High horn not working on a 1981 C10 Silverado

[C10_Blackie]

Hi all - the high horn (A note) on the passenger side does not work. The wire that feeds it is passing power, but no buzz, no click - nothing. I pulled the unit and tried hooking it up directly to the battery with no result. Did a continuity test and found that there was no continuity. Did the same test on the other working unit as a sanity check and got it to beep and found continuity - so my methods so far seem right.

So it sounds pretty dead to me. Anything else I should be trying? And if it is truly dead, any chance anybody has a spare working high horn they'd be willing to part with? I'm in the Seattle area if that helps.

I checked the web for local junk yards and they seem to all use the same software that is worse than useless. And I know that GM used a lot of parts on many models and years so for all I know, there could be a lot of these around but I just don't know how to locate them. And the ones I see on LMC Truck and USA-1 Industries give me no clue as to how cleanly they'd be to install on my truck.

So what's the quickest and easiest fix, other than settling with the one working horn I have?

 

[Radiohead]

There's a guy south of you in Battleground that specializes in squares, can't remember his name, but if anyone has one, it's him.

 

[C10_Blackie]

There's a guy south of you in Battleground that specializes in squares, can't remember his name, but if anyone has one, it's him.

Good point, and I have his contact info. I wonder if he ships. Thanks.

 

[Grit dog]

Ted in University Place still parts out squares. Seen him on FB recently.
Are you looking for one for free, because universal to vehicle specific are only like $20-60 new.

 

[Broken85]

sounds like the coil in that horn is toast. I bought two LMC horns. I remember that I had to mess with the mount quite a bit because it wasn’t a direct replacement, but I got them to fit.

 

[C10_Blackie]

Ted in University Place still parts out squares. Seen him on FB recently.
Are you looking for one for free, because universal to vehicle specific are only like $20-60 new.

Didn’t expect to find one for free.

Don’t know Ted, although University Place would be a lot easier to get to than Battle Ground.

I have a question out to USA-1 Industries. Would happily buy theirs for $40 but would like to know how much trouble it will be to adapt. They don’t show any pics of the brackets or how it works. Finding a working used unit would likely be cleaner.

Edit: your comment made me think about checking Facebook Marketplace and I found a number of options there. I also found Ted. Thanks for helping me find that resource.

 

[C10_Blackie]

sounds like the coil in that horn is toast. I bought two LMC horns. I remember that I had to mess with the mount quite a bit because it wasn’t a direct replacement, but I got them to fit.

Yeah on the coil. I saw a YouTube video where a guy rebuilt his, but it wouldn’t work if the coil was shot.

And thanks for the info on the LMC unit - I suspected it might not be a clean fit. Did you just have to bend the brackets they provided, or did you have to fabricate your own brackets? And did you have to run a separate wire for ground, or did it ground through the brackets like the original?

 

[bucket]

Fill it with WD-40 and let it sit for a day or two. Then empty it out, give it some love taps with your favorite ball peen hammer and then give it 12 volts a few more times. It might come back to life.

 

[Broken85]

Yeah on the coil. I saw a YouTube video where a guy rebuilt his, but it wouldn’t work if the coil was shot.

And thanks for the info on the LMC unit - I suspected it might not be a clean fit. Did you just have to bend the brackets they provided, or did you have to fabricate your own brackets? And did you have to run a separate wire for ground, or did it ground through the brackets like the original?

I believe that I ended up bending the brackets that came with them (which are basically just universal mounts). I tried to repurpose the original mounts, but that was hopeless. Yes, I believe I also ran a ground wire too. I’ll try to take a look at the truck later today.

 

[Sad Sack]

May be a stupid question but is there an RPO code for dual horns?

 

[Finkaire]

Fill it with WD-40 and let it sit for a day or two. Then empty it out, give it some love taps with your favorite ball peen hammer and then give it 12 volts a few more times. It might come back to life.

Precisely what I did and it worked!

 

[C10_Blackie]

May be a stupid question but is there an RPO code for dual horns?

I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure at least in 1981 that it was associated with the trim level.

 

[C10_Blackie]

I believe that I ended up bending the brackets that came with them (which are basically just universal mounts). I tried to repurpose the original mounts, but that was hopeless. Yes, I believe I also ran a ground wire too. I’ll try to take a look at the truck later today.

Don’t bother if it puts you to any trouble. I believe they’ll work just from what you told me. Also - and I’m kicking myself for not thinking of this - somebody put me on to Facebook Marketplace and I can now see that there are people parting out square bodies all over the place and it shouldn’t be hard to find what I need.

 

[C10_Blackie]

Fill it with WD-40 and let it sit for a day or two. Then empty it out, give it some love taps with your favorite ball peen hammer and then give it 12 volts a few more times. It might come back to life.

I heard about that, but if I don’t have continuity I’m guessing that the coil is busted, so no way I’m getting current to pass.

 

[Old Guy Bill]

The LMC horns work just fine.
They come with a small right angle bracket that mounts to the horn then onto the core support. Connect the wire and you’re set to go.