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Topic: Horn and Relay Location (81)

in Forum: C3 Electrical


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Horn and Relay Location (81) (1/8)
 7/19/10 10:54am
rugdoz
Former Member

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Merritt Island, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1981


Joined: 4/27/2008
Posts: 11

Horn is not working  (I have been working on cars for years and I am at the point of being beyond imbarrased about needing help on this one - It usally is quite obvious).  I belive the relay on the horn is working because the volt gage jumps and I hear it click when I push the horn button.  Question is:  Where exactly are the horns located?  Also, can someone advise me where the relay for them is too. 
 
Man - Thanks for being there and the help!
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Horn and Relay Location (81) (2/8)
 7/19/10 11:14am
crossfire1982
Former Member

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Cramerton, NC - USA

Vette(s):
black 1982 coupe slate gray interior, 350 crossfire, 1985 fuel pump, Steeroids R&P conversion


Joined: 8/22/2006
Posts: 1094

Not sure about the horn relay but the horns, if in the same place as an 82, are located in the front part of the inner front fenders (one on each side).  You can see them, barely, and almost touch them from underneath the car.  As far as actually getting to them I think either the inner fender well or the nose will have to be removed... ain't vettes fun !!!
Horn and Relay Location (81) (3/8)
 7/19/10 12:31pm
rugdoz
Former Member

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Merritt Island, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1981


Joined: 4/27/2008
Posts: 11

Thanks, I will look closer tonight.  Guessing I should take the nose off and fix the other stuff too...Good Vette fun! 
Horn and Relay Location (81) (4/8)
 7/19/10 12:59pm
Gary Lacoursiere
Former Member

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, - Canada

Vette(s):
1976 L-48 Coupe Vortec Heads; Roller Rockers, 625 Demon, 700R4; Electric fan, Aluminum Rad, Full-lenght headers w/ sidepipes, fiberglass bucket w/ 5-point quick release harness.


Joined: 7/19/2010
Posts: 10

If your car is the same as a 76, the relay is hanging by its wires just to left of the fuse panel, above and left of the brake pedal.  The ones I've seen are about a one inch cube, pale pink or yellow in color.  The horns themselves are just inboard of the headlights.  If you open your hood and look into the gap by the forward edge, you should be able to see them.  The anchor bolts are also the grounds for the circuit.  Once you clean those, if it's still not fixed, your problem is probably under the horn ring...Chevy used crappy insulators and contact rings.
 
Hope this helps,
 
Gary
Horn and Relay Location (81) (5/8)
 7/19/10 1:12pm
jp75vette
Former Member

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Bloomfield Hills, MI - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Corvette coupe, 4 speed manual, 383 ci 9.5:1,Edelbrock dual plane Air Gap intake, Alum Heads,Comp Cam, roller Rockers, PS,PB,Tilt


Joined: 6/29/2008
Posts: 199

Gary, any recommendations to improve the contacts and insulators on the horn?
 
I have been trying to get mine to work, but the horn keeps blowing.
 
So I have left the parts off; but if you have recommendations to make it work, I would be interested to have the horn work.
 
That will get my wife off my case!
Horn and Relay Location (81) (6/8)
 7/19/10 1:22pm
Gary Lacoursiere
Former Member

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, - Canada

Vette(s):
1976 L-48 Coupe Vortec Heads; Roller Rockers, 625 Demon, 700R4; Electric fan, Aluminum Rad, Full-lenght headers w/ sidepipes, fiberglass bucket w/ 5-point quick release harness.


Joined: 7/19/2010
Posts: 10

Stolen from http://corvettec3.ca/tips.htm :

 
Horn Retainer Fix

Here is my tip for fixing the horn retainer by eliminating the horn contact post and replacing it with a spring and wire.  Yes, it is only a $20.00 item but any place you can save and fix it your self is a good thing.  The horn cap retainer is a weak design, held together with plastic rivets.  The key to this repair is the plastic bushings that can be found at any Ace Hardware store.  I made a new insulator gasket out of plain gasket material as the old insulator usually is broken or missing.  I guess the temperature spikes has a lot to do with it coming apart.  I have used screws and nuts with locktite to hold it all together but have found pop rivets to be a lot cleaner.  I have also eliminated the post and spring with a wire and spring.  The pictures below will hopefully help with your repair.

I haven't tried this exact sequence, but I did more or less the same thing when I fixed mine.
 
Good luck,
 
Gary
Horn and Relay Location (81) (7/8)
 7/19/10 2:55pm
Gary Lacoursiere
Former Member

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, - Canada

Vette(s):
1976 L-48 Coupe Vortec Heads; Roller Rockers, 625 Demon, 700R4; Electric fan, Aluminum Rad, Full-lenght headers w/ sidepipes, fiberglass bucket w/ 5-point quick release harness.


Joined: 7/19/2010
Posts: 10

Replacement parts are pretty cheap, too: http://www.bairs.com/page81.asp
Horn and Relay Location (81) (8/8)
 7/20/10 2:08pm
tonyb47
Former Member

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Suffern, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1976 restored,new interior,custom paint(purple),body kit,rebuilt engine,trans,upgraded sound system


Joined: 3/16/2005
Posts: 227

The best way to eliminate whether the horn itself is bad or not,is to check voltage to the horn.  You need a volt ohm meter, remove the wire to the horn and have someone press the button you should read about 12 volts., or jump a wire with voltage on it to the horn directly in either case if the horn is good it should beep.

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