The Adventures of Horatio Hornblower

[lakeroadster]

When I bought my truck the steering wheel and column were hacked up, and the horn didn't work.

Well I fixed the column, added new turn signal wiring and added a new steering wheel.

When I hooked the battery back up the horn still didn't work. Upon investigation the horn wire was disconnected from the horn.

I hooked it back up and it blew constantly. I unhooked the horn wire and then I checked continuity at the steering column turn signal plug, the horn button is working.

Maybe a bad horn relay?

Point me in the right direction guys. What should I look at next here.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[jocko]

not sure, but my guess would be that it's somehow making continuous contact - and that can happen if you forgot to put that little plastic ring thingy in that the 3 screws go through. Do you remember putting that plastic part in when you installed the turn signal wiring and put the new steering wheel back on? (you probably did remember, but I wouldn't be asking if I hadn't done it myself.... almost went deaf before I could get the battery disconnected so I could work on it to fix it). Could also be the order in which the plastic ring was installed - it should keep the metal from touching until the horn button is pressed. Sounds annoying (no pun intended) - good luck.

[lakeroadster]

I am using an aftermarket wheel, but since I checked the horn button continuity at the column harness plug I have eliminated that as a problem.

Thanks.

Anybody else out there got any ideas?

[72lb4x4]

Check for continuity to ground at the horn relay ground connector. The horn button provides the ground on a 67-72 but I'm only guessing its the same on the earlier truck that I'm also guessing you're working on

[Gary66]

unhook horn..... put a sign in the window that says "Horn Broke, Watch for Finger"
lol

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by Gary66

unhook horn..... put a sign in the window that says "Horn Broke, Watch for Finger"
lol

While I like the idea, somehow I don't think Sherriff Bufford T Justice would share our humour.

[markeb01]

I believe you already verified the horn button is operating correctly, but one possibility with some of the early Grant/Superior/Covico style adapters - there is a small channel on the top surface of the main aluminum hub portion of the adapter where the horn wire is suppose to rest under the bell. It's very easy for the wire to pop out of the channel and get pinched between the hub and the bell, resulting in a runaway horn. Just something else to check for the next guy having a similar problem.

[ChiefRocka]

Well since you've checked the circuit 'after' the column switch ... I'm thinking it's the relay.

Check continuity at the relay, from the column.