Horn as a consumable?

SimonWright · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 12:41 pm

I posted this in SS but thought I'd also try here see if you guys had any ideas...

OK, I'm finally turning my attention to this annoying issue. I go through horns almost as fast as tires. I swear we've probably replaced the damn thing(s) 6 times over the years. After installing they work just fine. Then when I start to use it at events (lots of use in Mexico!) they begin to not work intermittently, then the not-working times outnumber the working times and finally they not-work at all!

My knowledge of horn anatomy and operation is fairly rudimentary - it's not like we're asking a lot of them and it's just a damn on/off switch via a relay right? BTW, I do hear the relay clicking.

Any thoughts, suggestions or alternatives?

Simon

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 2:18 pm

air horn!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

BretLuter · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 3:05 pm

more cowbell??

:mrgreen:

Seriously, are you sure the horns themselves are going bad? I would check them by applying 12v directly to the + terminal (ground the other terminal and/or the metal body, obviously) and see if they really are dead.

If they are, then I can't offer much insight as to why your car kills horns, but if they are not dead, then I'd look at a wiring/connection issue.

A basic multimeter is your friend here, you could even do with a cheap 12v test light.

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 3:54 pm

Could it be mechanical damage from rallying?

George Bright · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 6:10 pm

I guess it is possible that they are getting too much spray and mud. I assume you are mounting them in roughly the stock location for the focus. The usual point of failure is the points inside the horn.

I have had the same Fiamm air horns for about 25 years now. I just have to add a few drops of oil every few months. I need something louder for my focus.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 6:36 pm

Except for NY city taxi drivers :lol:

most horns are rarely used. Is it possible that your rally use simply wears them out? They are kind of a speaker with contacts to interrupt the current flow similar to an electomagnetic buzzer : http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/508.cfm

I think a key factor to keep in mind is that there are the contacts in the horn control relay and also the internal contacts as the diaphragm moves. I suspect that either the internal contacts are wearing/burning or the flexible diaphragm is failing. This assumes it isn't a power circuit issue. Any chance "objects or crud or water" are entering the horn "horns"?

SimonWright · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 4:31 pm

Thanks guys. Inspired by the suggestions we poked around some more and found one section of the wiring that was quite sketchy. So we replaced that and wrapped it in that plastic tubing stuff. We had already mounted the horn in such as way that it isn't scooping water and crud. It's working now so we're hoping it was bad wiring.

Simon

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Thu May 24, 2012 6:33 pm

you need a horn, that sounds like the mexican cockroach song ...

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Horn as a consumable?

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