Horns and Theft System - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Hammer · 07-05-2012

OK, guess it's not my week. My horns aren't working, so I got under the dash and pulled the fuse. Yep, it's blown. Replaced it, hit the horn, it blew once (and didn't sound right) and the fuse popped again. Tried once more and the same thing happened. Done for the night.

Anybody had this problem? What was the outcome.

Thanks

rhipsher · 07-06-2012

Damn John! Your car must be mad at or something.

VetteMed · 07-06-2012

John, the internals of the horns can become partially seized due to corrosion. I'd suggest the following:

Unbolt the horns, spray a lot of PB blaster or equivalent penetrating oil down into the horn, let it sit. Tap on the center of the horn assembly with a hammer, after a few hours of soaking, to attempt to free up the mechanism. Might need to repeat a few times.

I suppose a faulty relay, or shorted wiring, could cause a problem too -- relay is under the RH side of the dash.

Hammer · 07-06-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhipsher

Damn John! Your car must be mad at or something.

That's what Im thinking.

When I was in Kennewick, parked at a hotel, the horns started going off. I was standing right there too. Noone around. I was thinking this happened when I wasn't around and maybe they just honked until the fuse blew.

Hammer · 07-06-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by VetteMed

John, the internals of the horns can become partially seized due to corrosion. I'd suggest the following:

Unbolt the horns, spray a lot of PB blaster or equivalent penetrating oil down into the horn, let it sit. Tap on the center of the horn assembly with a hammer, after a few hours of soaking, to attempt to free up the mechanism. Might need to repeat a few times.

I suppose a faulty relay, or shorted wiring, could cause a problem too -- relay is under the RH side of the dash.

I'll be looking at the horns and relay this morning. I wouldn't suspect faulty wiring until after those are ruled out.

AC is still blowing nice and cold Andrew. Thanks for your help on that again.

VetteMed · 07-06-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

That's what Im thinking.

When I was in Kennewick, parked at a hotel, the horns started going off. I was standing right there too. Noone around. I was thinking this happened when I wasn't around and maybe they just honked until the fuse blew.

This suggests that the signal wire is shorting to ground. The wire runs from the horn buttons, down the column, to the long connector for the turn signal switch, at the base of the steering column. The wire is black. From the connector it runs to the CCM, I think. When this black wire is grounded, the horn output from the CCM will latch the relay closed, to provide 12V to the horns.

VetteMed · 07-06-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

I'll be looking at the horns and relay this morning. I wouldn't suspect faulty wiring until after those are ruled out.

AC is still blowing nice and cold Andrew. Thanks for your help on that again.

Agreed, re: wiring.

Glad to hear you're staying frosty

Hammer · 07-06-2012

Checked horns with a Power Probe 3 this AM. The left one did not work and popped the breaker on the PP3. The right one worked fine. I pulled the left horn, replaced the fuse and the right horn worked fine, didn't pop the fuse after three times blowing the horn.

So, looks like I need a left side horn and this problem is fixed.

VetteMed · 07-06-2012

Cool, glad to hear. You could still try soaking in PB Blaster to see if it frees up, before buying a new unit.

scottfab · 07-06-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

Checked horns with a Power Probe 3 this AM. The left one did not work and popped the breaker on the PP3. The right one worked fine. I pulled the left horn, replaced the fuse and the right horn worked fine, didn't pop the fuse after three times blowing the horn.

So, looks like I need a left side horn and this problem is fixed.

Sure glad these horns did not decide to do this crap in Kennewick. It's hard to have a nice BBQ with the noise

With such low mileage I'm surprised about this failure. Did it's earlier life happen to be in a state that uses salt one the road? Weird. Or did some under the hood spray maybe get in there? You know that stuff that shines up plastic.

07-05-2012	#1
Hammer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ideho Posts: 2,653	Horns and Theft System OK, guess it's not my week. My horns aren't working, so I got under the dash and pulled the fuse. Yep, it's blown. Replaced it, hit the horn, it blew once (and didn't sound right) and the fuse popped again. Tried once more and the same thing happened. Done for the night. Anybody had this problem? What was the outcome. Thanks __________________ [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS]John Boyd[/FONT][/I] [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1]Ideho[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1][I]2015 ZL1 [/I][I]Camaro #1121 BLACK/BLACK 6 SPD (540 RWHP)[/I][/SIZE][/FONT] [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1]1991 ZR-1 #458 [COLOR=red]RED/[/COLOR][COLOR=black]BLACK 72[/COLOR]k miles ([B][COLOR=red]SOLD[/COLOR][/B]) 1991 ZR-1 #473 [COLOR=red]RED/[/COLOR][COLOR=black]BLACK [/COLOR]37k miles ([B][COLOR=red]SOLD[/COLOR][/B])[/SIZE][/FONT][/I]

07-06-2012	#2
rhipsher Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Houston 90 Red ZR-1 Posts: 2,320	Re: Horns and Theft System Damn John! Your car must be mad at or something.

07-06-2012	#3
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,828	Re: Horns and Theft System John, the internals of the horns can become partially seized due to corrosion. I'd suggest the following: Unbolt the horns, spray a lot of PB blaster or equivalent penetrating oil down into the horn, let it sit. Tap on the center of the horn assembly with a hammer, after a few hours of soaking, to attempt to free up the mechanism. Might need to repeat a few times. I suppose a faulty relay, or shorted wiring, could cause a problem too -- relay is under the RH side of the dash. __________________ 2004 Z06/Z16 LeMans Commemorative Edition 1991 ZR-1 #302 White/Gray (sold) 1991 ZR-1 #1147 Red/Saddle (sold)

07-06-2012	#8
Hammer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ideho Posts: 2,653	Re: Horns and Theft System Checked horns with a Power Probe 3 this AM. The left one did not work and popped the breaker on the PP3. The right one worked fine. I pulled the left horn, replaced the fuse and the right horn worked fine, didn't pop the fuse after three times blowing the horn. So, looks like I need a left side horn and this problem is fixed. __________________ [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS]John Boyd[/FONT][/I] [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1]Ideho[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1][I]2015 ZL1 [/I][I]Camaro #1121 BLACK/BLACK 6 SPD (540 RWHP)[/I][/SIZE][/FONT] [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1]1991 ZR-1 #458 [COLOR=red]RED/[/COLOR][COLOR=black]BLACK 72[/COLOR]k miles ([B][COLOR=red]SOLD[/COLOR][/B]) 1991 ZR-1 #473 [COLOR=red]RED/[/COLOR][COLOR=black]BLACK [/COLOR]37k miles ([B][COLOR=red]SOLD[/COLOR][/B])[/SIZE][/FONT][/I]

07-06-2012	#9
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,828	Re: Horns and Theft System Cool, glad to hear. You could still try soaking in PB Blaster to see if it frees up, before buying a new unit. __________________ 2004 Z06/Z16 LeMans Commemorative Edition 1991 ZR-1 #302 White/Gray (sold) 1991 ZR-1 #1147 Red/Saddle (sold)