I am trying to hook up the original horn button on my steering wheel. The horn is now working properly through a small aftermarket button setup that is mounted to the floor shifter. It has a hot and a ground wire. I've replaced all of the original horn parts in the steering wheel. The original horn button seems to work mechanically. (Pops back after pressing.) The horn has one wire coming from it and goes through the firewall and I am assuming that is the ground that goes to the aftermarket button. The other is hot and is (hot) all the time. I can't find a relay. Is there a connector that connects the original column wire somehow to those two wires now connected to the aftermarket horn button?
The single wire from the horn is a +12V feed. When you apply power to it, the horn should sound (it is case grounded).
Originally Posted by ole green
I am trying to hook up the original horn button on my steering wheel. The horn is now working properly through a small aftermarket button setup that is mounted to the floor shifter. It has a hot and a ground wire. I've replaced all of the original horn parts in the steering wheel. The original horn button seems to work mechanically. (Pops back after pressing.) The horn has one wire coming from it and goes through the firewall and I am assuming that is the ground that goes to the aftermarket button. The other is hot and is (hot) all the time.I can't find a relay. Is there a connector that connects the original column wire somehow to those two wires now connected to the aftermarket horn button?
Thanks in advance. Mark
Can you clarify what the highlighted things are? It is not clear how things are currently wired.
In its simplest form, I think you have what is pictured below. The switch has a "ground" wire and a "hot" wire.
If you are using a voltmeter, the side of the switch going to the horn will measure as ground because there is no voltage potential across the horn.
If that is what you have, then we help you sort out the stock horn.
If the horn only "has one wire coming from it" it is depending on the frame of the horn being grounded and the "one wire" having 12v when you press the horn button.
1964 C-10 wiring diagram shows a horn wired that way and the use of a relay. I don't know about a 60 model, but late 50s also used a relay. Buy a generic horn relay at FLAPS and wire it like this:
Last edited by Bill Hanlon; 12/14/20235:28 PM.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12 '52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
To expamd a bit on Bill's recommendation, you can use a standard automotive relay and wire it up like this.
The horn button in the column connects its output wire to ground, so you hook it up to the ground side of a relay and use the relay to switch the battery side of the horn.
The "It" I am referring to is the aftermarket "horn" button. What I meant by "It is hot all the time" is that one of the wires going to the aftermarket button has power even with the ignition switch is off. Is that what you are asking? I will muster the courage to better trace all the wires. I am fearful of disturbing that mess of wires under the dash and possibly causing some other problem. Needless to say, but I am clueless when it comes to wiring. The wiring diagram in my 60' shop manual does show a relay but doesn't say where it is located. I appreciate your response and will report back to you with what I find.
