Horn stopped- just clicks

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Horn stopped- just clicks

delco1946
Hi all, I rarely have any need to honk my horn but the occasion finally arose. However, it only makes a clicking noise now coming from the brake pedal area. Has this happened to anyone before I spend the entire day scratching my head on this? Last time I used my cruise, it worked so seems unlikely they’re related to a common grounding issue etc. Thanks!
Christopher in Portland Or. 1981 F250 Ranger XLT 4x4 trailer special 351M, and auto C6
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Re: Horn stopped- just clicks

1986F150Six
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Does the horn have a relay in the area you described?
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Re: Horn stopped- just clicks

Gary Lewis
Administrator
In reply to this post by delco1946
I had this recently on Big Blue.  Turned out the horn was bad.  The relay is what is clicking, and it then sends power to the horn.

I tested the horn by placing jumper wires on it and hooking it directly to the battery.  In my case it did nothing.  So I grabbed another and got a timid beep.  Sprayed contact cleaner into the horn, held upside down so it would run in, and finally got it working sorta.

I turned to the other one, but the contact cleaner didn't help.  Then I accidentally dropped it and it started working.  
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Horn stopped- just clicks

delco1946
Well as usual curiosity got the best of me and feet up in the air I was under the dash, and can feel the clicking vibration occurring immediately under the dash where a bunch of wires enter some small black box. I haven’t tested the horns them selves but I recently installed those in the last couple months and it seems unlikely that both of them which used to work when I bought them with suddenly stopped working simultaneously. Does that mean it’s something in the steering column then? How would I start to diagnose that?
Christopher in Portland Or. 1981 F250 Ranger XLT 4x4 trailer special 351M, and auto C6
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Re: Horn stopped- just clicks

Gary Lewis
Administrator
The wiring is shown below.  But there's not much to it.  If the relay clicks and you don't have power to the horns then the relay is probably bad.  Put a test light on the wire going to the horns and see if it lights when the horn button is pushed.


Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Horn stopped- just clicks

Steve83
Banned User
In reply to this post by delco1946
The clicking horn relay means the problem is NOT in the column, or in the positive feed to the relay (including the fuse).  It's in the relay, the horn wire, the horn(s), or the ground path between the horns & the battery (-) post.
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Re: Horn stopped- just clicks

delco1946
Thanks for the help.  I don’t think I’ll have time today but I’ll try to investigate it tomorrow. If it’s the relay are those repairable or do you just purchase a new one?
Christopher in Portland Or. 1981 F250 Ranger XLT 4x4 trailer special 351M, and auto C6
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Re: Horn stopped- just clicks

Steve83
Banned User
It's sealed, but I wouldn't buy new (chinese) - I'd get an OE (or 5) from the JY.
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Re: Horn stopped- just clicks

1986F150Six
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Re: Horn stopped- just clicks

Steve83
Banned User
Yes



But that's a helluvalotta money for a simple relay.  Before spending that much, I'd just use a newer Bosch/ISO/Tyco style relay, with a jumper wire from pin 30 (+12V) to pin 86.  Pin 85 is ground; pin 87 is output to the horn.





You can get them anywhere; with or without sockets.  Their terminals are standard quick-disconnect size - same as the original relay, or these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F695FT4