Hot horn button?

[Bonnewagon]

I like the Pontiac Formula steering wheels they used on Formulas and Trans Ams in the 70's. Mine on my Bonnewagon I never had an issue with. A buddy has one on a column that the steering shaft somehow got 180° out of line. That meant dismantling and rotating the wheel and horn button also to compensate. Last year I got his horn working with a complete new guts and button . This year the horn does not work and he says the button is getting hot. I know the horn wire is always hot and the button grounds the relay circuit to activate the horn. . Why would the button get hot? A short should blow the fuse.

 

[fleming442]

Is the battery going dead? Does the horn work? If the horn doesn't work, it could be a high resistance short in the horn, but that would cause a battery draw. I put one in my Bonne, and it's fine. Maybe the contacts corroded?

 

[Bonnewagon]

The contacts are new, battery charged, horn does NOT work. He had an old windshield leak so everything got wet and rusty. I replaced everything horn related in the column. The horn is even new. Worked great last year. Would the relay cause this?

 

[fleming442]

That's the only thing between the button and horn besides wiring. Try pulling it to see if it stops the heat. Or, hit it with a hammer.

 

[Bonnewagon]

hit it with a hammer.

My secret weapon!!! If the relay was stuck slightly "ON", but not enough to power the horn? Because he isn't trying to blow the horn- it is hot all by itself. I see it's on the courtesy light/ clock/ lighter circuit. Clock is disconnected- lighter not wired- lights were working last I asked. Looking at the schematic a relay short should not even reach the horn button.