possibly faulty relay? Or is the click normal, but I've never heard it in the past because the horn was loud enough to disguise it?
Connections under the hood appear to be okay. Swapping out the relay should be no problem if that's the issue, but I'd rather not tear it apart if my problem is elsewhere.
I had my car parked for awhile while I did some maintenance. Now that it's back and ready to go, I've noticed my horn is very quiet. I made my alarm go off on purpose to see if the issue was in the steering wheel, and the alarm was quiet as well.
When I beep the horn, I can hear a click near my radio. Is this indicative of a possibly faulty relay? Or is the click normal, but I've never heard it in the past because the horn was loud enough to disguise it?
Connections under the hood appear to be okay. Swapping out the relay should be no problem if that's the issue, but I'd rather not tear it apart if my problem is elsewhere.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
On my '88 the Theft Fuse in the Aux Fuse Block powers both the Horn Relay coil and it's contacts.
So, since you hear the relay "click", I would say that the relay contact is bad, assuming your horn control is wired the same as mine.
So, since you hear the relay "click", I would say that the relay contact is bad, assuming your horn control is wired the same as mine.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Elkton MD
Weak Horn
Typically a 'weak' horn is due to poor grounding of the horn. On 'earlier' C4's the ground is through the horn mount. Later models have a separate grounding wire that suffers the same corrosion problem at the frame. Clean up the mounting surface of each horn to check.
There was a thread a few weeks ago that pointed out GM has gone away from 'star' washers because they actually accelerate corrosion. The key is to get a clean surface between the horn mounting lug and the frame.
There was a thread a few weeks ago that pointed out GM has gone away from 'star' washers because they actually accelerate corrosion. The key is to get a clean surface between the horn mounting lug and the frame.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Try running a wire directly from the battery to the horns. Did they get louder? If so, the problem is with the power reaching the horns. If not, the problem is with the horns or their grounds.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
