1985 Corvette Horn Not Working
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
1985 Corvette Horn Not Working
Hey everyone I'm new here to the forum.
I just bought a 1985 Corvette and I need to get it safetied. I need the horns to work for that, and they currently don't. I already have 2 brand new horns since the old ones didn't work at all when connected directly to 12 V. I also got a new relay since the old one didn't seem to work either. After installing everything and pushing the horn button I heard the new horn relay click. It clicked every time I pressed the button (pushed the button around 10 times) before it ceased to make any more noise. Later I tried again and the relay only made a buzzing noise, then eventually no noise at all. Never have the horns sounded when I pressed the button. What could be the issue here?
I just bought a 1985 Corvette and I need to get it safetied. I need the horns to work for that, and they currently don't. I already have 2 brand new horns since the old ones didn't work at all when connected directly to 12 V. I also got a new relay since the old one didn't seem to work either. After installing everything and pushing the horn button I heard the new horn relay click. It clicked every time I pressed the button (pushed the button around 10 times) before it ceased to make any more noise. Later I tried again and the relay only made a buzzing noise, then eventually no noise at all. Never have the horns sounded when I pressed the button. What could be the issue here?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,895
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
Yes the end result is voltage at the end just like turning on a light, also try to horn in different wheel positions you might have dead spots on the horn plate (corrosion or lost contact)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 3,082
From: So Cal
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Set off the Alarm. If the horn honks, it is in the steering column connections, button contacts or the ground connection at the flexible "rag joint" where the column connects to the steering rack.
Remove the horn button assembly. Short the single wire connection to a good known ground like the lighter shell. If the horn honks, short the single wire connection to the steering wheel. If no horn, or your "buzzing", the steering shaft is not grounded at the steering rack coupling.
Remove the horn button assembly. Short the single wire connection to a good known ground like the lighter shell. If the horn honks, short the single wire connection to the steering wheel. If no horn, or your "buzzing", the steering shaft is not grounded at the steering rack coupling.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
Set off the Alarm. If the horn honks, it is in the steering column connections, button contacts or the ground connection at the flexible "rag joint" where the column connects to the steering rack.
Remove the horn button assembly. Short the single wire connection to a good known ground like the lighter shell. If the horn honks, short the single wire connection to the steering wheel. If no horn, or your "buzzing", the steering shaft is not grounded at the steering rack coupling.
Remove the horn button assembly. Short the single wire connection to a good known ground like the lighter shell. If the horn honks, short the single wire connection to the steering wheel. If no horn, or your "buzzing", the steering shaft is not grounded at the steering rack coupling.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,895
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
Just give it a try because I can swear that as part of my Prep times of cars in 84/85 and some, that an open the windows set the locks wait for the lights to go out reach in manual (slide) unlock the door and open. Because I think you do have a Basic Alarm
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 3,082
From: So Cal
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
All C4 have a Universal Theft Deterrent system. An "alarm" that when set will honk the horn if a door or the hatch is opened.
Open a window. (So you don't lock the keys in the car, and can reach in.)
Open the door. SECURITY light should be flashing. (Indicates that system is active and responsive to the open door.)
Lock the doors with the power door locks. (SECURITY light should go SOLID- ON.)
Close the door. After a few seconds, the SECURITY light should go OFF. (Indicates the UTD is armed.)
Reach in through the open window and unlock the door using the MANUAL un-lock slider.
Open the door. Horn should honk at a 1Hz rate. (If it does not, repeat the steps being sure you use the manual slider, not the power unlock, as power unlock dis-arms the UTD.)
Silence the alarm by turning the top of either outside door key towards the rear of the car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If the alarm module can operate the horn relay and the horns, the horn button should be able to as well. There are two other diagnostic tests in that post you blew off that suggest how to figure out if it is the horn button itself or the ground for the horn button.
Open a window. (So you don't lock the keys in the car, and can reach in.)
Open the door. SECURITY light should be flashing. (Indicates that system is active and responsive to the open door.)
Lock the doors with the power door locks. (SECURITY light should go SOLID- ON.)
Close the door. After a few seconds, the SECURITY light should go OFF. (Indicates the UTD is armed.)
Reach in through the open window and unlock the door using the MANUAL un-lock slider.
Open the door. Horn should honk at a 1Hz rate. (If it does not, repeat the steps being sure you use the manual slider, not the power unlock, as power unlock dis-arms the UTD.)
Silence the alarm by turning the top of either outside door key towards the rear of the car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If the alarm module can operate the horn relay and the horns, the horn button should be able to as well. There are two other diagnostic tests in that post you blew off that suggest how to figure out if it is the horn button itself or the ground for the horn button.
Last edited by IHBD; Oct 22, 2024 at 06:41 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
All C4 have a Universal Theft Deterrent system. An "alarm" that when set will honk the horn if a door or the hatch is opened.
Open a window. (So you don't lock the keys in the car, and can reach in.)
Open the door. SECURITY light should be flashing. (Indicates that system is active and responsive to the open door.)
Lock the doors with the power door locks. (SECURITY light should go SOLID- ON.)
Close the door. After a few seconds, the SECURITY light should go OFF. (Indicates the UTD is armed.)
Reach in through the open window and unlock the door using the MANUAL un-lock slider.
Open the door. Horn should honk at a 1Hz rate. (If it does not, repeat the steps being sure you use the manual slider, not the power unlock, as power unlock dis-arms the UTD.)
Silence the alarm by turning the top of either outside door key towards the rear of the car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If the alarm module can operate the horn relay and the horns, the horn button should be able to as well. There are two other diagnostic tests in that post you blew off that suggest how to figure out if it is the horn button itself or the ground for the horn button.
Open a window. (So you don't lock the keys in the car, and can reach in.)
Open the door. SECURITY light should be flashing. (Indicates that system is active and responsive to the open door.)
Lock the doors with the power door locks. (SECURITY light should go SOLID- ON.)
Close the door. After a few seconds, the SECURITY light should go OFF. (Indicates the UTD is armed.)
Reach in through the open window and unlock the door using the MANUAL un-lock slider.
Open the door. Horn should honk at a 1Hz rate. (If it does not, repeat the steps being sure you use the manual slider, not the power unlock, as power unlock dis-arms the UTD.)
Silence the alarm by turning the top of either outside door key towards the rear of the car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If the alarm module can operate the horn relay and the horns, the horn button should be able to as well. There are two other diagnostic tests in that post you blew off that suggest how to figure out if it is the horn button itself or the ground for the horn button.
I'll try and do as much as I can so far
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 3,082
From: So Cal
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
You can still try the two tests at the single wire connection for the horn button.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
I tested the grounds where the horns would be connected to, as well as the ground inside the steering wheel they all are good. I don't know what's up with the relay then. Maybe my horn contact wire isn't properly connected down far enough or making a good ground contact there
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
I looked at the fuse. 10 amp fuse hasn't been blown so that's good. The brand new relay was clicking initially, then it started to buzz, now nothing. Still the horns never sounded at any point, but that's an easy solve since the 12V travels directly from the relay to the horns. The issue gotta be somewhere in the dash/steering wheel