Horn question

[76Datsun280z]

I noticed a few days ago that my horn decided to stop working. All it does now when I push the horn pad is go "click click click" a bunch of times. I checked the fuse for it assuming that was case, but it looked fine. I'm not a big horn user so it doesn't matter much to me, but I just noticed it when I was passing somebody I knew and when I tried to honk all it went was "click click click". Any how, I was just wondering if the horn itself is blown or what and wondered if there's some connection that may be causing it.

[TomoHawk]

Horns- plural. At least one should still work, unless both went bad.

The click is probably the horn relay. You could take the horn pad off to get to the wire that activates the relay. When the wire is gounded, the relay should activate (click) and the horns go off. You could also activate the relay by going into the connector under the steering collumn ( and inside the column cover.) If the relay is clicking, then there must be a break in the wiring someplace. Check the grounds, & horn connectors, then check your wiring diagram, it's a simple circuit.

The relay is on the relay bracket above the fuse block, and has 3 pins, iirc.

Just don't go around without the horn fuse installed- it also runs the brake lights.

[TomoHawk]

The relay bracket.

[TomoHawk]

Sorry, I forgot the relay itself. If you ground pin 1, the horns should sound. Pin 2 should be hot (12v) so check that too, straight away. Then follow the wiring if you have to. Whatever it is, it'll be simple.

[76Datsun280z]

Thanks for info Tomo, I'll have to pop the horn pad off and have a look. I assume it screws off?

[geezer]

If the relay is clicking when you use the horn button, that means the control side of the relay is working. Don't pull the horn pad, but check the relay. If the relay is working check the wiring from the relay to the horns. The problem can't be anywhere other than the relay itself, the power wire leading to the horns, the horns or a bad ground. TomoHawk is right about both horns going bad at the same time. It's not likely.

[geezer]

I tried to edit my last post but wasn't fast enough. I didn't mention the fused power supply to the relay. Check that also.

[TomoHawk]

This is one of those times when a buzzer will come in handy. I got a 12V buzzer, and glued it onto a tongue depressor, then added a red wire with a probe, and a black one with an alligator clip.

[undercat]

I had both of mine go bad at the same time and the grounding connections were rusted. An easy test is to just run 12V+ to the horn. If it doesn't work wire a solid ground to it as well to check if the ground is rusted. If it still doesn't work the horn is bad. A voltmeter will also work to tell if you are getting a ground to it (closed circuit test) and if it is getting + when you press the steering wheel.

[KDMatt]

I agree, examine the ground connections on the horns.

If the relay is clicking then power is probably going to the horns themselves, and I wouldn't suspect the horn pad button to be the problem.

Just check the current up front.

[geezer]

I agree, examine the ground connections on the horns.

If the relay is clicking then power is probably going to the horns themselves, and I wouldn't suspect the horn pad button to be the problem.

Just check the current up front.

The horn button only supplies a ground to the control side of the relay. A relay can be controlled with a 12V feed or a ground. In this case, it is a ground. It does not mean there will be 12V present at the horn if there is 12V present at the control pinout even if the relay clicks.

Also, if after cleaning the rusted ground, your horns worked, they didn't go bad at the same time, your ground went bad.

[undercat]

Also, if after cleaning the rusted ground, your horns worked, they didn't go bad at the same time, your ground went bad.

Actually neither of my horns worked when connected directly to the battery. I should clarify that they barely worked when I got the car and 3 months later when I finally got it running (it had sat for several years in the PO's garage) to my suprise both horns didn't work and one had no ground due to rust. I couldn't believe it either that at least one of them would have two different failure modes. It may have only had one working when I got it but I'm pretty sure it sounded like 2 tones. Either way, I ended up cleaning the rust and replacing the horns so now they work.