Horn Problems. Looking for some help.
06-24-2007, 06:54 AM
#16
Instructor
Horn repair
The horn in my car sounded more like a duck being strangled than a sports car horn, so while changing the front struts I checked the horns and only one was working.
I pulled it apart and found the wires from the solenoid windings that solder to the circuit were bad so I resoldered the joints and the horn was working again.
I found with the adjustment screw on the back of the horn the best position was to slowly screw it in until the horn stopped working then back it out half a turn.
Here are some photos.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1326/...2676c5f6_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1377/...6444df89_b.jpg
I pulled it apart and found the wires from the solenoid windings that solder to the circuit were bad so I resoldered the joints and the horn was working again.
I found with the adjustment screw on the back of the horn the best position was to slowly screw it in until the horn stopped working then back it out half a turn.
Here are some photos.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1326/...2676c5f6_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1377/...6444df89_b.jpg
06-24-2007, 03:05 PM
#17
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Some time ago I asked a very similar question on the PCA Tech Q&A and got this info back:
This could be a number of things. Start with the horn relay in the fuse box, position R23. Terminal 3 is 12v all the time through fuse 3. Terminal 7 is 12v with the key on. Terminal 2 should show 0 ohms to ground when the horn button is pushed. If not, look into the horn button, which would include the sliding contact. Since this involves removal of the air bag, let a qualified shop do this. If so, the relay output should show 12v out of terminal 5 with the button pushed. If not replace the relay. If so, check for poor wire connections at the horns, and repair or replace the horns.
Harry,
By the way, with that Avatar I suspect many Rennlisters just don't read your stuff, we all stare for a few minutes and drool
This could be a number of things. Start with the horn relay in the fuse box, position R23. Terminal 3 is 12v all the time through fuse 3. Terminal 7 is 12v with the key on. Terminal 2 should show 0 ohms to ground when the horn button is pushed. If not, look into the horn button, which would include the sliding contact. Since this involves removal of the air bag, let a qualified shop do this. If so, the relay output should show 12v out of terminal 5 with the button pushed. If not replace the relay. If so, check for poor wire connections at the horns, and repair or replace the horns.
Harry,
By the way, with that Avatar I suspect many Rennlisters just don't read your stuff, we all stare for a few minutes and drool
Last edited by Oracle; 06-24-2007 at 03:07 PM. Reason: Witty comment about the hot chick in Harry's Avatar
10-30-2007, 12:59 AM
#18
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Horn problem question to follow up on this thread:
Does the alarm system use the same horn as the steering wheel horn buttons?
Reason I ask is that my horn has just decided to stop working for no apparent reason (checked fuse and replace relay - both old and new relay click when horn button pushed). But when I trigger the alarm the horn honks as it normally should - and it sounds alot like the regular horn.
Does the alarm system use the same horn as the steering wheel horn buttons?
Reason I ask is that my horn has just decided to stop working for no apparent reason (checked fuse and replace relay - both old and new relay click when horn button pushed). But when I trigger the alarm the horn honks as it normally should - and it sounds alot like the regular horn.
10-30-2007, 11:21 AM
#19
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Frank, a lot of cars have had their alarms molested in one way or another. An easy way to check is to pull the front right wheel liner and check voltage at the horn leads. Actually just having the liner off and your head in the wheel well when you trigger the alarm should be a pretty good indication as you will be deaf. 
10-30-2007, 12:24 PM
#20
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My car still has the factory alarm, no molestation!
I'd love to pull the front wheel well liner but of the 11 screws holding it on 3 are rusted into little metalic blobs that don't even resemble screws
(time to get out the drill....)
I can pull back the liner a bit to visualize two round horns. I can see the contacts to upper rearmost horn and they look to be ok - problem is I cant get my hand in there to wiggle them as I can't bend the plastic liner back far enough. It looks like there may be a third horn in there as well (?) but I can't quite bend my head to see that angle and there seems to be a bracket in the way.
Does anyone have a pic of the front right wheel well with the liner removed?
Thanks
I'd love to pull the front wheel well liner but of the 11 screws holding it on 3 are rusted into little metalic blobs that don't even resemble screws
(time to get out the drill....)
I can pull back the liner a bit to visualize two round horns. I can see the contacts to upper rearmost horn and they look to be ok - problem is I cant get my hand in there to wiggle them as I can't bend the plastic liner back far enough. It looks like there may be a third horn in there as well (?) but I can't quite bend my head to see that angle and there seems to be a bracket in the way.
Does anyone have a pic of the front right wheel well with the liner removed?
Thanks
10-30-2007, 02:48 PM
#22
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10-30-2007, 04:29 PM
#23
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Thanks Doc - that helps alot!
But I think your car needs a little work.... (tires at least have some tread!)
Jason, are the alarm horns the smaller ones closer to the oil lines? (not visible in Doc's pic)
But I think your car needs a little work.... (tires at least have some tread!)
Jason, are the alarm horns the smaller ones closer to the oil lines? (not visible in Doc's pic)
10-30-2007, 06:17 PM
#24
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It's not in that picture above. Here's the Pelican catalog page:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/PartsLoo...-00-Frame3.htm
#9.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/PartsLoo...-00-Frame3.htm
#9.
Not my car!
08-15-2008, 09:49 AM
#26
Nordschleife Master
Dredged this horn button thread up to post how to take off those darned horn buttons (for electrical contact inspection underneath) :
One of my buttons worked (sort of) and the other -- not.
Popped off both buttons [leaving the airbag in place -- unlike the picture, above], took out the curved copper spring/contact within, *lightly* dressed each spring's dinky, raised electrical nub a little, reassembled, and all's well.
Well... as well as can be got from those anemic horn(s?). More on that later.
One of my buttons worked (sort of) and the other -- not.
Popped off both buttons [leaving the airbag in place -- unlike the picture, above], took out the curved copper spring/contact within, *lightly* dressed each spring's dinky, raised electrical nub a little, reassembled, and all's well.
Well... as well as can be got from those anemic horn(s?). More on that later.
08-15-2008, 10:44 AM
#27
Professor of Pending Projects
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Dredged this horn button thread up to post how to take off those darned horn buttons (for electrical contact inspection underneath) :
Attachment 297603
One of my buttons worked (sort of) and the other -- not.
Popped off both buttons [leaving the airbag in place -- unlike the picture, above], took out the curved copper spring/contact within, *lightly* dressed each spring's dinky, raised electrical nub a little, reassembled, and all's well.
Well... as well as can be got from those anemic horn(s?). More on that later.
Attachment 297603
One of my buttons worked (sort of) and the other -- not.
Popped off both buttons [leaving the airbag in place -- unlike the picture, above], took out the curved copper spring/contact within, *lightly* dressed each spring's dinky, raised electrical nub a little, reassembled, and all's well.
Well... as well as can be got from those anemic horn(s?). More on that later.
08-15-2008, 10:57 AM
#28
Nordschleife Master
Yeah... It was lately just becoming a pain in the a$$!
-- stab for the horn button -- nuthin.
-- lower the passenger side window -- nuthin.
Been that way (horn) since I got the car. The window switch, over the last month.
I'd just had enough. Damnit -- ya reach for some something simple -- it. should. work! (Yeah -- right. Like I haven't lived with that non-horn horn for more than a year now...)
And to find fixing both took all of 20 minutes.
-- stab for the horn button -- nuthin.
-- lower the passenger side window -- nuthin.
Been that way (horn) since I got the car. The window switch, over the last month.
I'd just had enough. Damnit -- ya reach for some something simple -- it. should. work! (Yeah -- right. Like I haven't lived with that non-horn horn for more than a year now...)
And to find fixing both took all of 20 minutes.
