Horn relay location (2 Viewers)

[JamesR]

Where is the horn relay located on a 86 FJ60?
My horn quit working again. I've never been quite satisfied with the sound of the orginal setup. I purchased a small "train" horn (that came with a separate relay & in-line fuse) I would like to install into the orginal wiring so the horn button on the steering wheel would work.
So I want to test the relay if I can find it.

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

There is no relay, it's switched on the back of the steering wheel.

 

[JamesR]

Thanks - that explains why I couldn't locate it.

 

[JamesR]

My confidence level is very low when it comes to messing with wiring. It looks like there are 4 screws that hold the steering column "cover" where the hazard switch, key switch, and release button for the key are located.
Do I simply remove those screws and carefully remove the column to access the switch?
Thanks.

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

There is no relay, it's switched on the back of the steering wheel.

I need to correct my statement slightly; the horn is switched through the horn pad on the front of the steering wheel (the bit you press) and is earthed by a brass pin and slip ring on the back of the steering wheel.

You don't need to undo the steering column trim (ast least on my 1989 60) to remove the steering wheel. On mine the horn button/pad is carefully pried off to reveal the switch and the central nut which holds the steering wheel on.

However, if you want to fit a relay, this should be done close to the horn. You take a 12 V positive fused feed from the battery and run that to the relay and use the original horn wiring as the trigger circuit for the relay.

 

[JamesR]

Thanks. There are 3 horn button pads, as you know. Which one do I pry off?

 

[Eurasiaoverland]

I'm afraid I have a later type of steering wheel so I can't help on that. Check around the back of the steering wheel to see if there are any small retaining screws. The pads may not come off by prying, so I would check by searching the site as it's very lilkely that it has been discussed before.

 

[JamesR]

Will do - thanks again.

 

[g-man]

There are 3 small screws behind the steering wheel that take the cover off the face of the steering wheel, the surround for the horn buttons, then you could see the wires that go from button to the contact pin. MANY, MANY, MANY fj60 have had the problem of pin and spring that does not always contact the brass ring that it is supposed to when you turn your steering wheel. Some have used small washers behind the ring to push it slightly closer to the pin. If your horn works but only when the wheel is turned a certain angle that is probably the problem.

Also fyi...a regular generic horn with a ground and one positive terminal connection will not work here. This is a negatively switched circuit. Notice you have two wires running to each horn. Both horns should be connected for this circuit to work. When you push on the horn button the negative side of the circuit is grounded...goes to the ground under your dash near the fuse box. allowing current to run through and the horn to blow.

 

[g-man]

I have also heard of guys using an empty .22 shell casing over the pin to make it reach. Alternately you could just get a new pin and spring from Toyota.

 

[TreadingLight]

The new pin is available and is easy to install with the wheel removed. No need for hacks like a .22 brass IMO.

 

[John McVicker]

The .22 casing works BUT it is a short term fix. As @TreadingLight says just buy the proper pin from the dealer. I forget exactly how much it cost, but somewhere under $20.

 

[JamesR]

Thanks guys - this is very good information. I'll post an update once I've completed this project.