46 horn wiring

[oldford2]

Getting too old to remember all this stuff...…….Question,
I am trying to install a 12 volt horn on a 12 volt 46 pickup. On my 46 fordor the wire coming up thru the shaft to the horn ring is hot. So what happens when the horn is depressed? It seems it would create a short circuit. This pickup has the same single wire up to the button. The newer horn I have has a terminal and uses the mounting bracket for ground. How can I make it work.
Thanks
John

[Automotive Stud]

The wire in the column should ground the horn relay.

[Greg58]

I wired my horn through a relay, my horn wire provides battery negative to fire the relay. The 12v relay is around $6 at the big box auto part stores.

[JSeery]

Good point, are you using a horn relay? As has been pointed out already, the wire up the column should be a ground wire to the relay. There are three connections on a horn relay, battery power, ground wire to the horn button (the wire up the column) and a wire to the horn(s).

[oldford2]

Originally Posted by JSeery

Good point, are you using a horn relay? As has been pointed out already, the wire up the column should be a ground wire to the relay. There are three connections on a horn relay, battery power, ground wire to the horn button (the wire up the column) and a wire to the horn(s).

O K, Thanks, now it is making sense. So I need a relay (12 volt).

So it looks like I can get a relay and use this later horn and Jseery's diagram.

I will be off to CARQUEST in the morning. Do I need specs on the relay?

CharlieNY rebuilt the pump and carb after it sat for 4 years with old gas in it. Great craftsman


Thanks again
John

This is the pickup I am working on. Belongs to a friend who is now in a nursing home but his wife wants to keep it in working order.

[Greg58]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I used a universal 30amp relay 4 male connectors. Mine is black and blends in on the fender or firewall. If you find someone at the store thats a car guy he'll know what you need. You will only use one of the output wires.

[JSeery]

I would use a regular horn relay, but up to you.

[oldford2]

Got a new horn relay and wired per Jseery diagram. Still not working. Tested the newer horn and it works. I could always buy a "horn button" and it would work but trying to keep things original.
John

[Greg58]

A couple of things to check, ohm the horn wire with a multimeter, connect one lead to the wire from the horn button and the other to a good ground. With the meter set to ohms the meter should zero out when the button is made. If not check for grease or paint under the button, if the button wire checks good recheck the wiring on the relay or make sure the relay is the right type that needs frame ground to activate it.

[Greg58]

Is the horn you are trying to use a one wire type?

[oldford2]

Yes

[Greg58]

What is the part number of the relay you installed?

[oldford2]

Napa hr-101

[JSeery]

I would start by checking at the relay. Jumper the ground terminal on the relay to a good ground. That will tell you if the relay is wired up correctly and working. Next jumper the steering column wire under the steering wheel to a good ground. That will tell you if the ground wire is connected up properly and intact. If both of these check out, then the issue is somewhere in the horn button mechanism itself.

[Greg58]

According to the Napa web site you should have a B terminal for battery +, a H terminal for horn and a S terminal for the wire to the column.

[oldford2]

Originally Posted by oldford2

Got a new horn relay and wired per Jseery diagram. Still not working. Tested the newer horn and it works. I could always buy a "horn button" and it would work but trying to keep things original.
John

O K ...Got it. I reversed the horn and button wires and it works great. Thanks for all the help.
John

[JSeery]

Lol.

[Greg58]

Good