stupid horn!

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:49 pm

i think its about time i asked about this. my brother has taken my truck to the DMV 2 times to take the final driving test to get his liscense, well, the first time horn wouldnt work so he couldnt take the test. then we found out that it only worked when the truck is on. and the second time, my brother was going to start up the truck and honk but horn didnt work at all! when we got home, i kept pressing the horn buttton over and over and it honked on the ~7th time. then no more honks. i checked the contacts on the horn and they are all good. then i respliced a splice that looked old and bad. still nothing.
when you press the steering wheel, you can hear a click coming from the engine comartment.
what is wrong?!

Supermike · Post by **Supermike** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:49 pm

Sounds like your truck just isn't horny enough.

Now, bad jokes out of the way, maybe it's the horn brush?

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:51 pm

!

horn brush?

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:03 pm

the PO replaced the original horns with the ones i have now. they are spliced into the original wiring though right by the horn.
where are the contacts?

Supermike · Post by **Supermike** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:06 pm

Under the pad on the steering wheel... the horn pads on the 70-72s can get dirty between the contacts under the pad on the steering wheel.

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:08 pm

how do i pop it off? is it hard? anything to take note of? how complicated is stuff under it?
i dont know anything about them.

Supermike · Post by **Supermike** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:20 pm

There are a couple of screws (two?) you can access from the back/under side of the steering wheel. The padded horns use contacts that run across the wheel. They are plastic, but have metal strips inside that contact the opposite strip. When dirt/dust gets between the contacts, which is often the case on these old trucks, you have to hit them just right to make it sound.

Beyond this, you'll have to get a 71/72 guy to help you out. I'm an old school horn ring guy, but operating off memory of my old '73 I had in high school.

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:22 pm

the "you have to hit it just right" comment would make so much since! that would be why it works 1 out of like 10. will anything pop or fly out? like a spring or anything? thanks for the help! hopefully i can get this damn thing fixed.

Supermike · Post by **Supermike** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:27 pm

If I recall correctly, nothing will "pop out"... there may be a spring in there, but I think it's anchored if so... just take it slow and easy.

Good luck!

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:34 pm

thanks for the help

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 4:50 pm

my dad looked at it and found that the horn relay was in peices. so we got a new one and it works great!
thanks for the help though! now i know what to do if another horn problem occurs and its not the relay. thanks

Supermike · Post by **Supermike** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 11:33 pm

Awesome! Glad you fixed it...

1971fordcustom · Post by **1971fordcustom** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:14 pm

Supermike wrote:Sounds like your truck just isn't horny enough.

Now, bad jokes out of the way, maybe it's the horn brush?