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Posted on Mar 27, 2009
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1986 Chevy Caprice Classic Horn not working

1) Need fuse box diagram for horn relay
2) If I put a test light on one of the wires to the horn well it light up if it's getting power?

1 Answer

Cleverer2

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  • Expert 298 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 27, 2009
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Joined: Jan 15, 2009
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Diagram should be on the inside of the fuse box or relay cluster lid/cover. If Test light has 1 wire and a sharp tip? Yes, but only if you push the horn button too ;-)

My guess is that the horn lost its ground, but you can check this with the light. The horn only beeps when both GROUND and Pos 12v are present. The horn button gives the relay 12v to close, and the relay gives the horn 12v to operate. The ground is always connected.

Connect tester clipwire to 12v source (battery, headlight (has to be on) and touch its tip to metal of car. Does it light? Good. the tester is working and the 12v is a good source.

Touch one of the 2 horn connection or wires (poke it thru the plastic - why tip is sharp). Does it light? Touch the other, does it?

If both light, (1 will be brighter) we can assume the horn coil is good and it is getting a good ground and I was wrong (it happens... but not often). The side that is BRIGHTER is the ground wire side.

Now have someone mash the horn button. Do you hear a tiny click? That is the horn relay. If not, look for the horn relay fuse and replace it. If you DID hear the click, the relay coil is good and is trying to switch 12v to drive the horn.

Now is time to locate and replace the horn fuse or the relay may have bad contacts. Look at the other relay part numbers in the cluster and see if there is a match for the horn one. Swap it out and try the horn.

Hope this all helps. To 'test' the horn, touch the dim side again anf listen for a scratching sound. That is the 12v going thru the tiny bulb in the tester (a resistance) and trying to drive the horn.

Good Luck!

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Hi there.
I dont no were your fuse box is But before you go about finding it go to the horn, there you have 2 wires 1 earth and 1 feed get a test light and check if you have power to 1 side and then the other if you have feed on 1 side then put any wire to any earth on engine and on to the term on the horn the 1 without feed and it should work when you press the horn button if the horn blows then you should hear the relay making a noise, then you will find it.
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Is the air bag light lit on the instrument cluster ? The horn relay isn't under the hood in the engine compartment , it's in the SJB - smart junction box located inside the passager compartment . Under the dash panel left side . You can take the relay back to autozone because it's not the right one ! The relay is inside the smart junction box ,soldered to the printed circuit board !
Horn Horn
The vehicle is equipped with dual horns. The horns are mounted in the LF frame rail corner behind the front bumper.
The horn system consists of the following components:
  • steering wheel horn switches
  • clockspring
  • horns
  • smart junction box (SJB)
Horn Switch, Steering Wheel Mounted
The horn switches are incorporated within the driver side air bag module in the steering wheel. The switches are grounded and control the horns through the clockspring. For removal and installation of the driver side air bag module, refer to Section 501-20B .
Visual Inspection Chart Mechanical Electrical
  • Horn
  • Horn switch
  • Battery junction box (BJB) fuse 1 (60A)
  • Smart junction box (SJB) fuse 38 (15A).
  • Circuitry
  • Speed control actuator
  • Clockspring
  • SJB

Smart Junction Box (SJB) Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) Index
DTC Description Source Action B1217 Horn relay coil circuit failure Smart junction box (SJB) If the horn is inoperative, Go To Pinpoint Test A . If horns sound continuously, Go To Pinpoint Test B . B1218 Horn relay coil circuit short to battery Smart junction box (SJB) Go To Pinpoint Test A .
Any codes ?
Symptom Chart NOTE: Refer to Wiring Diagrams for connector numbers stated in the pinpoint test. Condition Possible Sources Action
  • The horn is inoperative
  • Battery junction box (BJB) fuse 1 (60A).
  • Smart junction box (SJB) fuse 38 (15A).
  • Circuitry.
  • SJB.
  • Horn switch.
  • Horn.
  • Speed control actuator.
  • Go To Pinpoint Test A .

Your best bet , take it to a qualified ford service center .
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http://www.gmpartsgiant.com/parts/gm-switch-as-17990636.html
Been there done that.
It is the switches in the steering wheel.
Remove the battery cables, then pull the air bag and replace.
Took me months to find this place, see above.
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Could be the clock spring, the relay or the horns themselves.

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9824084.jpg

If this works, next is to test the coil operation, which are pins #1 & #2. Pin #1 should be the power from BJB Fuse #7, pin #2 is ground from the horn switch via the clock spring on the steering wheel.
Use a meter to test from pin #1 to a known good ground ( i.e. neg side of the battery or a factory ground lug on the fender ).
If you have + DC on that pin, next is to test the ground pin in the relay socket. Using a meter with DC-V from pin #2 to the + side of the battery, have someone press the horn switch on the steering wheel. If this tests OK, could be a problem with the relay. You can swap the fog lamp relay ( 206 ) or the trailer tow backup lamp relay ( 203 ) into this position to test with.
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Check ALL the fuses with a 12 volt test light.
Change all that are burnt.
Also.....check the wire going to the horn (at the horn) with your 12volt test light if the fuses are good.Have someone push the horn button.
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I replace more horns than fuses.
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