Horn not working

[Sleppeah]

Anyone have some (newbie) pointers on fixing the (car) horn?
No horn sound but I can hear a faint clicking sound from somewhere (is that the relay?)
I checked under the steering wheel cover and the connections there seem to be ok.
It was fine up until a while ago, and then just stopped working. I'm presuming it has to just be a loose connection somewhere, but any pointers on where to look?

Ta
Sleppeah

[CJ]

Sleppeah, have you checked that the horn fuse in the internal fuse box is not blown? (its a 10A in the far lower corner IIRC). If thats not it, (and assuming you have a standard steering wheel), remove the centre section from the steering wheel and make sure that all connectors are in place.

CJ

[Sleppeah]

Thanks for the reply -

Yep - I checked the fuse (1-10A Horn in the inside box) and its fine. As I said, pushing the horn makes a faint switching sound. With the fuse removed this does not happen, put it back, and it happens again, so the current is getting beyond this.

I took the front off the steering wheel (which looks standard) and checked the connections - fine.

When I had someone else tip the connections together I went around to listen at the front and could definately hear a relay-type switching sound - it switches once on contact and again when contact is removed... so I don't think the problem has anything to do with the steering wheel. It seemed to be coming from around the (fuse) box beside the battery.

In the electrical wiring manual (page 2-7) it does say that this box contains a 'A-58X Horn Relay' so I guess thats what's making the noise.

At the risk of sounding really stupid - Where actually is the horn itself?

Cheers
Sleppeah

[Myfeckin FTO]

.......... - Where actually is the horn itself? Sleppeah

Horn should be behind the front bumper - AFAIK there are actually 2 horns - should be able to access from front indicator/fog unit.

BTW - you didn't actually take this unit out recently by any chance?
It may be the wires have pulled off the horn unit.

[Sleppeah]

No, I haven't taken out these units before.

Took them both out... and on both sides there is a white wire going to a red speaker-looking-thing with a black front - I guess those are the horns.

I wiggled the connectors to these and made sure they are on tight... and had someone push the horn while I was doing this, but no sound. No sign of them being broken or anything like that.

The other end of the white wires isn't visible so looks like I'll have to get someone else to look at it.. pity cos I bet its real simple...

Thanks anyways

[kevinod]

In the electrical wiring manual (page 2-7) it does say that this box contains a 'A-58X Horn Relay' so I guess thats what's making the noise.

Since the fuse is fine, and all the connections look good, then I guess it looks like the relay could be the problem? These can't be too expensive I'd imagine, so maybe get hold of another one and try putting that in there.

Kev.

[CJ]

Camskill sell a lamp relay (see below), its possible that it may also work for the horn (its not specified individually, pop them an email and ask Mike.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?show=842

CJ

[Sleppeah]

I took out the horn relay and tried my lamp relay instead - no joy.

Then I bipassed it entirely by putting a paper clip across the horn relay terminals - no joy (still heard the switching sound, tho, so that wasn't the relay)

So, not a relay problem - can really only be a bad wire on the battery/horn circuit somewhere?

[CJ]

So, not a relay problem - can really only be a bad wire on the battery/horn circuit somewhere?

Its possible (but unlikely) that both horns are bust(I'm unsure if one will work if the other is faulty, maybe they complete a circuit?), if you have access to a multimeter, consider disconnecting one of the horns and see if you get a voltage reading from the wires leading into the horn. I'll take a look at the electrical wiring digram to see if I can shed any light on it.

CJ

[CJ]

I'm unsure if one will work if the other is faulty, maybe they complete a circuit?

Right, both horn units don't complete a circuit so if one is gone then the other will still work, see the circuit diagram from the electrical manual below.



CJ

[Sleppeah]

Thanks CJ -
I tested both wires and they both have a voltage when the horn is pressed... so it must be the horns themselves...

Have to ring around now to see if I can get a replacement one...

At least the problem is pretty well isolated.

[CJ]

The same horns were used on a number of cars from the same era ie. Lancer, Galant, Mirage, the p/n is MB530845.

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

Thanks CJ -
I tested both wires and they both have a voltage when the horn is pressed... so it must be the horns themselves...

Probably should have mentioned earlier
But both horns not working is not unusual - what happens is one goes - and is not noticed untill the second one is gone as well. Now might be a good time to buy a meatier sounding horn (Fnarr fnarr) than the standard bippy yoke!

[CJ]

Now might be a good time to buy a meatier sounding horn (Fnarr fnarr) than the standard bippy yoke!

Surely other motiorists and pedestrians aren't gonna head a horn that goes 'fnarr fnarr' Dukes of Hazard anyone?

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

Now might be a good time to buy a meatier sounding horn (Fnarr fnarr) than the standard bippy yoke!

Surely other motiorists and pedestrians aren't gonna head a horn that goes 'fnarr fnarr' Dukes of Hazard anyone?

CJ

Not sure if you are taking the piss TBH - but my "fnarr fnarr" was in reference to my "meatier horn"

[CJ]

Not sure if you are taking the piss TBH - but my "fnarr fnarr" was in reference to my "meatier horn"

I knew exactly what you were saying dirtbird

CJ

[Nailer]

I wonder did he find a soultion im having the same problems myself, to be honest i cant even find the horn to put a meter on it and test the voltage

[saoirse32]

ya shouldnt be usin your horn so much anyway!!!

[Nailer]

ya shouldnt be usin your horn so much anyway!!!

a horn is essential in dublin traffic you should know that, for the moment i have to let the dozy bad drivers get away with cutting into my lane on roundabouts and that really grinds my gears

[Muad_dib77]

Jaysus this is an old thread!..


I've seen quite a few "horns" for sale on eBay recently so people must be upgrading..

Also I'd recommend getting one of those compressor type blowers if one had to upgrade..
Installed one in my 1.0l 3cyl Charade back in the Day...definately made people move! - and it was 100% legal!