Horn Chapter 2

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phillvr6 · #1 Post by **phillvr6** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:26 pm

Right, so I finally managed to get to the horn, unplugged it, plugged in the new one and.....Nothing!. Exactly the same problem I can feel a slight vibration in the horn when I press the button but nothing audible to speak of.

So I messed about with the old one a bit and reconnected it. It made a bit of noise once or twice, then nothing again. I've just put the bike back together again and its making no noise whatsoever.

Any suggestions as to my next steps?

Thanks,

Phill

Samray · #2 Post by **Samray** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:34 pm

Sounds like a bad earth to me ... but then I've never used my horn either so no expert.

phillvr6 · #3 Post by **phillvr6** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:36 pm

Samray wrote:Sounds like a bad earth to me ... but then I've never used my horn either so no expert.

I only need to get it working because its mot time soon.

back_marker · #4 Post by **back_marker** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:37 pm

That usually means lack of voltage, ie flat/knckered batteries, however if you are not having any other problems power wise I would suggest that there is a high resistance in the wiring for the horn causing a voltage drop.

you could test the resistance between the battery pos and horn with a multimeter to confirm this disconnect from the batery first). However the first thing i would do is to check the horn button contacts and any connections in the circuit for signs of arcing or corrosion. Failing that you could check the wire from the button to the horn for resistance. In all cases all resistances should be less than 5 or 10 ohms.

If you don't have a multimeter you could just run a new piece of wire from the switch to the horn, however like I said I would be checking connections and switches first.

back_marker · #5 Post by **back_marker** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:39 pm

Well done Sam, I forgot the simplest answer of the lot. First thing to do is check the earth. Having looked at the wiring diagram this is the blue wire connected to the horn. If you check resistance between this and either the neg battery terminal (disconnected) or a suitable place on the chassis you should have little or no resistance.

Both the blue earth and the grey live feed go through the mulitconnector which supplies the fans and some of the engine sensors so this would be a good place to check. after that the earth is wired to an earthing point (along with loads of other things so probably not the problem if everything else works ok) and the live goes straight back to the switch which would be my next port of call.

Samray · #6 Post by **Samray** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:52 pm

back_marker wrote: Well done Sam, I forgot the simplest answer of the lot. First thing to do is check the earth (not sure in this case but usually the contact between the horn itself and it's mounting point - should be bare metal).

That's me ... simple.

phillvr6 · #7 Post by **phillvr6** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:01 pm

Thanks for the help, however I'm a complete pleb when it comes to electircery. I have a multimeter but don't have a clue how to use it, also if the earth isn't good, how do I sort it?

Anyone know a decent place in the woking area that could look at this for me if all else fails.

Can I just fit a hooter to the bike for mot purposes?

Edited to add, just found an old thread on AF1 which suggests the switch might need a clean. Anyone know if I upen it up using the 2wo screws underneath the handlebar?

Edited again to add, now taken the switch apart and its as clean as a whistle. Also there's still no noise at all from the horn. The rear lights still working so I guess its not the fuse.Beginning to think that getting this to work may be more hastle than its worth.

Thanks again,

Phill

#8 Post by **Kwackerz** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:03 pm

Hit it with a big hammer.

Ive been drinking since dinnertime. expect nothing less than stupid solutions

IT MIGHT WORK THOUGH!

phillvr6 · #9 Post by **phillvr6** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:07 pm

Kwackerz wrote:Hit it with a big hammer.

Tried that, mad no difference.

back_marker · #10 Post by **back_marker** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:40 pm

Try this then, take the blue wire off the horn. run a piece of wire straight from the now redundant terminal to the neg terminal of the battery and try the horn. If it works then you have a bad earth.

If that doesn't sort the problem then reconnect the blue wire and disconnect the grey one. Run said piece of wire from the now vacant terminal to the battery pos. If the horn works then there is a problem with the feed to the horn (if, as you say the switch looks good then it is probably the wiring between the switch and the horn or the multiconnector in between.

If nothing else this should split the circuit in half and at least point you in the right direction.

If the horn does not work either way with either horn then you either have 2 duff horns (unlikely but possible) or you're doing something wrong.

I would be happy to help if came to see me but I am probably a bit far away.

If all else fails there are only two wires involved. The chances of the actual wire being the cause are unlikely and if it is then you will most likely see some sort of burning or damage on it. The most likely culprit is at the weak points in the circuit, ie the connectors.

Ps. for what it's worth if you hadn't already tried a new horn then I would have fully agreed with Kwakerz' suggestion as the first IA.

PPs. I too have been drinking since this afternoon and this all makes perfect sense in my head. If I have confused you even more PM and I will try and talk you through it tomorrow.

phillvr6 · #11 Post by **phillvr6** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:32 am

Thanks for the guidance, I'll get my hands on some wire and give it a go.

Nooj · #12 Post by **Nooj** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:19 am

My horn wires got rubbed through and were shorting against the frame, so a wiring fault is possible.

phillvr6 · #13 Post by **phillvr6** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:11 pm

Well I've had the capsule that contains the horn, lights etc apart again and noticed one of the wires (not the horn, it was a white and blue one I think) looked a little the worse for wear. Having said that everything apart from the horn appears to e working.

Now bearing in mind that electricery isn't my forte and that I can't solder to save my life am I opening myself up to a whole world of trouble messing about with this? If so anyone know any decent but most importantly cheap auto electrician near Woking who would be able to give it the once over?

Thanks,

Phill

sabestian · #14 Post by **sabestian** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:55 pm

phillvr6 wrote:Well I've had the capsule that contains the horn, lights etc apart again and noticed one of the wires (not the horn, it was a white and blue one I think) looked a little the worse for wear. Having said that everything apart from the horn appears to e working.

Horns draw a lot of current, they need a good supply or they won't work. The rest would still be fine, that's no surprise.

phillvr6 wrote: Now bearing in mind that electricery isn't my forte and that I can't solder to save my life am I opening myself up to a whole world of trouble messing about with this?

It sound like you need to replace that cable, meaning you need to solder a new one. Other connections are more or less temporary. If you can't solder any electrician or mechanic should do it for peanuts if you prepare everything for him to save him running around and undoing fairings.

Syltiz · #15 Post by **Syltiz** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:17 pm

Phil, I am very close to you and while im fairly competent in the garage, electricity is not my forte either. But I can help you test things with the multimeter and supply a 3rd horn to try?