• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

Horn Problems

Share this page

AngliaGT

AngliaGT

Great Pumpkin
Silver
Country flag
Offline
I have a problem with my horn (74-1/2 TR6).It doesen't work when you push the horn button,but if you switch connectors on the relay it will operate (stays on).
Any ideas?

Thanks in Advance,

- Doug
 
If you can activate the horn by direct grounding the treminal on the relay that usually grounds through the horn button, then you know that the relay is ok, and that the problem is in the column.
If not, then suspect the relay like steve said.
You can check the column by prying the button out of the center of the steering wheel, pull the brush out of it's little hole and check it out. It should have a spring loaded button on the end. If not, it's worn out and needs replaced.
The steering wheel hub should be grounded all the time. If not check the wires that should be bridging the rubber joints in the column, out in the engine bay, and the ground strap on the steering rack.
Check the other side of the circuit by reinstalling the brush, and checking continuity from the brush to the terminal on the relay. Most common problem if there is no continuity is the bullet connector coming out of the column under the dashboard.
good luck
 
I had a similar problem with the horn on my TR4A and it turned out to be one of the braided wires that jump the rubber couplings in the steering shaft. It had broken and so no continuity to the button in the wheel. In fact, the tip off was that if the steering wheel was turned while I help the horn button down at some points in the rotation the horn would just beep for a split second (as the wire just made contact due to gravity or some other grace of God event).
 
I have the same car as you and my problem was a grounding issue at the coupler as described above.
 
Triumphs have horns?

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Jim, my GT6 has horns... until the day of it's annual safety inspection... every year.

The last time mine failed it turned out to be the connection across the rubber coupling in the steering column shaft as mentioned above.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Triumphs have horns?

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, they're for getting MGs out of their way /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
my GT6 has horns... until the day of it's annual safety inspection... every year.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL

I have a horn button on my steering wheel but when I push it a sound comes out of the front of the car that sounds a little like a flatulent cat that swallowed some bagpipes.

I'll fix it one of these days.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
my GT6 has horns... until the day of it's annual safety inspection... every year.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL

I have a horn button on my steering wheel but when I push it a sound comes out of the front of the car that sounds a little like a flatulent cat that swallowed some bagpipes.

I'll fix it one of these days.

[/ QUOTE ]
Pop the covers offa those windtones and take some emery cloth and electronic cleaner to the contacts.
Jst be aware the feed wire is "hot" all the time
Of course I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know.
 
yup. I know. My to-do list on the 3 is about 2 pages long and the horns are smack-dab on the bottom.

I did finally fix the passenger door handle yesterday though! Sometimes you have to do one of the silly little jobs to feel like you're getting somewhere.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Pop the covers offa those windtones and take some emery cloth and electronic cleaner to the contacts.
Jst be aware the feed wire is "hot" all the time


[/ QUOTE ]

are you talking about on the horns themselves? My TR3 horns sound OK, but my TR4 horns sound like the cat mentioned above. Is this a problem with both types of horn?
 
I've repaired several Lucas horns as mentioned above. On those I've serviced I've torn them completely apart by drilling out the rivets and replacing them with machine screws (8-32?).

I haven't found a cat in the engine compartment or horn yet... but I did find spider webs inside one.
 
FWIW One of last summers adventures was working with the horns.
Given all that been suggested above is it possible they've just plain worn out.
I've considered Doug's idea, but have the thought in the back of my mind that aside from the obvious ($$$$) I'd ruin perfectly good parts.
 
There's not a lot in a horn to wear out. There are electrical contacts, coil windings, a couple of adjusting screws, and a metal diaphragm. If the diaphragm hasn't cracked, repairs are possible and usually limited to clean-up, reassembly and readjustment. It's always a question of time vs. money on things like this unless you're really into keeping a car "original" right down to parts like these.
 
Thanks for the tid bits Doug. I think I will open op the horns and see what I find. Given the state they were in when I firs got them I would be amazed if the contacts in there are anything but terrible. Besides it would make a great winter project for the warm inside bench and the high current 12V power supply I built back in the ham radio days.
 
Ham radio, huh? You have all of the vices covered.

de N1PR
 
well you know what they say, he who dies with the most toys wins.

73 de VE3ADE
 
[ QUOTE ]
the high current 12V power supply I built back in the ham radio days.

[/ QUOTE ]
"73"s from KC2BQW /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Fix the horns and pull into a car show honking

"-.-.--.-" and see how many new friends you can make.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Back
Top