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  •  » Horn troubleshooting

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    8/08/2022 8:13 PM  #1

    soonerfan
    FYI Addict

    Offline

    From: St. Louis
    Registered: 7/18/2013
    Posts: 101

    Horn troubleshooting

    Hey guys, thought I’d get your opinion.
    Trying to troubleshoot my horns.
    Original ‘66 horns afaik.
    When I activate from my steering wheel, the driver horn works, the passenger side does not. Tested while engine off.
    What I’ve checked:
    - multimeter shows voltage when I check the wire connecting to passenger horn and ground to the horn bracket and activate at steering wheel. I did not check how much, but needle indicated around 12 volts.
    - disconnected the horn and ran a wire to battery. Horn activated, although it didn’t sound exactly like I expected. Sometimes it sounded a little stuck, but I did try it about 15 times and sound came out every time.
    So I have power and I have ground. What else should I be checking?  Do I need to check amperage or exact voltage? Is this the case for why I need to upgrade the horn and headlight wiring?
    Thx as always.

     

    8/08/2022 8:26 PM  #2

    MS
    Forum Originator

    Offline

    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,248

    Re: Horn troubleshooting

    Try the adjusting screw by turning 1/2 turn and see if it works better. Sometimes a tiny adjustment makesxa difference.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    8/09/2022 1:41 PM  #3

    BobE
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: White Plains, NY
    Registered: 4/04/2013
    Posts: 2,639

    Re: Horn troubleshooting

    The horns are grounded via the bolt that holds the horn to the body, suggest removing the horn(s) and verifying the connection is clean, so that there is a good “electrical” connection to body ground.

     ​Is the horn button the original installed?
    I had a similar issue in my 65, with original horn button.  If you jumped 12v from the battery to the horn and the horn functions as it should, you may be getting a voltage drop across the horn button when it is depressed (due to the age of the button).  If so, the power needed for the horns will drop causing the issue you’re having.  Suggest installing a relay to activate both horns.  I installed a relay and my horns work fine now.  Send me a PM if you want a copy of the sketch of the installation for this relay that I installed.

    65 Fastback, 351W, 5-speed, 4 wheel discs, 9" rear,  R&C Front End.
     

    8/10/2022 7:56 PM  #4

    6sally6
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Surfside Beach,SC
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 6,852

    Re: Horn troubleshooting

    Relay really makes the horns uhhhhh.......come alive!
    Make sure there's no crud & krap' down in the horn.
    Think I read once to spray some WD-40 down it's throat   (or was that a bad movie Don told me about?!!)
    Personally I would shoot some Brakleen (I love that stuff!) down the opening and maybe slosh it around a little.....then the WD-40...........or just buy an other horn at the parts store!
    (I think less than 20 bucks......maybe they would finance it fer ye!   J/K..ya know)
    6sal6

    Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
     

    8/15/2022 7:19 AM  #5

    soonerfan
    FYI Addict

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    From: St. Louis
    Registered: 7/18/2013
    Posts: 101

    Re: Horn troubleshooting

    Just providing an update.
    I adjusted the screw and if set just perfectly the horn sounds some when activated.
    I believe I need to go the relay route and update the wiring to truly solve the problem.
    Thx for the suggestions.

       •Thread Starter
     

     

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