delco1946 Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986F150Six Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 Does the horn have a relay in the area you described? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delco1946 Posted August 9, 2019 Author Share Posted August 9, 2019 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. 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 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? 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve83 Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 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? 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delco1946 Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 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. 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve83 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 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? It's sealed, but I wouldn't buy new (chinese) - I'd get an OE (or 5) from the JY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986F150Six Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 It's sealed, but I wouldn't buy new (chinese) - I'd get an OE (or 5) from the JY. Is this the relay? https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1984-85-86-87-88-89-Ford-Horn-Relay-Bronco-F150-F250-F350-E4TZ-9C792-A-OEM/254211285516?fits=Model%3AF-150%7CMake%3AFord&epid=1830029220&hash=item3b302c620c:g:LsgAAOSwA4dWNRRx:sc:USPSFirstClass!95125!US!-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve83 Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Is this the relay? https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1984-85-86-87-88-89-Ford-Horn-Relay-Bronco-F150-F250-F350-E4TZ-9C792-A-OEM/254211285516?fits=Model%3AF-150%7CMake%3AFord&epid=1830029220&hash=item3b302c620c:g:LsgAAOSwA4dWNRRx:sc:USPSFirstClass!95125!US!-1 Yes https://supermotors.net/getfile/71693/thumbnail/cruise.jpg 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. https://supermotors.net/getfile/1122758/thumbnail/eec_pwr_relays.jpg https://supermotors.net/getfile/507190/thumbnail/relays4.jpg 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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