horn relay

[jeremy5780]

1985 CJ7 has been having electrical issues. the battery was getting drained and killed IE dead cell I went through 4 batteries in about 6 months all under warranty. I would put in a new battery and it would drive great all day i would park it for a day or two and go to start it and NOTHING it was DEAD DEAD! so I finally tracked it down to the horn relay once I pulled out the relay the drain on the battery quit. The horn has never worked since I have owned it, and I would like to get it working. I tried a new relay but the same thing happens any ideas?

 

[BusaDave9]

So you tried a new horn relay and the battery still went dead? I say your horn button in the steering wheel is bad or connected wrong. I think your horn button is always on. If I am right so far, your horn must also be bad or it would always be honking, especially after replacing the relay.

I had a similar problem when I bought my CJ5 . The PO said the horn never did work. So I replaced the horn and it immediately started honking continuously. I disconnected the horn and worked on the horn button in the steering wheel. In my case the steering wheel was re-installed with a big washer that shorted out the horn.

How do we know if we are on the right track? I have 2 things to try:
1. disconnect the horn or horn relay. See if the battery keeps its charge.
2. Check the voltage to the horn relay. If the horn button is bad (always on) you will have 12 volts on the black and white wire on the horn relay even when you are not pressing on the horn button.