Zach Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 I have a 1950 desoto s14 custom I've tested my horn with leads from the battery to the actual horn and no sound comes out. The horn relay clicks but that's it. I'm now wondering/ asking is it possible to rebuild the horn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 yep....even if riveted.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted May 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 @Plymouthy Adams so then at this point how would I go about fixing the dead horns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 a good start would be a picture....will show the style horn you have.....then based on that one can advise your approach....even if a later model that is riveted...easy to drill out the end..press the body, tap the hole and go back with some nice stainless...after proper cleaning of the contacts which is 95% of all horn issues I have found... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted May 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 @Plymouthy Adams I'm trying tiupload a picture but says file is to big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 resize...use MS Paint....comes with most computers..easy to use....if you plan many pictures in the future for the posting to the forum, consider changing your default format.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted May 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted May 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 @Plymouthy Adams this us under the bell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 burnish our contacts.....check with ohm meter.....when it reads good you can apply voltage....now these horns may well exceed the draw of the average small battery charger so be sure you apply voltage from a good charged battery to tweak and tune....if our diaphragm is good do not disturb.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted May 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 @Plymouthy Adams so I have already used tester wires on it from a good battery and the only thing that makes a sound is the relay other than that nothing comes from the horns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 test the horn off the car and away from the relay....you are testing the entire system as it is and could have a fault anywhere......when a system is not working you process it in components.....failure to do that and you still guessing at what is the problem.....break it down, make it simple.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted May 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 @Plymouthy Adams I have the double horn assembly out and in front of me but I guess I'm confused at this point where to hook up the battery to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desoto1939 Posted May 5, 2020 Report Share Posted May 5, 2020 Zach do you have a battery charger and do you a a 6v volt battery charger. Hook the positive lead to the body of the horn and the negative to the screw that attached the origina wire screw the screen into the horn and put the neg clip up to the screw to see if you get any sound. If yes then you knoe the horn work. There is a point in the center near the little nut and the slot is the adjsutment to the point only a little movement up or down it will take some time. If you can not get any sound keep trying. Since the horn relay seems to be working it could be diry points or out of adjustment. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted May 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 @desoto1939 so I got the high pitch one the make sound but can get just a glips of sound from the other one. Any tips on what I need to change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Roberts Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 Clean and adjust the points . Use voltage directly from a battery as mentioned earlier . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted May 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 @Jerry Roberts I got them both working with the battery but still doesn't make a sound when depressing the horn ring the relay makes a clicking sound but that's it. Should I just change our the relay or is that it working and could be faulty wires. Again the desoto has original wires still in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Roberts Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 See plymouthy's reply #11 . You need to trace it . Perhaps you are not getting enough power to the relay because of your possible faulty wires . How about a test with a good wire from your battery to the relay for example . Check all connections , they must be clean and tight . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted May 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 @Jerry Roberts ok will try tomorrow and sorry for all the questions first time restoring a car like this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Hiebert Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 (edited) Probably bad grounds. I rebuilt some original horns for our D24 this winter, I got the same reaction, bench tested ok, but just heard the relay clicking after I installed them. That means there is power to the horns, and you know your horns work now. I had painted everything, and expected them not to be grounded well, they ground through their mounts to the car's body. I just installed a good ground wire from where the mount bolts to the horn, to a good ground on the body. Edited May 6, 2020 by Dan Hiebert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted May 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 @Dan Hiebert I got them both working with the battery but still doesn't make a sound when depressing the horn ring the relay makes a clicking sound but that's it. Should I just change our the relay or is that it working and could be faulty wires. Again the desoto has original wires still in it. And do you know what this fuse is I cant figure out what this is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dartgame Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 If you have a volt ohm meter, start tracing your wires and see if you have open or high resistance in the wiring starting from the steering wheel out to the horn relay and then from the relay to the horns themselves. Could be bad wiring or bad relay. This assumes that when you say the horns work off a battery they are clear and sound "right". I rewired my car so I am not familiar with the black piece in your picture, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted May 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 @Dartgame yes with horns are connected to battery there is a clear sound from them but when put back in car. The relay clicks but no sound, I've checked the grounding wires under the horns but I dont see anything out of place or touching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Buchanan Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 Is voltage reaching the horn terminals? Have you tested this with a meter or test light? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 there is little magic applied.....you have been given repeat instructions....you have used a couple with success....follow through with the rest of the valid approach to verifying what you have with a meter and cleaning you grounds and connections.....you cam here seeking advice...use what has been given.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Detweiler Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 When I bought my 39 Plymouth all of the wiring was bad. The horn just "clicked". The wire to the horn was rotten and not much of the strands making contact. After new wires and a new relay it was plenty loud. I added new ground straps from the battery to the frame and to the body. I added two fuse panels and every component is on a separate fuse circuit. No stone unturned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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