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Hi all -- my 53 Firedome arrived with no horns. Got some off eBay, but they didn't work. Pulled the backs off, cleaned (emory papered) the contacts inside and adjusted to spec, which I think is screw the adjustment screw in until the points close, then back it off a quarter turn. Fine tuned those point screws a little and put them back together. That might have been the easy part.
Next I found the horn relay and noted it has lots of crappy wiring connected and in the vicinity, but with the help of the S-16 wiring diagram in the official shop manual, I figured out how it's supposed to work. There are four terminals on the relay.
B (green) accepts battery voltage from a terminal on the inner fender.
H (green) goes to the horns.
I (black, red) goes to ignition, turn signals, and coil.
G, has nothing connected on my car but it clearly should go to the horn button.
The relay is hard mounted to the firewall, presumably with a ground.
Clearly the G wire should go up to the horn switch and be grounded when you hit the ring. Finally, then, here are my questions:
1. What is the routing for the B wire to the horn switch? It goes down through the hollow steering shaft; where is it supposed to come out? Any hints on threading a new wire through there?
2. I see a floppy, loose, unconnected clip on the top of the outer steering tube, down under the dash, that is also not connected. I think it has a little brass wheel on the end of it. Is this supposed to be a ground for the steering shaft?
Appreciate any help. I already fixed my M6's refusal to downshift with a horn button under the dash, so I guess I can add another one for the horn. But I have a nice wheel and ring -- would be a shame not to use them.
John Boyd
San Diego, California
Member National Desoto Club and Airflow Club of America
drjohn96@me.com
1936 S2 Airflow sedan (1)
1937 Chrysler Airflow sedan (2)
John, I will take a look tomorrow. I will see if the B wire routing can be seen. Some wires disappear into factory wrapped coverings. One thing I can tell you is that the horn buttons are very fussy. I thought I had mine fixed but it stopped working. I thought I had a bad horn relay. But yesterday the horn worked but only when I pushed on the downward pointing wheel spoke and only near the wheel. The horn seems easy at the button but it is real picky. Talk soon.