Horn and horn relay location

PILOTBILL

MEMBER
1983 GMC S15
2.8L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
142,533 MILES

Hello, can you tell me where the horn relay on the pick up listed above pickup is located? Here in Texas, you have to have your vehicle checked every year. It would not pass because the horn had stopped working. After I got back home I disconnected the wire from the horn and then I ran a jumper wire from the battery (+) to the horn. All the horn would do, was made a very low beep. I then reconnected the horn wire, got back into the pickup and push down on the horn, nothing happen, horn didn’t make a sound at all. A friend told me that it could be just a horn relay gone bad, but I don’t know. I can run a jumper wire like I said before and make the horn beep a little. Can you tell me step by step how to check this problem out and fix what might be wrong? Thanks

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Hi PilotBill,

The way you tested this just confirms that your horn itself will work. So that means it is either the horn switch (what you press to sound the horn), the relay, or the wiring in between.

I would start with testing the relay. Easiest thing to do is swap it with another but it looks like you don't have many options to do that. So they are cheap enough that I would just go ahead and replace it.

However, here is a guide on how to test relays:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

If the relay is okay, then you need to move back to your switch. There is no easy way to test this other than putting a test light on the relay and seeing if it lights when you press the switch. If it does, then your wiring to the relay and switch are okay. If it does not, then your switch or the wiring to the relay are the issue.

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