I have a '49 Olds coupe I haven't driven very much since I bought it a year ago. I finally got the tranny overhauled, and the brakes, suspension, and steering have been reworked. I found out yesterday my horn doesn't work.
I started checking the obvious and I have two horns. One on each side of the radiator. Wiring comes up to a terminal block and then to a small relay, which my be a 6 volt relay. Electrical in my 76 has now been converted to 12vdc. I will try shorting the two external contacts to see if the horn works.
The steering wheel assembly seems to be missing a part that makes the horn ring float. The horn button is there but pressing it by hand doesn't make the horn blare.
Does anyone have a diagram of the steering wheel horn assembly?
Thanks.
Bob


Ready To Roll 09-29-16.jpg

 

Fusick probably has the parts if you can figure out whats broke or missing.

 

I hope they have a couple of vintage looking 12 volt horns, because I may have just blown one in getting it to work with 12 volts. I may have "shorted" it because now it just sparks when I apply 12 volts to the horn contact on the terminal strip.

 

Here's a set of horns on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131949640145...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

You should be able to disassemble the horns, and may be able to clean the contacts.

Once you have, you may be able to adjust them to work on 12V, but you may not.

If it's shot anyway, it won't hurt to mess with it.

- Eric

 

Where in Silicon Valley are you?

Gene

 

Sunnyvale. I might be doing the show in Milpitas. Not very big, b ut convenient.

 

It's worth a try. These horns have never been off, and they still have the original cloth wrapped wire.
First time I jumped 12 volts to the contact on the terminal strip, it let out a loud blast. Now it just beeps. Fortunately I only did it to one of the horns. I'm pretty sure the horn relay is shot, or maybe just badly oxidized. I plan to rewire this circuit.
Thanks.
Bob

 

A temporary shot of 12v power should not ruin a 6v horn, other than making it sound like you just stepped on a cat's tail.

 

It was LOUD. That's why I only tapped the contact with a jumper wire. I tried tapping a couple more times, and each time the sound became more faint. Now it only clicks.

 

Eric, I removed the top the horn, and I can see the contact and I cleaned with a nail file...nothing!
I can't get to the diaphragm because I have to take the horn completely out of the car, and that's gonna be a major effort because of the rust on a couple of bolts not easy to get to.

 

A nail file? Bit aggressive, no?

I'd remove the whole horn and disassemble it - there's essentially nothing to it, and it should be easy to clean up.

Be careful of the paper gaskets.

- Eric

 

You might try getting a set of horns off a 53 which are 12 volt. I know on my 54 they are both mounted on the left side of the radiator. I am not sure about the 53 but 54 was a change in body style.

 

No, my nail file is very thin and double sided. I removed the cap on one of the horns and I can see the electrical part of it. Only one set of contacts and they seem to be adjustable or removable. I can't remove this top part because of two small bolts with rusted nuts on it. Surprisingly the two screws holding the horn to the fender are at a weird angle and not easy to remove with a nut driver. Gonna try to maneuver a ratchet driver in there somehow.
I may be flogging a dead horse in trying to get these horns to work with a 12 volt system. I tried using a 6 volt lamp battery to work the other one but it probably needs more amps.

 

That might be my only consolation, but I sure like the sound of those horns. Kinda like a loud "HEY! I'M DRIVING HERE!!!"
Bob

 

I love the sound of the horns on my 54. I guess the sound is period correct.

 

I gave it another go this morning, but short of taking off the entire splash panel it's virtually impossible to remove the horn. I tried removing the transformer but two screws that go from the top down are rusted and I couldn't remove it.
I tried adjusting the contact to see if I could get the horn to reverberate...Nothing!
I'm giving up, so I'm going to need an entire horn system starting from the steering wheel because that's where the problem began. The previous owner neglected to put it back together properly.
So, I will need a new complete steering wheel as this one is pretty worn, and I'll need the relay and of course a couple of 12 volt horns.
Thanks all for the help.
Bob

 

I agree - it's not worth pulling your hair out over.

I don't know your year range specifically, but in general, it is likely that GM used the same horns on darned near every car they made in those years (usually with an extra trumpet on Cadillacs), so a set of horns should be easy to find.

- Eric

 

I agree. I spoke with a fellow Olds owner and he told me removing the bumper would make the three screws holding the horns easier to remove.
I'll probably give it a try when I get back. I'm leaving tomorrow for SoCal to check on the progress of my other '49 Olds. A 98 convertible. Horns on this one are the least of my worries.