|
|
Put Battery in Backwards, Horn won't blow
|
|
|
| |
|
|
archie
New User
Mar 2, 2014, 3:11 PM
Post #1 of 5
(2170 views)
|
|
Put Battery in Backwards, Horn won't blow
|
Sign In
|
|
I have a 1959 Cadillac 75 series Fleetwood limo that I am trying to get back on the road. I put a new battery in the car and accidentally put the battery in backwards. The first warning sign I ignored was the horn blowing intermittently which I ignored thinking it was a stuck horn button or something. I tried to start the car and the car didn't start and the horn stopped blowing. I turned the battery around and the car started with no problem but the horn will not blow from the steering wheel. I did replace the horn relay with one I got from Auto Zone (hopefully it was the right one but I really don't know even though I did bring them the old one. prongs did match up)
Replacing the horn relay didn't help and the horn is still not working. What else could I try? Is there a fuseable link somewhere or something else that may have been damaged? Could the horn itself be damaged? Any help someone could give would be greatly appreciated.
Sure won't do this again!
Thanks for everyone's help.
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 2, 2014, 6:29 PM
Post #2 of 5
(2149 views)
|
|
Re: Put Battery in Backwards, Horn won't blow
|
Sign In
|
|
Do you have a 12 volt test light of volt meter to test electrical circuits with? Do you have the wiring schematic for the horn?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Mar 2, 2014, 6:30 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
archie
New User
Mar 3, 2014, 7:31 PM
Post #3 of 5
(2119 views)
|
|
Re: Put Battery in Backwards, Horn won't blow
|
Sign In
|
|
i do not have a volt meter nor a wiring schematic for the horn. I was hoping only a few things could have gone wrong and a simple fix would take care of it.
I will try and find a wiring diagram online and locate a volt meter and see if there are hot wires going to the horns.
Could there be a few things putting the battery in backwards could directly effect that could give me a place to start?
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 3, 2014, 7:48 PM
Post #4 of 5
(2116 views)
|
|
Re: Put Battery in Backwards, Horn won't blow
|
Sign In
|
|
It could of blown a fuse or fusible link that is used to protect the horn circuit. Check every fuse and link that you can see. You might be able to trace the wiring from the horn to see where it goes. You might also be able to go under the dash and find out where the wiring goes from the horn switch. Maybe tracing those circuits might lead you to the culprit. If you had a 12 volt test lamp, you could see if you have power or ground, depending on how the horn circuit is designed, to the horn when you push the switch.
Thank goodness this is an old car and not one that has a bunch of computer modules in it.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 4, 2014, 8:56 AM
Post #5 of 5
(2099 views)
|
|
Re: Put Battery in Backwards, Horn won't blow
|
Sign In
|
|
Almost all GM (others too) horns were like this.......
This car OE would have at least two and either would work but one might take down both if shorted. One or two bolts hold it which is ground, the single wire when powered with plain 12v it works.
Without much of anything for tools you could just take one out, hold mount metal to body or battery ground and add 12v power to the spade where it plugs in power and that alone you would know if it works.
One could have been broken for years and not noticed. You can at least see if one works or both without much of any tools.
Rule out something, anything. If you are stuck with a 1950s horn forget working on this thing at all and send everything out - no harm intended but this is primal,
T
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
2006 Toyoto Camry XLE Driver Side Electric Window Trouble
Tierod end change caused some kind of leak
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
Howdy
