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| | | | Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 152 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 152 | Today I installed a new horn button. Simple, right? Then the horn wouldn't stop blowing (Murphy's law at work). So, I quickly disconnected the battery, then disconnected the wire from the horn. Upon reconnecting the battery I could hear the horn relay clicking, so I disconnected the horn relay. Now my Amp gauge doesn't work.
I'm assuming the horn problem is due to the insulating material (thin cardboard like material) flaking and coming out from underneath the horn contact plate as I tweaked the prongs so the new horn button would slip on. Is this correct?
Also, how/why is the Amp gauge affected by the horn relay?
Oldbolter
1959 Apache 3800 dually flat bed/dump with 261
1956 3800 dually flat bed/dump with 235
1957 3600 flat bed, 350 engine, 700R4, PS, disc brakes, 14 bolt rear with 4.11 gears
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 | Get an analog horn. (squeeze bulb).
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 | Not sure what truck we are talking about.
If it is a 59 chevy, the horn wire comes down the steering column and exits to go under the dash and through the firewall. You should be able to simply unplug the wire where it exits the steering column.
As far as the horn honking all the time, Usually that is the upper mast bearing failure. Did you remove the steering wheel? | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | yes, you likely caused a short in the horn circuit messing with the contact, the button should supply a ground to the relay only when you push the button - as daddy points out, you can reconnect what you disconnected and unplug the horn wire where it exits the column to see if that's the problem "why is the Amp gauge affected by the horn relay?" because you have something wired wrong in the circuit involving the relay, the regulator, the ammeter and the light switch, which are all interconnected, or you also disconnected a wire from the regulator .... look at the wiring diagram in your shop manual and check your wiring [ this one will work if you don't have a manual] Bill | | | | | Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 152 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 152 | Thanks for the help.
Bigbad: Yes, my questions refer to the '59. I did not remove the steering wheel. I will unplug as you suggested until I get the problem resolved.
Bill: It looks as though I need to pull the steering wheel and check the contact. Thanks for the diagram. There may indeed be something wired wrong since the PO did some rewiring to convert to an alternator.
Steve
Oldbolter
1959 Apache 3800 dually flat bed/dump with 261
1956 3800 dually flat bed/dump with 235
1957 3600 flat bed, 350 engine, 700R4, PS, disc brakes, 14 bolt rear with 4.11 gears
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | dont forget, use your brakes before the horn
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | |
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