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Horn problem

Horn problem
K

kenpoman2003

Jeeper
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Location
Whitefield, Me
Vehicle(s)
1986 cj7 4" suspension lift, 2" body left. am going to install rear bumper tire carrier, front bumper brush and grill guard, front roll cage and tie in kits. all as money becomes available. dana 30 front end with quadraqtrac four wheel differential. amc 20 locking differentail in the rear. Have solid piece axels just waiting to be installed some slow winters day hopefully in heated garage. Am also going to do, do it yourself paint in tub liner havent decided which one to go with. Any sugestions? hope to do this to the underbody and frame as money allows. I have ordered marine interrior lights for under dash and bach passenger compartment and under hood w/ heavy duty toggle switches. I plan to install a secondary fuse block to acommidate any accessories I may someday get. I know it sounds like a lot but its a pick away project with no deadline. and as money provides.
hey, I just joined this site and am new to this, so I hope i'm posting in the right area. I have a 1986 jeep CJ7 and my horn seem to have a mind of its own. for the most part when I press the horn button nothing will sound. once in a great while when I press the button the horn will sound.
does anyone have an idea what the problem might be? and if so what is the best course of action? I will be very gratful for some suggestions.


thanks, Jon
 
Sounds like a short somewhere in the system Jon :(
I would start with the wiring through the column.

My horn only worked when I turned the wheel to the left...and then it always worked even when I didnt press the center section. I finally just unhooked it :D
 
When I bought my jeep it didnt have any wiring for the horn past the firewall so I had to start from scratch. Underneath the horn button itself their is a spring and wire connector that completes the circuit once the horn is pressed, their should also be a metallic sticker where the edges of the horn will hit, ie the bottom of the horn. These wires go down to a buzzer/solenoid underneath the dash in the area of the fusebox. This solenoid looks like a small metal fuel filter. This is where I found my problems. It would elimintae alot of stuff if you get a new horn kit. The one I got for my Grant steering wheel was, lets say 30 years advanced of the original.

Hope this helps, with electrical stuff you really got to trace the wires and see where they connect and look for possible shorts, frays, or disconnections. I hate to be that guy, but as a newb myself, you need to really dive into your jeep to get to know it. At first I was completely lost when it came to carbs and CJ7s, now I have completely upgraded the carb, tuned it, adjusted timing, and upgraded most everything else on my jeep.

If you see anything out of the ordinary, just let us know. Welcome to the forum, this is a great place to gain wisdom.
 
A pic of the horn button would help
if in the column there could be several issues that need to be addressed
 
Last edited:
kenpoman2003 said:
for the most part when I press the horn button nothing will sound. once in a great while when I press the button the horn will sound.
thanks, Jon
Click to expand...
Sounds like a problem with the horn button in the steering wheel. There is a spring loaded contact in the steering wheel. As you turn the wheel this contact rubs on a steel plate. At times this may not be getting a good connection.
In this picture the contact is called a button.
steering.webp
If you take your steering wheel apart be careful of how the parts fit together. It sounds like it is in correct but you have an intermittent connection.
 
try the easy stuff first, find and replace the horn relay. It is up under the dash.
 
X2 on both busa and IO
also metering the horn and button wouldnt hurt at all

Mine has a red with white stripe wire connector at the horn
 
thanks for all the info. I will pull apart the horn assemble this weekend
 
Just a suggestion, use a volt meter or test light and start at the horn. Horns have been known to stop working and relays are world renowned for it. checking voltage is a lot easier than pulling steering wheels off. It's kind of like shooting pool, take the easy shot first.:cool:
 
kenpoman2003 said:
hey, I just joined this site and am new to this, so I hope i'm posting in the right area. I have a 1986 jeep CJ7 and my horn seem to have a mind of its own. for the most part when I press the horn button nothing will sound. once in a great while when I press the button the horn will sound.
does anyone have an idea what the problem might be? and if so what is the best course of action? I will be very gratful for some suggestions.


thanks, Jon
Click to expand...
have another problem on the heater box there is a rod that runs from the right side over the defrost attachment to a lever on the left. my box has no rod, thPO hooked a choke cable to the left side lever and tucked it under the dash. what dose this lever do? and what is the appropriate cable to attach? thanks Jon
 
IOPort51 said:
Just a suggestion, use a volt meter or test light and start at the horn. Horns have been known to stop working and relays are world renowned for it. checking voltage is a lot easier than pulling steering wheels off. It's kind of like shooting pool, take the easy shot first.:cool:
Click to expand...
I agree with IO's post more than my own. I still think the horn button is the most likely problem but it's also the most pain to repair. Get a multi-meter. I like to test electrical problems at a midpoint in the circuit. In this case test at the relay. It's behind the dash just hanging there near the light switch.
1003cct_09_o+electric_fan_controls_methods+ez_wiring_harness.jpg

Since the horn works sometimes I don't think the relay or fuse or even the horn is bad. When any of those go out they almost always stop all together. I think it's a bad connection somewhere. You can try re-seating the relay. When you have the relay removed check the wire that would go to terminal 86. As you press the horn button this wire should short to ground. With one lead on this wire and one on a good ground you should get 0 ohms when you press on the horn. If not then the problem is the horn button.
HornWire.gif

As for the cable to the heater box: I am guessing it's the defrost. It's hard to say since it's a mod the PO did. You may want to start a new post for that one. Can you get a picture?
 
sure I'll post it here for you. thanks for the horn advice I will be cheking it out as soon as I get my jeep back. Having some welding done.
 
BusaDave9 said:
I agree with IO's post more than my own. I still think the horn button is the most likely problem but it's also the most pain to repair. Get a multi-meter. I like to test electrical problems at a midpoint in the circuit. In this case test at the relay. It's behind the dash just hanging there near the light switch.
1003cct_09_o+electric_fan_controls_methods+ez_wiring_harness.jpg

Since the horn works sometimes I don't think the relay or fuse or even the horn is bad. When any of those go out they almost always stop all together. I think it's a bad connection somewhere. You can try re-seating the relay. When you have the relay removed check the wire that would go to terminal 86. As you press the horn button this wire should short to ground. With one lead on this wire and one on a good ground you should get 0 ohms when you press on the horn. If not then the problem is the horn button.
HornWire.gif

As for the cable to the heater box: I am guessing it's the defrost. It's hard to say since it's a mod the PO did. You may want to start a new post for that one. Can you get a picture?
Click to expand...

HeaterControlsOnBox.webp
 
From just about any GM steering column. This will get a lot more attention if you start a new thread.:D
 
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