Horn Wiring

[Manhattan]

This one is embarrassing to post. I decided to sort out the horn - or lack of a horn (if horn is the sound). The actual horn is there, but there's no wire to the horn. I spent a good bit of time with good light looking for the wire to the horn - looking down, on my back looking up... nothing. A Google search wasn't any help. So, with my tail between my legs...

Where is that wire/harness? Driver or passenger side fender? With the headlight/signal harness? is it solar?

Thanks!

 

[msahr]

According to my 1985 FSM, the wire from the horn button is Green/Red and from the horn to the fuse panel it's Green/White. The wiring is all on the passenger side behind the headlight and near the engine fuse block.

I'd take a pic but I upgraded to some super-loud german horns that require a relay. So my wiring is different.

 

[Manhattan]

@msahr - green/white on the passenger side, behind the headlight, near the engine fuse block... is a LOT more than I had 7 min. ago. Thanks!

 

[gnob]

Here

 

[gnob]

And

 

[Manhattan]

@gnob could you maybe take a few more pics at varying angles and with better lighting? Man, if I can't find it with those two pics either A. I'm not so bright or B. The wire/harness isn't there. Thanks!

 

[gnob]

I do what I can

 

[pappy]

Just another note. Our horns are wired goofy. In most cases, there is one (+) wire from the horn relay, and the horn body grounds the circuit.

With our horns. There is (+) from the horn fuse (no relay), and the circuit is grounded at the switch. The power to the horn is on all the time from the fuse.

And if you think this is odd, you should check out the headlight wiring.

 

[Manhattan]

Thanks @pappy. I first experienced that in 1984 when I put a Cadillac horn in a Mitsubishi (I think it was that car) and horn honked 'til the button was depressed.

I've read/heard that the steering wheel button is the common culprit. But in all of those, they're talking about the wheel with the center button. I've got the wheel with the two little buttons...

It seems odd that both buttons would go out. I'll start testing for power at the harness (assuming it's actually there) and work my way up.

 

[gnob]

May as well add this too. This is the contact behind the wheel. Typical failure.

 

[Manhattan]

Might just order that so it's on hand when I find the problem. Thanks (again)!

 

[Manhattan]

I've got power at the horn...

... but nothing at the wheel here. Should I have "power" here:

^that^ is the backside of the red wire in the wheel...

 

[gnob]

Does the othe side of the plug have continuity to the wheel?

The contact from the harness to the wheel is on the top. If its bad, you will have nothing at the wheel.
There will obviously be nothing there with the horn unplugged

 

[pappy]

There will obviously be nothing there with the horn unplugged

 

[Manhattan]

There will obviously be nothing there with the horn unplugged

I guess when I start the thread with "where's the wire"... I deserved that. For the record: I did re-install and hook up the horn AND the wiring harness was not under the headlight where it once resided. It was tucked up under the battery tray.

Okay, progress - I just heard the horn for the first time ever. @gnob now I see the little plunger/button thing at the top - the one with the spring. It does have continuity. But it is not making contact with the steering wheel plate. If I jump that, press the button... I get the most anemic sounding horn of any car I've ever had. But that can be swapped later.

Is that spring-wrapped button adjustable - can I dial it out to make contact? Or, is the plate on the wheel the issue - that part you predicted 5 posts ago?

 

[gnob]

That is the piece that I gave you the part number for. Replace it. That one is dead

 

[pappy]

Ya, replace it ... or get yourself a spent .22 shell and put it over the contact. Bubba fix.

 

[msahr]

Ya, replace it ... or get yourself a spent .22 shell and put it over the contact. Bubba fix.

That's the fix. There's so much distance between the spring loaded piece and the round piece on the wheel that even a new one won't fix it.

If you have a .22 (I used a .22LR) shell it fits over the spring loaded piece perfectly. Works great.

 

[gnob]

Not really sure what you are trying to say here. A new contact is nearly an inch long. It will 100% fix his issue.
Im all about cheap tricks, but moreso about facts. Sorry if i misinterpreted.

There's so much distance between the spring loaded piece and the round piece on the wheel that even a new one won't fix it.

 

[Manhattan]

Holy &$*@ I see what you mean @gnob - that original pin is toast. I had no idea they wore down like that. Compared to a new one...