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#98358 12/08/2006 10:56 PM | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 36 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 36 | Sorry if I missed another post on this but could not find an answer so far. 1953 12 volt 1/2 ton, new wiring harness. Is there a schematic that tells you how to make the connections?
Horn worked before restoration BTW. One wire comes out of the steering column, not sure if I put everything back together correctly on the horn/steering assembly, springs, etc. The wiring harness goes to a new horn relay and then to a single wire to the horn. The horn has two wires/connections?? I also have a ballast resistor and was told I could use that to make the horn sound better, where might that fit in the equation? There is power to the relay but nothing on the horn button to relay or to the horn, even when depressed. The relay is new and I don't think I have the old one.
Suggestions please?
John | | |
#98359 12/08/2006 11:29 PM | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | John, here is a previous post that you might wade thru to see if it will help click here here is a wiring sketch for a 49-53 chevy car,, may or may not help.. web page
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#98360 12/09/2006 12:56 AM | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | Is this new harness made for your truck or is it a universal replacement?
From your post it sounds like it has a fuse box with the relay mounted there. The manufacturor should be able to tell you which wire goes to your button wire.
On 2 wire horns, one is a ground. | | |
#98361 12/09/2006 1:30 AM | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 36 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 36 | cletis,
The harness was made for the truck and it's been great, no issues so far. Relay does not appear to be associted with a fuse block. The wires are correctly connected to the relay according to the diagram. I think the issue is with the steering column where the horn connects, any diagrams of that? Do you know how the ballast resistor connects?
Joker, diagrams and posts really did not help but thanks.
John | | |
#98362 12/09/2006 3:39 AM | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | Never heard of using a ballast resister on a horn. Most people just blast them with 12V. If you use it, it would go between the relay and horn.
The wire coming from your steering column should be a ground. With a meter make sure it is grounding when the button is depressed.
The horn relay has 3 terminals. Make sure you have 12V going to the power terminal of the relay. Ground the ground terminal to the cab with a screwdriver and you should have 12V to the horn terminal.
Next apply 12V to the horn. It should honk.
If all these are OK then wire it up and it should work. If any of the steps don't work, that is where your problem is. | | |
#98363 12/09/2006 3:51 AM | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | John Clark,
I thought a horn with two contacts indicated the horn coil was insulated and one of the contacts needed to go to ground...or to the horn button, SANS relay.
The truck was originally 6 volt so the horn was also. I assume someone told you to put the ballast resistor (???) inline to reduce the voltage a tad! I haven't heard of this trick before...I wonder if it would work. The horn will sound quite vigorous on 12 volts, and should last forever unless you lay on it for an hour or so. Many folks run their 6 volt horns on 12 volts.
It's a simple matter to use a small jumper and ground the proper contact on the horn relay to test it. This would prove your theory that the button assembly is at fault.
The relay should have three terminals (?), power IN, power OUT to horn, and GROUND through the horn button. This means the horn cannot be insulated from ground itself.
If you were to use a ballast resistor, it would go in the line from relay to horn. This ballast resistor thing is a bit strange...try it and let everyone know how it worked.
Stuart | | |
#98364 12/09/2006 4:30 PM | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 395 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 395 | horn relay as follows,,,batt term,ground term goes to horn button on steering wheel as button is only ground to complete curcit that will close points and send power to horn thuss honk honk..wire to steer wheel is hot all time and is grounded when horn is pushed closing point in relay and sending power thru relay to horn wire...doc | | |
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