Horn Problems

[82RL]

The horn on my 82 does not work. You can run a hot wire to the horn and it works. Somewhere there is a relay or something disconnected (maybe something on the security system). Any one have any ideas on where to start looking, thanks

 

[Yoda]

82RL,

The horns are good, yes? Have you checked the contact ring in the steering column? That's where I'd start.

• pop the button off the steering wheel (horn button with Corvette Logo)
• use a screw driver to contact from the contact ring to the center ground point

There is a spring loaded button that makes contact with the contact ring assy. that completes the circuit for the horn..

My shop manual and other reference material are at home... I'm at work Hopefully some else will be along to go into a little more detail.. if not I'll catch up with ya after I get home tonight.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Not too hard to fix if it hasn't already been taken apart and "mickey moused". The plastic parts get brittle over time and break.

The parts houses sell the rebuild kit, under $20 if I recall, and it is a simple matter of replacing the broken pieces. Did mine in about 1/2 hour if I recall. Take care to note which way the pieces came out so that you can put them back in the same fashion.

Bob

 

[Yoda]

If you are going to get into the steering column to take anything apart... be sure to either PULL the fuse's for the horn circuit or lift one of the battery cables

BudD

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Mine was simply pulling the cap off the top of the steering wheel. No need to pull the steering column apart.

 

[Yoda]

Bob,
I understand that.. what I ment was to make sure power to the column, esp the horn circuit is de-energized when messing with it.. safety and piece of mind

Bud

 

[82RL]

Thanks for the reply. We checked the horn button it seems to be ok. I talked to the person I bought it from, he said he thought something was disconnected because it kept going off on the security system . He could not remeber what was disconnected.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Gotcha Bud.

My car has seperate horns for the horn and the alarm. Did they go to one horn by 1982?

 

[82RL]

I can't answer that question. I am in the learning mode on this.

 

[EVIL_GRIM]

i saw this thread and i just wanted to add this: pulling the fuses or the battery cable is a VERY good idea. im 17 and i did the stupid thing and used my hand to complete the circuit on accident and gave my heart a bit of a new beat while trying to figure out why it wasnt working. dont do like i did, it doesnt feel very good. :eek

 

[atmmac]

i saw this thread and i just wanted to add this: pulling the fuses or the battery cable is a VERY good idea. im 17 and i did the stupid thing and used my hand to complete the circuit on accident and gave my heart a bit of a new beat while trying to figure out why it wasnt working. dont do like i did, it doesnt feel very good. :eek

Done that more than once!

 

[Roy]

No Horn

It sounds like a bad relay.

An easy way to test this theory is to listen cloely when you press the horn button.

If the relay is working, you should hear a faint "click" from under the driver's side dash. The relay is tucked in there and they normally have a blue plastic cover. Relay measures about 1" square.

If there is no faint "click", try removing the relay and reinstalling it. Sometimes corrossion will attack the blade connections, especially if your Vette leaks water under the dash as some do.

If there is a click, then the problem is somewhere between the relay and your horn.