Horn Not Working

I’ve seen other threads, but this one is different. My horn fuse is good, not sure about the relay, but when I hook a multimeter to the negative terminal of the battery and the leads at the horns, I read 14V (when the truck is on). So I’m definitely getting 12/14V at the horns, but no sound.

Anyone have some insight?

I don’t know how relays work, and I do think it’s a bit odd that there is only one wire going to the horns.

 

The horns are grounded through their mounting bolts, they only have a power wire going to them.

So if you have power to the horns but they do nothing they are probably bad.

 

Oh shoot. So you're telling me if they aren't bolted on then they aren't grounded. LOL. Well let me go out to the garage and bolt them back on.

 

Well look at this. See this is why I’m a mechanical engineer and not an electrical engineer. Doii!!
I had been testing the horns unmounted because I replaced the horns as well. Once I bolted them onto the frame they worked perfectly.

thank you Dm93!!!

 

Lol good job O.P.

 

I've seen some folks online suggest replacing the stock horn with a beefier option, like a train horn [insert smiley face here]. Now, I'm all for a good rumble, but slapping on a giant train horn might be a bit much, not to mention attracting unwanted attention. Instead, I've been thinking maybe a high-quality aftermarket horn could be the answer. Something that packs a punch without going overboard.

What do you all think? Anyone have experience upgrading their horns? Hit me with some recommendations if you've got them! In the meantime, check out https://bosshorn.com/products/milwaukee-train-horn for some… shall we say… more "enthusiastic" options [wink wink]. Let's keep the roads safe (and sounding sane)!

 

Worse case scenario would be a broken clock spring in the steering wheel.
usually breaks if someone disconnects the steering wheel and the wheel gets turned while loose from the steer shaft
the clock spring connects ground inside the steering wheel to trigger a relay at a fuse panel somewhere
relays can also fail

 

you can think of a relay as just a heavy duty power switch that is triggered by a ground from another tiny weak switch
inside the relay is a magnet coil plunger that activates when it gets a ground signal from another switch
when the electromagnet plunger hits the contacts it connects the high power load across the termianls
If there is only one wire , then it is a POSITIVe and ground would be through the horn body
the ground signal to trigger the relay needs the clock spring connection from the steering wheel horn button to body/frame
usually a broken CS will cause other malfunctions at the steering wheel switches (not column switches ) but not always