Horns are sounding weak?
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 79
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From: Pa
Horns are sounding weak?
Hey Guys,
The horns on my 1992 sound weak. They are both making noise but they don't sound good. They were like this from the time I got the car two years ago. I've only beeped them twice at my state inspection but I'd like to get them fixed before I hit the road this year.
Is this a common problem? If you have some experience with this horn problem or if you have some idea about what's wrong please respond. I'd appreciate any help you can give.
Randy :chevy
The horns on my 1992 sound weak. They are both making noise but they don't sound good. They were like this from the time I got the car two years ago. I've only beeped them twice at my state inspection but I'd like to get them fixed before I hit the road this year.
Is this a common problem? If you have some experience with this horn problem or if you have some idea about what's wrong please respond. I'd appreciate any help you can give.
Randy :chevy
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 2
Re: Horns are sounding weak? (rsrandy)
The horns on these cars blow (pardon the pun :lol: )
Seriously, though...when I bought my '96 last year the horns were pretty pathetic. I had the dealer run a history on the car and one horn had already been replaced a couple years ago. Shortly afterward, both horns died, completely. This is pretty pathetic, considering my original '74 horn still worked, and what I think is the original horn in my '76 Suburban still wakes the neighbors.
Anyway, bought AC Delco replacements (~$39 each), installed them myself in about 10 minutes, so far so good.
In my case I think the PKE didn't help...walk around the car with the keys in your pocket and the damn horn seems to be going off every minute or so!
Jeff
Seriously, though...when I bought my '96 last year the horns were pretty pathetic. I had the dealer run a history on the car and one horn had already been replaced a couple years ago. Shortly afterward, both horns died, completely. This is pretty pathetic, considering my original '74 horn still worked, and what I think is the original horn in my '76 Suburban still wakes the neighbors.
Anyway, bought AC Delco replacements (~$39 each), installed them myself in about 10 minutes, so far so good.
In my case I think the PKE didn't help...walk around the car with the keys in your pocket and the damn horn seems to be going off every minute or so!
Jeff
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA Money can't buy happiness - but it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than a Yugo.
Re: Horns are sounding weak? (rsrandy)
I had the same problem. When I first got my 88 I liked everything except for the pathetically weak horns. I decided to replace them and pulled one out to take into an auto parts place so I could be sure I got loud horns that fit without a lot of custom mounting issues.
I noticed a small odd star shaped screw on the side of the horn. This I assumed was for tone or volume adjustment. Having nothing to lose since I was about to replace them anyway, I used a Vise-grip and turned the screw about 1/2 turn and reconnected the horn. It was even worse! Using the tried and true mad-scientist method I "reversed the process" and turned the screw back 1/4 turn past the original setting in the other direction. It was better, not great, but better. Volume increased up to a point and then decreased after a certain point on each horn. A change of about 3/4 turn on one horn and about 1/2 turn on the other made a BIG difference. It won't be confused with a semi horn, but it is loud enough that I'm willing to live with it for now. Total cost $0.00 and about 40 minutes time tweaking and honking.
I noticed a small odd star shaped screw on the side of the horn. This I assumed was for tone or volume adjustment. Having nothing to lose since I was about to replace them anyway, I used a Vise-grip and turned the screw about 1/2 turn and reconnected the horn. It was even worse! Using the tried and true mad-scientist method I "reversed the process" and turned the screw back 1/4 turn past the original setting in the other direction. It was better, not great, but better. Volume increased up to a point and then decreased after a certain point on each horn. A change of about 3/4 turn on one horn and about 1/2 turn on the other made a BIG difference. It won't be confused with a semi horn, but it is loud enough that I'm willing to live with it for now. Total cost $0.00 and about 40 minutes time tweaking and honking.
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 296
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From: Auburn ca
Re: Horns are sounding weak? (rsrandy)
My horns on my 86 just started going out after my alignmentwas don and know they dont work at all. Could the shop have don somthing with the horn botton during the alignment? They sounded sick and slowly stopped working.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 504
Likes: 9
From: Youngstown Oh
Re: Horns are sounding weak? (rsrandy)
I have not tried this but last year others on the forum did and it worked. Before buying new ones, take the old ones off and soak the insides overnight with WD-40 or something similiar. Blow them out good and reinstall them. Costs nothing and only takes 10 minutes to try it.
