Another Horn Question
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: The Lone Star State
Another Horn Question
If you read my post last night about me possibly blowing out my horn, this is in follow up to that. Last night I was putting a new Air Wing Horn cover on the horn. After I put the new cover on, that's when the horn would not work and then there was a pop and smoke followed.
Today I come home and put the old horn cover back on and what do you know, it works perfect. I then put the Air Wing cover on and the horn only make the muffled sick sound again. I put the old cover on, and it works great.
The only thing I can see is that the mounting plate on the back of the new horn cover is bigger than the one on stock cover so it is closer to the wire terminals. It doesn't touch it, but it is very close to it. I finally tried rotating the horn in the new cover so that the terminals are as far from the mounting plate as possible. I haven't been able to test it again due to my baby being asleep. Hopefully that is the answer.
Any ideas?
Today I come home and put the old horn cover back on and what do you know, it works perfect. I then put the Air Wing cover on and the horn only make the muffled sick sound again. I put the old cover on, and it works great.
The only thing I can see is that the mounting plate on the back of the new horn cover is bigger than the one on stock cover so it is closer to the wire terminals. It doesn't touch it, but it is very close to it. I finally tried rotating the horn in the new cover so that the terminals are as far from the mounting plate as possible. I haven't been able to test it again due to my baby being asleep. Hopefully that is the answer.
Any ideas?
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,272
Likes: 48
From: London, England
RE: Another Horn Question
I tried installing the air wing cover several times - I had exactly the same problem as you, just a muffled crappy sound.
I tried everything I could to make it work including rotating the horn itself but nothing worked and in the end I just gave up!!!
Ended up buying one of the special edition painted regular horn covers.
I'd be really intereseted to see if you manage to get it to work.
Good luck!!
I tried everything I could to make it work including rotating the horn itself but nothing worked and in the end I just gave up!!!
Ended up buying one of the special edition painted regular horn covers.
I'd be really intereseted to see if you manage to get it to work.
Good luck!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,602
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From: Clark, New Jersey.
RE: Another Horn Question
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 400
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From: The People's Republic of New Jersey
RE: Another Horn Question
Did you notice any burn marks on the new horn cover? In your original post you said you heard a pop and saw smoke when you tried the horn. If no fuses blew and no wires melted then something must have arced and there should be evidence of this by a burn mark, probably where the terminals were "close to," but not touching the horn cover. You might try putting some electrical tape over the terminals as a temporary measure and trying again. It may be that the terminals are so close they are arcing to ground when energized. I've never messed with the horn cover you're trying to use so I can't give you any targeted help. But if insulating the terminals solves the problem and you want to keep the new horn cover you'll have to find a more permanent way to insulate the contacts. If it's not the electrical contacts then maybe the new cover is "pinching" the horn itself and preventing the thing from vibrating properly and making its noise. If you take the cover off and squeeze the horn with your hand while pressing the button you'll get the same effect. If you try this, wear a glove and watch out for the electrical terminals. Good luck.
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From: The Lone Star State
RE: Another Horn Question
I spoke to a dealer today and he said they have had this problem with a lot of the accessory horn covers. He said it is not grounding properly. I think this is due to the chrome plating being thicker than on the stock cover. The dealer said they just move the horn around until it works. I am going to file some of the chrome off the bracket where the ground makes contact and see if that helps. I checked for evidence of arching but only found some discoloration on one of the terminal wires. I am not sure if that is what sparked but I couldn't find anything else.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 11
From: The Lone Star State
RE: Another Horn Question
Well, I give up!!!
I filed the chrome down a little...Nothing!
I moved the horn all around...Nothing!
I reinstalled the stock cover...It works perfect!
I am out of ideas.
I filed the chrome down a little...Nothing!
I moved the horn all around...Nothing!
I reinstalled the stock cover...It works perfect!
I am out of ideas.