Questioni have a 1960 rambler american and im trying to figure out how to repair the horn. do i need to lose the steering nut or is there another way to do it?
AnswerYou didn't make it real clear what your problem is. If you have already checked the horn relay, and the horns themselves, then the next thing to check is the contacts in the horn switch, which is on the steering wheel. But before you go to that much trouble, do the other checks first.
Step one is to put 12 volts on the horn terminals directly - if that makes the horns blow, then check the relay, by grounding the "S" terminal on the relay. If that makes the horns blow, then you are ready to investigate the horn switch. If putting 12 volts on the horns doesn't make them blow, don't waste your time looking anywhere else- fix the horns - either the horns have failed, or they are not grounded.
If grounding the "S" terminal on the relay doesnt' make them blow, but they do blow when you put 12 volts directly on the horn terminals, then investigate the relay. If it clicks when you ground the "S" terminal, but the horns don't blow, either the wires are not connected or the relay has failed.
If you've checked all that, and still no horns, then it's time to follow the wire from the "S" terminal on the relay back to the horn switch. If the horns will blow when you ground the wire coming from the steering column horn switch, then the problem must be in the steering wheel switch. Remove the horn button or chrome ring - whatever is on your car, and investigate the switch. Usually you don't have to remove the steering wheel, the switch is accessible without doing that - just remove the horn button or ring and look at the parts - there is probably a dirty contact or a disconnected wire at the switch - you should be able to find the problem by grounding the horn wire there, and if that makes the horn blow, examine the switch parts and find what is dirty or disconnected.
Dick
