Horn hot wire

[joshm121]

Ordered a button, and while I wait, figured I'd test the horn. Just see two tabs on the wheel I figured the button will bridge, and one tab on the horn itself. Assumed I could test the horn by sending 12v to the tab, but when I did only thing that happened was the wire got really hot like it was shorting. Worst part, is now my blinkers don't work. Could be coincidence. Anybody know what went wrong?

Josh

 

[broncodriver99]

What year? 73 and earlier 12v goes through the column, 73 and later ground goes through the column. You could have fried you signal switch or the flasher. I would try the flasher first.

 

[joshm121]

It's a 70 but the wiring is a mashup. Just wondering how sending 12v to the horn ( with no other wires hooked to it) could affect anything else.

 

[half cab]

It's a 70 but the wiring is a mashup. Just wondering how sending 12v to the horn ( with no other wires hooked to it) could affect anything else.

Hey it's a Bronco remember .....;D

 

[joshm121]

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know I found my problem on the blinkers. 14amp fuse was broken on the end in a way that when I touched it with the meter it sometimes showed good. I think it was unrelated to the horn issue.

Anyway, back to the horn. Looked through the drawings in my 66 shop manual and see that it shows a horn relay. 1. Im wondering why you'd need a relay 2. I don't see one on either Toms or Broncograveyard. Anybody know what the deal is with the relay?

 

[Viperwolf1]

No Bronco had a horn relay until '74.

 

[Rustytruck]

If your using the Ford relay then your probably switching ground at the horn button not power. In allot of cases Ford liked to switch grounds instead of power. in allot of cases its safer in a short to have a ground floating around instead of a live power wire.

 

[Steve83]

1. Im wondering why you'd need a relay

So the horn switch contacts last longer; especially when the horn gets upgraded to one that draws more current than those contacts were originally designed for. It's cheaper to add a relay than to redesign the contacts.