Horn relay problem

[Kim F.]

I have a problem with the horn in a 1973 coupe. I replaced the original steering column and replaced it with a tilt and telescoping steering column that I bought new. I had the local Chevy dealer do the work. This was done in March of 2011. Every thing was working fine....then the horn did not work. This began in September 2012. The horn button will depress but no horn. I noticed with the hood up that when I pushed the horn button the horn relay would click. To make sure that the horn was working I ran a wire from the positive terminal of the battery to the positive plug for the horn and it worked. I replaced the relay and the horn worked, for one month. The horn relay is clicking again! I don't know if there is a wire in the column that has had the insulation scraped off. I looked at the fuse box and none of the fuses are blown. I do not know how to trouble shoot for the wire. Any ideas.

Thanks

Kim

[Edward J.]

Re: Horn relay problem

Kim, I not sure what type of relay you are using, But it sure sounds like a bad relay again. some of the relays sold at the auto parts stores are not the quality you would think. made in china stuff has poor quality control.

What you'll need to test the relay operation is a 12volt test light, un-plug the wire at the horn and take the test light and ground one end and touch the wire connector at the horn to see if it lights when you push the horn button. if not I would head for the relay, it sound like everything powered up because the relay is clicking. but no horn. so the test with the test light will tell you if the horn its self is bad or the relay.

Hope I made some sense of this for you.

[Kim F.]

Re: Horn relay problem

Ed,

Sounds like a great place to start. I never thought about a bad relay.

Thanks

Kim

[Ed D.]

Re: Horn relay problem

Kim,
The horn relay can be fixed if it is in resonalble condition. I fix the horn relay in my 72 and my 74 by opening the shield and cleaning the point set with emery paper. The 72 was fixed 3 years ago and the 74 was fixed 1 year ago. The one benifit was I was able to keep the original relay, rather than a aftermaket.
Ed

[Kim F.]

Re: Horn relay problem

I did keep the original relay so I will do as you suggested. I will let you know how it works out. Thanks for your help.

[Kim F.]

Re: Horn relay problem

An update on the horn relay. I did use the test light as you suggested. It did not light up. I ran a wire from the positive terminal again and the horn worked. I replaced the horn relay and it worked. Thanks for the help.

[Kim F.]

Re: Horn relay problem

It should have said that I ran a wire from positive battery terminal to the horn and it worked. I replaced the horn relay and the horn now works.

[William F.]

Re: Horn relay problem

I'm having same "relay clicking but no horn sound" problem on my '67. Would using a multimeter et on volts, one lead grounded and other into unplugged horn connection serve same purpose as test light?-Safe to do? If relay is bad and I want to replace rather than fix, are any out ther that are good quality and will pass judging? Understand date is on mount where it cannot readily be seen-Is this considered in judging?-nothing about date mentioned in judging manual.
Thanks in advance
'67 L36
'67 L79

[Joe R.]

Re: Horn relay problem

I'm having same "relay clicking but no horn sound" problem on my '67. Would using a multimeter et on volts, one lead grounded and other into unplugged horn connection serve same purpose as test light?-Safe to do?

Bill,

Yep, that's the best way.

Joe

[Terry M.]

Re: Horn relay problem

I'm having same "relay clicking but no horn sound" problem on my '67. Would using a multimeter et on volts, one lead grounded and other into unplugged horn connection serve same purpose as test light?-Safe to do? If relay is bad and I want to replace rather than fix, are any out ther that are good quality and will pass judging? Understand date is on mount where it cannot readily be seen-Is this considered in judging?-nothing about date mentioned in judging manual.
Thanks in advance
'67 L36
'67 L79

The horn date can be judged and often is. Give the judges a class of 8 cars and they may skip that item, but with 3 cars you can bet it will get checked. Why not get your horn repaired and have the best of both worlds? Joe Perei (I am almost 100% sure I spelled that wrong) can do it and he advertises in The Driveline.

[William F.]

Re: Horn relay problem

Maybe I wasn't clear. I'm asking about the horn RELAY, not the horn being dated and judged. How 'bout it? Also, again, anybody make/sell a good quality horn relay that'll 'judge"?

[John W.]

Re: Horn relay problem

You have to be careful when checking circuits with a volt/ohm meter, especially the digital meters. Since the meter itself draws nearly no current a faulty contact can actually supply the correct voltage to the output terminal and still not activate the horn.

Horns draw a considerable amount of current, that is why they have a relay. With the voltmeter on the output terminal and no wire going to the horn you may get full voltage. Hook up the horn wire and check the output terminal again and the voltage will drop to near zero as the horn is drawing current. That indicates a bad contact.

Clean the contact and apply a tiny bit of the compound used to fix a broken rear window defroster wire. It is sold at all auto parts stores. It is an emulsion of copper or some other good conductor. It dries on the contact and will improve the conduction.

Good relay contacts are plated with gold or silver for good conduction while cheap relays are either barely plated at all or just left metal to metal.

[Terry M.]

Re: Horn relay problem

Maybe I wasn't clear. I'm asking about the horn RELAY, not the horn being dated and judged. How 'bout it? Also, again, anybody make/sell a good quality horn relay that'll 'judge"?

My bad. Early C3 horn relays are not dated (AFAIK no others are either, but I don't know everything), but sometimes configuration will infer either first or second design (sometimes referred to as early or late production).