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horn not working - fuse is fine and horn works with direct 12v

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paradigm

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Aug 28, 2024
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The horn isn't working on my 1986 Monte Carlo SS with an LS swap.

The 20A fuse in the CTSY/CLK location looks OK. I tested the horn with direct 12V and it works.

Could it be a faulty relay? Where is this relay?

Or could it be a faulty horn ring/button wiring in the steering column? How difficult is it to remove the steering wheel to get to this wiring?
 
Relay is often behind the dash, left side, little box next to the buzzer. I believe some Buicks or something had them more towards the center.

Removing the steering wheel isn't bad at all, the lock plate with retention ring underneath can be problematic without the proper tooling though. You definitely want to check elsewhere first unless you have good reason to believe the problem is in there. But please do pop the horn button off and check for a good wire that goes through the wheel into the column from the horn button. It could be missing, broken, pinched, or loose.
 
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I popped off the horn button. There is no wire in there. How difficult is it to run the horn wire - or do I need to remove the steering wheel to do so? Also my steering wheel seems off center, so I think I should remove it to center it?

Also looked under the steering column and didn't see any yellow wire running at the base of it.

I am assuming this horn button should connect to a relay and provide ground to trigger the relay and send 12V to the horn?


steering wheel horn exposed.jpg



wiring under steering columb.jpg
 
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Yellow wire is visible in the turn signal connector.

Looks like you are missing some pieces, pull the rusty cup off with the three screws and see if the the spring loaded button is there, it contacts between the ring on the turn signal cancel cam and the metal plate behind that cup.
30518-2c277a28e0ebc86afb04bf8bb97ba3c6.png

gmk4011542671s_6.webp

The relay should be in a block near the fuse block. Should be about one inch cube with three terminals coming out of it. Will be plugged in next to the door chime and seatbelt warning block.
 
Last edited:
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I would start with the yellow wire in the turn signal connector. Put a meter lead sharp end on it while grounding the other end of the lead and try to contact the back of the terminal if the horn honks the problem is further down the chain. If it doesn't honk look into the relay.

The chain is like this.
Yellow wire goes to this button on the TS switch.
TW-8_Front.jpg


That button connects to the back of the TS cancel cam. (That brass ring.)
81XXO+E9MwL.webp


Then the spring loaded button that goes to the horn bayonets into the tube coming out the front of the TS cancel cam.
The center horn button steering wheels use this.
51pR0AaXhZL.webp


The steering wheels with two spokes and the pad that goes all the way across the wheel and has 2 screws holding it on from the back uses this.
I23843957.jpg
 
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Thanks everyone for their help and quick responses. After I popped off the horn cover, I managed to press directly on the metal ring and the horn made noise. I think it’s a contact issue between the horn cover and the metal ring.

The steering wheel is way out of alignment. Should I be looking to take off the wheel and move it and re install it or does this steering wheel alignment have to be done further down the column somewhere ? It’s like the previous owner installed it 90 degrees off center - is that possible?
 
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