Horn shock

[clazar]

70 RR. I had my arm resting on the left door metal yesterday. As I hit the horn rim I got shocked when the horn beeped. When I moved my arm from the door & hit the horn rim the horn beeped & no shock. What is wrong ????? Is something grounding improperly or maybe a bad horn relay???

Chuck

 

[Aarons Air]

The upper column bearing has a staple in the side of it for the circuit. It may not be making good contact .

 

[Aarons Air]

The upper column bearing has a staple in the side of it for the circuit. It may not be making good contact .

I meant, upper bearing cover .

 

[Mike67]

You made an easier path to ground than the circuit. You might want to go check your grounds at the block and body. If there is corrosion, dirt/grease or loose connections you will eventually start having electrical issues.

 

[clazar]

I checked my grounds that i could see. They looked good. Where could some grounds be hiding for the horn system ??

Chuck

 

[Aarons Air]

Is the staple in place ? And making contact with the outer cover ?

 

[clazar]

Is the staple in place ? And making contact with the outer cover ?

I didn't take the steering wheel apart. But what staple are you talking about??

Chuck

 

[Aarons Air]

I didn't take the steering wheel apart. But what staple are you talking about??

Chuck

There is a staple in the side of the upper steering column bearing cover. Its part of the horn circuit.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

I don't think the staple could be the culprit. The staple will help to close the relay circuit, but the horn gets the ground straight from chassis. Would need yo check if the relay is allways working or not.

The system can work even without the staple. The staple is just a ground reinforcement for the ground to the horn switch to feed/trigger the relay, not the horn.

 

[Aarons Air]

I don't think the staple could be the culprit. The staple will help to close the relay circuit, but the horn gets the ground straight from chassis. Would need yo check if the relay is allways working or not.

The system can work even without the staple. The staple is just a ground reinforcement for the ground to the horn switch to feed/trigger the relay, not the horn.

By reading your response, one would believe you to have a working knowledge of the circuitry. However, i notice you did not offer an answer to the mans problem. Only an opinion as to why the staple GROUND, isn't the problem.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Isn't indeed the answer of course, because the rest of ppl already told what to check. Just was saying the staple is not ( to me at least ) the problem, before the OP begings to dissasemble unnecessarily the steering column!

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Horn is working, never told is not... thats a fact so that's not a problem, just got a shock when his arm become a less resistance path to the horn than the regular chassis ground.

I bet some other parts of the car are also being affected... just that they are less voltage demand than the horn itself so he never noticed the shock before.

If you want my diagnosis, will repeat what was already told... check the grounds to chassis at radiator core support and ground strap between block and firewall. I bet you will get better lighting system, ign system and whatever other device response

 

[clazar]

Horn is working, never told is not... thats a fact so that's not a problem, just got a shock when his arm become a less resistance path to the horn than the regular chassis ground.

I bet some other parts of the car are also being affected... just that they are less voltage demand than the horn itself so he never noticed the shock before.

If you want my diagnosis, will repeat what was already told... check the grounds to chassis at radiator core support and ground strap between block and firewall. I bet you will get better lighting system, ign system and whatever other device response

Does a 70 RR have a ground stap from the engine to chassis ?? I don't remember seeing one.

Chuck

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Can't tell, my 74 got it, between passenger side engine head and firewall close to ECU.

Check first the radiator core support wiring and enclosured nut, since that should be the natural ground to the body coming directly from batt and being close to the horn. Check in fact also the batt post end. The strap is a reinforcement.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Note: I'm not saying the staple IS NOT the problem, just that I DON'T THINK it is, because the load for it is really minimal to get a shock when working, aside the relay is not really grounded to body like the horn itself really is. Work on the rest first.

 

[miller]

Does a 70 RR have a ground stap from the engine to chassis ??

Pretty sure it should. Usually attached to the firewall, an inch or two, under the horn relay. Look for a screw hole there. Strap/wire comes from the p/s head.
Almost wonder if, somewhere, the hot wire for the horns is grounding...shorting to the body. Maybe pull the firewall block connector, and check the horn relay feed wire, to ground.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Ground strap Under the horn relay? Isn't the horn relay attached to dash frame on 70s?

Mmm... hot wire to horn grounding should make a short

 

[WileE]

Ahhh. Technology ahead of its time ? Required by the noise police to keep you from blaring your horn in urban areas.

 

[miller]

Ground strap Under the horn relay? Isn't the horn relay attached to dash frame on 70s?

Near, close, around, under... Heck, I don't know on that 'late' model stuff!

 

[miller]

Anything, yet?
If not, besides having all your grounds in place, only thing I can think of is something in the steering column. Bare spot on the horn wire, or something. Strange...bet there's a simple answer.