horn issue
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7
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horn issue
1998 vette-- I have replaced my horn membrane in the steering column and installed new horns. The horn will "toot" once when I press on the air bag, but not a second time. If I press the horn alarm on my key fob, it will blow once. The relay will continue to click on and off until I press the key fob button again. I swapped another relay into the #36 position, same thing. To sum it up, horn relay, horns, horn membrane and key fob all seem to be in working order. It will give me a sound for a split second and that's it until I turn switch on and off. Then I can cycle it again for one brief "toot". Any ideas???
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
It will only make one very short beep when I press on the air bag or press the key fob. It will not make any sound on the second press. Using the key fob alarm, it will make the same short beep, only once, but the relay will keep cycling until I press the key fob again. In either method, I only get the sound or the "beep" once. If I turn the key switch off and back on, it seems to reset and it will give one and only one short beep by pressing the air bag.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 120
Likes: 52
From: Ankeny, Iowa
New horns?
How new? As in brand new? Factory replacement part or something from the auto parts store?
why I ask is it could be possible, maybe not probable, that for whatever reason the voltage is not correct at the horns themselves. To low and the horns wouldn't 'honk' a second time, to high and it could lock the horn in place not allowing it to vibrate and make sound. Both of those ideas seem to be a real reach to me...but maybe...
The other thing that makes more sense to me is that the horns are very stiff and are not moving correctly. Why they would reset after cycling the key on and off, IDK! The horns should work from the fob or steering wheel with the key on, off or not even in the ignition switch.
I would try this; hit your horn button on your fob. When you know the relay us working on and off, try tapping the horns with something like a screwdriver handle, you might have to give them a pretty good smack. Did they make a sound when you hit them? If it did, try hitting them again a few more times to see if they 'loosen up' and start to work correctly.
In not, try putting the old horns, maybe one at a time, back on and see if they work. Hope this helps!
why I ask is it could be possible, maybe not probable, that for whatever reason the voltage is not correct at the horns themselves. To low and the horns wouldn't 'honk' a second time, to high and it could lock the horn in place not allowing it to vibrate and make sound. Both of those ideas seem to be a real reach to me...but maybe...
The other thing that makes more sense to me is that the horns are very stiff and are not moving correctly. Why they would reset after cycling the key on and off, IDK! The horns should work from the fob or steering wheel with the key on, off or not even in the ignition switch.
I would try this; hit your horn button on your fob. When you know the relay us working on and off, try tapping the horns with something like a screwdriver handle, you might have to give them a pretty good smack. Did they make a sound when you hit them? If it did, try hitting them again a few more times to see if they 'loosen up' and start to work correctly.
In not, try putting the old horns, maybe one at a time, back on and see if they work. Hope this helps!
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
My horn is fixed
Thanks for all the replies. I finally got a chance to get it back in the air and find the problem. I won't go into all the details, but I found the problem. When I installed my new horns onto the original bracket, I had to jumper two wires between the new horns. I didn't realize that the horns were positive/negative specific. I swapped the jumpers on the second horn and everything started working as it should.
