No horn on '79 spider

[clipto]

Bought my Spider today but on the way home I've noticed my horn isn't working.
When I push the button on the wheel I hear a clicking sound from underneath the glovebox compartment.
After I got home I checked if the fuses in the box below the steering wheel were ok, and they are.
Is it normal to hear the clicking sound under the glovebox, where to find the issue in the not-working horn?

Thanks!

[RRoller123]

Hmmmm, sounds like that clicking would likely be the horn relay activating, but the current isn't getting to the horn itself. You can track the wires back from the horn, checking for voltage along the way until you find the break. Check the grounds too, it seems like it is almost always the grounds that are at fault.

Pete

[TX82FIAT]

I knwo this is going to sound like word smithing. However, by working from the horn back I don't think Pete actually is referring to the horn button but the "horn itself in the engine bay. If you relay is clicking then the horn button and continuity in the horn switch on the column (common failure points) is most likley not the issue. Working between the relay and the horn in the engine compartment would be where I'd look as well.

[RRoller123]

agreed, that is what I meant.

[lm48]

If the relay is working, which you hear under the glove box the you need to check at the horn itself with a tester to see if you push the bottom you get any voltage, if yes then you check the horn ground which is located above the driver side inner fender . Hope this help

[spider2081]

I had this exact same symptom and it was a poor connection on the fuse. Found it by holding the horn button down and pressing on the fuses one at a time. When I came across the bad connection the horn chirped. Also the fuse connection in the clip was a little warm. The relay clicked but not enough current left to make the horn work.

Good Luck

Also I thought only cars in USA had horns.

[aj81spider]

If your 79 is wired like my 81 this is important to make sure you know what is going on. The same fuse that is used for the horn is also used for the fan. If it is a fuse problem then you will eventually overheat because the fan won't work either.

[clipto]

Okay, thanks so far guys.
Any clues where the horn is grounded?
Horn is right behind the front grill, right?

[4uall]

this might help

http://wwwe.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopi ... ilit=+horn

grounds to drivers side (North American) bloom

[jdhughes17]

I know that this post is several years old, but I am hoping that those involved are still on the site and can help me with a similar problem. I believe that my problem is in the steering column. The horn has not worked since I bought the car. The horn button moves in and out and seems to function appropriately. I noticed that the fuse was missing from the fuse block. When I put a fuse in, or cross the two poles, the horn sounds. Any thoughts.

[spider2081]

I am not sure but as other have stated the same fuse protects the engine cooling fan and the horn circuit. Does your engine fan work properly?? If so I would suspect a prior owner has changed the wiring for the original configuration.

Originally power from the fuse is routed to a relay mounted under the glove box. The horn button supplies the ground for the relay to energize and power the horn. If your horn is blowing as soon as you put the fuse in the panel that wire is shorted to ground or the relay is defective. I would first pull the horn button out of the steering wheel. Hold it free and clear so the wire terminal is not touching anything and then put in the fuse. If the horn still blows drop the relay panel from under the glove box. I think the relay for the horn is the one closest to the front of the car on the right side. Unplug the relay and see if that stops the horn from blowing. You should be able to hear and feel a click just when the the fuse is installed. That is the relay energizing. It is sort of common for the slip ring terminals below the steering wheel hub to short to ground causing your problem. To see if there is a short in the steering column follow the wire harness from the steering column. Behind the instrument cluster it has 2 connectors. The 8 pin connector has the horn wire in it. Unplug the connector and see if the horn stops blowing when the fuse is installed. Often the instrument cluster has to be pulled out so find this connector.