Horns Barely Work

[matt63]

After getting a couple of horns from the wreckers they still don't work.  They make a very weak feeble sound.  It always seems like there is more than 1 thing wrong (see my wiper post).  When i jumper to the + batery terminal the horns work well.  There is power to the green/red wire to the horns when I push the horn button.  The relay is new and it is clicking.  Perhaps something is wrong with the ground wire in the column.  Is there a way to jumper this ground in the column to test it before I pull the column apart again?

Thanks,
electrically challenged

[Bullitt-]

I would not blame the column wiring as it seems it is doing it's job of making the relay connect.
I would be more suspect of the hot wires from the relay via the bulkhead connector to the horn, or possibly grounding issues, horn to body or possibly battery to body, if you are having other problems of this nature.

[Bearcuda]

This type of symptom is almost always ground related. Make sure you have a good ground to the horn. Is the panel it is attached to grounded well?

[Katfish]

I would guess your getting too much voltage drop on the hot side.  Disconnect the lead and measure what voltage is at the terminal when horn is pressed.  Should be almost 12V.  Hook the terminal back up and measure voltage again when horn is pressed.  Should be close to 12V again.  If second measurement is lower, I'm guessing it will be in 6-8V range, there are wiring problems.  Most likely at the bulkhead connector.

Went through similiar problem with A/C blower not putting out any air.  Finally added a relay to fix the problem.  I have same problem your describing, I'm guessing i'll be putting a relay in for that also.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I would guess your getting too much voltage drop on the hot side.  Disconnect the lead and measure what voltage is at the terminal when horn is pressed.  Should be almost 12V.  Hook the terminal back up and measure voltage again when horn is pressed.  Should be close to 12V again.  If second measurement is lower, I'm guessing it will be in 6-8V range, there are wiring problems.  Most likely at the bulkhead connector.

Went through similiar problem with A/C blower not putting out any air.  Finally added a relay to fix the problem.  I have same problem your describing, I'm guessing i'll be putting a relay in for that also.

I would think if there's a ground problem it wouldn't blow loud when running a wire off the battery. 

[matt63]

I did some more testing.  It certainly does look like a grounding issue once again.  If I touch the horn ground wire to the steering wheel mounting stud the horn barely works.  If I run a jumper wire from this ground wire to the column mounting studs or any other ground the horn works fine.  It seems like the metal can under the steering wheel is not properly grounding but I have no idea what could cause this as I'm not sure of the grounding path.  I do have a grounding wire on the column mounting stud which runs to the dash frame.

[Bullitt-]

MMMM must be some corrosion at the contact point of the horn button thingamajig.

[hemi71]

If you pull the steering column apart (you'l need a puller to get the ribbed steering wheel base off of the column), there is a slider contact that picks up ground thru the column. get a piece of 1000 grit sanpaper or fine steel wool and clean the contact button and the copper contact on the column base, Sounds like the electrical connection is not making good contact

[matt63]

I'll give it a try.  I've got the puller. Thanks.