Wiring, Stereo & Electronics Audio Components | Radars | Alarms - and things that spark when they shouldn't

My horn doesnt work

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 5, 2006 | 04:47 PM
  #1  
phillyz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Default My horn doesnt work

A while back my horn stopped working and then one day, i spun out, hit an embankment on the side of the road, the car hopped up in the air and landed...

after that impact, the horn worked a few times then failed again which i thought was real weird that crashing would make something work. Anyway, my question is this..

someone told me that water can sometimes build up in the horn and make it stop working somehow and if you take your horn out, you could shake it up nice and good to get all the water out, and it'll start working again. Is this at all true or should i start looking around for a new horn?

Sorry if thats a stupid question, i know pretty much dont know anything about anything. But i do know how to use the search, no results
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2006 | 06:17 PM
  #2  
Reject's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,195
Likes: 4
From: Texas
Default

go to the horn and try wiggling around the connector, sounds like a bad connection from the crash hitting it and making it work again for a few times.
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2006 | 01:07 AM
  #3  
phillyz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Default

ill try, thanks
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2006 | 05:53 PM
  #4  
phillyz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Default

Originally Posted by reject
go to the horn and try wiggling around the connector, sounds like a bad connection from the crash hitting it and making it work again for a few times.
i'm kinda embarrassed to even ask this, but where is the horn
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2006 | 06:25 PM
  #5  
The SSheriff's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: The Plywood State
Default

3 words for you: "Haynes Repair Manual". They sell at all major auto parts stores for roughly $15-$20.

Until then, here are the steps for finding/replacing your horn:

1. Remove the air deflector from the bumper cover

2. Unplug the electrical connector from the horn (I believe it is on the right hand side of the car, and it is black with a connector attached to it).

3. To test the horn, have someone sound it from above. If it doesn't sound, test it with an ammeter - it should be around 5 Amps.

a. If it is above 20 amps, replace the horn
b. If it is around 18 amps or below, the contact points are not open. Turn the adjustment screw counterclockwise 1/4 turn to lower the amperage until the proper level is reached.

4. If the horn doesn't sound at all, it could mean the problem lies in the switch, relay, the wiring, open points, or fuse. Turn the adjustment screw CLOCKWISE 1/4 turn at a time to get the amperage up to 5 Amps.

5. To replace the horn, unplug the electrical connector and remove the bracket bolt.

Whew! That was a lot of typing. I hope this helps.
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2006 | 11:10 AM
  #6  
phillyz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Default

thanks
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2006 | 11:33 AM
  #7  
The SSheriff's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: The Plywood State
Default

No problem.
Reply
Old May 26, 2007 | 10:48 AM
  #8  
Van5150's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 197
Likes: 1
Default

Amps or Ohms?
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 26, 2007 | 11:08 AM
  #9  
dragonrage's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,591
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
Default

That's not how you use an ammeter... An ammeter has as low resistance as possible and will pull as much current as it can. It's not just going to tell you how much current that circuit would be getting.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:45 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE