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Horn replacement/voltages?


joshbm
07-22-2004, 05:40 PM
Hi, I've got a 2000 Escort ZX2. I'm in the process of replacing the stock horn (it's missing... don't ask), with a 12$ cheapo from AutoZone.

Short Version:
Does anybody know how the voltage is supposed to look on the horn wiring harness? It looks like I've just got a broken wire, but I'd like a second opinion before I take it in someplace to pay for what should be a simple repair.

Longer Background:
It doesn't look like I'm getting any voltage on the wiring harness. The harness has two female plugs, one black and one green/yellow. The black appears to be chassis ground, since it's 12V below everything else. The green wire doesn't seem to do anything, ever. When you push in the horn, the relay audibly clicks (and you can see 12V across the fuse plug, if you remove the plug. That fuse sits in between the wheel and the horn, though).

I know the new horn is good, since i tried it with some wire across the battery. Stupid, I know, but I wanted to double-check that. Boy does it work =)

Thanks in advance,
--
Josh

Car Pal
07-22-2004, 09:07 PM
the horn has a fuse, relay and then sliding contact behind the steering wheel. if there is power and the relay clicks,your sliding contact is probably open.

joshbm
07-23-2004, 09:35 AM
the horn has a fuse, relay and then sliding contact behind the steering wheel. if there is power and the relay clicks,your sliding contact is probably open.

It's getting power down to the relay just fine, it's that
1) The wiring harness isn't getting any power
2) I can't find the exact relay to take a continuity measurement (there's a big cluster of about five of them, all in the same piece of plastic)

So, I need to know if this is actually supposed to be getting +12V on one side, and ground on the other. If so, pointers as to which relay in that cluster would be helpful: I think I've identified it, but am not certain. There're literally 5 or 6 of the things right next to each other with no fewer than 8 green/X wires, four of which are green/yellow!

Whoever engineered this needs smacked around a bit =)

Thanks!
-- Josh

Car Pal
07-23-2004, 08:51 PM
i'm thinkin if the relay is clicking it has power and ground.
no power at the horn while the horn is pressed?it is in the circuit. power at the horn while pressing the pad; and it's the horn,

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