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Recently I ordered the horn button wire and contact spring from MidFifty. I got everything connected correctly (going off this threadhttps://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1010116-instructions-to-hook-up-stock-56-horn.html ) but I can’t get the horn to work from the horn button itself. I can however put a jumper wire on the horn relay from the green/yellow wire that goes to the horn, to the solid yellow wire that goes to the starter and get it to sound off. Thinking it might be the horn button wire Yellow and blue I decided to try a different wire all together. I made a separate wire connection and attached it to the horn relay and over to the horn button wire and still no go. What am I missing?
Your wiring looks correct I think. It could be a bad relay. To test it use a jumper wire and try temporarily grounding the connector on the horn relay that the blue/yellow wire connects to. If the horn honks you'll know your problem is simply the horn button contacts not making contact to ground. If you are using a stock column and it's been painted you might need rub a little paint off on a metal to frame connection to give the steering column a good ground. Also if you haven't done it already think about running a ground connection between the frame and where you battery ground cable is connected to, such as your engine block. And another from you cab sheet metal again to your battery cable ground connection like again the engine block.
Your wiring looks correct I think. It could be a bad relay. To test it use a jumper wire and try temporarily grounding the connector on the horn relay that the blue/yellow wire connects to. If the horn honks you'll know your problem is simply the horn button contacts not making contact to ground. If you are using a stock column and it's been painted you might need rub a little paint off on a metal to frame connection to give the steering column a good ground. Also if you haven't done it already think about running a ground connection between the frame and where you battery ground cable is connected to, such as your engine block. And another from you cab sheet metal again to your battery cable ground connection like again the engine block.
Thank you hooler1. I will give these suggestions a try this weekend and see what I come up with. I didn't even consider the grounding straps could be an issue as well. I do have a unpainted stock column however, the inside of the cab has been painted so there could be an issue with ground at the column. I will report back with my findings
Thank you hooler1. I will give these suggestions a try this weekend and see what I come up with. I didn't even consider the grounding straps could be an issue as well. I do have a unpainted stock column however, the inside of the cab has been painted so there could be an issue with ground at the column. I will report back with my findings
Thank you Tigger,
Some thing else to check would be to make sure your steering box bolts are tight to the frame. And also check for tightness at the place where the steering box connects to the column. If I recall correctly the column slides over the steering shaft and where it meets the steering box has a clamp that tightens the column on a boss at end of the steering box. If that clamp is loose, dirty, etc I imagine you could have a high resistance connection to ground at the horn button. The steering column drop bracket itself under the dash normally has a rubber insulator that wraps around your steering column, so it would not find a ground connection there.
About the extra grounds. I think they are a good idea. Running the battery cable ground to the engine block, then branching a cab ground and a frame ground from that point ensures you have a well grounded electrical system. That way you are not depending on good grounds through cab mounts and motor mounts.
Just some thoughts anyways.
Thank you Tigger,
Some thing else to check would be to make sure your steering box bolts are tight to the frame. And also check for tightness at the place where the steering box connects to the column. If I recall correctly the column slides over the steering shaft and where it meets the steering box has a clamp that tightens the column on a boss at end of the steering box. If that clamp is loose, dirty, etc I imagine you could have a high resistance connection to ground at the horn button. The steering column drop bracket itself under the dash normally has a rubber insulator that wraps around your steering column, so it would not find a ground connection there.
About the extra grounds. I think they are a good idea. Running the battery cable ground to the engine block, then branching a cab ground and a frame ground from that point ensures you have a well grounded electrical system. That way you are not depending on good grounds through cab mounts and motor mounts.
Just some thoughts anyways.
hooler1, Just wanted to give an update. After taking a multimeter to the horn wires and testing for continuity I came to the conclusion that my horn relay, although it looked new, was bad. I ordered a new one and got it installed and now the horn works! I did do as you suggested and looked for my ground straps and I am grounded in 3 places so I think just I will still add some more grounds to the truck just to have more grounding points throughout. Thank you again for all your suggestions and help. I really appreciate it!
hooler1, Just wanted to give an update. After taking a multimeter to the horn wires and testing for continuity I came to the conclusion that my horn relay, although it looked new, was bad. I ordered a new one and got it installed and now the horn works! I did do as you suggested and looked for my ground straps and I am grounded in 3 places so I think just I will still add some more grounds to the truck just to have more grounding points throughout. Thank you again for all your suggestions and help. I really appreciate it!
That's great to hear Tigger! I appreciate you for letting us know how it came out.
