Hot Horns!! (1 Viewer)

[fj40cm1980]

My horns hadn't been working and finally decided to tackle it. I was receiving the mystery clicks upon pressing the horn buttons on the spokes of the steering wheel -- March 1980 truck. I do not believe I have a relay as I can't find one on the passenger side engine compartment and seems like the late models had no relay.

To start, I began by cleaning the contacts to bare metal where the horns mount to radiator support and the back of the horns themselves. I also wanted to make sure the contacts at the steering wheel were not corroded and the spring was making good contact with the metal ring on the back the wheel. I also checked the fuse box for any bad connections and replaced with a new 15a fuse. Everything looked ok for the most part but just cleaned the connections to ensure good contact.

I connected the negative battery cable and noticed a bit of a spark. Tested horns, didn't work. Then I realized the horn (nearest the battery) was starting to get hot and the fuse terminal.

The only thing that really changed was cleaning the horn mounting brackets to bare metal, along with where the bracket attaches to the radiator support since I thought that was how they grounded.

Thanks for any help or ideas!

 

[pb4ugo]

I would guess you have power to the horns evidenced by the clicking and smoke. You can test each horn by grounding it and using a jumper wire to the batt and touch the contact. If it doesn't make a noise then it's probably bad. You can take them apart and look inside. It might be salvageable.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Have you consulted the wiring diagram? I suspect there is a relay somewhere. Horns I have seen are usually hot and the ground is what turns them on.

 

[SteveH]

Earlier FJ40s have a horn relay, later ones (my '78) do not. Not sure about the '79-83 era.

 

[fj40cm1980]

Well I bench tested both horns and one of them had a short or something going on as it just sparked my battery on the bench...the other blew fine.