Car back from body shop - horn buttons don't work

[MuRCieLaGo]

Hi guys,

I just had my 1991 back from a respray. They forgot to connect both hood lights - easy fix, I just plugged them. However, both horn buttons don't work. Both horns are connected.

They were both working fine before I sent the car out.

But it does work when anti-theft engages.

I removed the air bag and tried to cheat around to get the horn buttons working, without any luck.

Am I missing something?

EDIT: I removed both horn buttons, played around a little bit... And now everything works fine. I do not understand why.

[ZWILD1]

When I got my 91 two years ago the horns didn't work when pressing the horn. I set the vehicle alarm and the horns worked. I went on good ole YouTube and found a video on the C4 horns. All I had to do is remove the buttons by pulling them off. To remove them you pull them towards you by prying them back at the top of the button. Then underneath you will find a copper strip and under that strip is the contacts. I used some fine sandpaper to clean the contact area under the copper strip. It has a little pin in the center that makes contact. Just be careful removing the horn buttons. They have plastic poles that press against the copper strips. If you break them you will have to get new buttons. They are easily found new and used on eBay.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVFSKij8JsM&t=259s

[MuRCieLaGo]

Originally Posted by ZWILD1

When I got my 91 two years ago the horns didn't work when pressing the horn. I set the vehicle alarm and the horns worked. I went on good ole YouTube and found a video on the C4 horns. All I had to do is remove the buttons by pulling them off. To remove them you pull them towards you by prying them back at the top of the button. Then underneath you will find a copper strip and under that strip is the contacts. I used some fine sandpaper to clean the contact area under the copper strip. It has a little pin in the center that makes contact. Just be careful removing the horn buttons. They have plastic poles that press against the copper strips. If you break them you will have to get new buttons. They are easily found new and used on eBay.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVFSKij8JsM&t=259s

Alright that's the video I watched. I broke a pin on the right horn button while removing it, I'll have to buy some epoxy tomorrow.

I'm a bit skeptical though, both horn buttons quit working at the same time? Hmmm!

Thanks for your help!

[lfalzarano]

Superglue fixed my right side horn button...


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

[Young1]

I did repair a horn button with JB Weld. I built it up over a few days and then filed back in the notch/hook that had snapped off. Or one can spend 35.00 on eBay. I like the challenge of being cheap!

[ZWILD1]

I was a bit skeptical at first. My contacts didn't look at all corroded. After a few passes with the fine sandpaper it was working fine. Now that I recall I think both started to work after I did one side. I still took the other side apart and hit it with the paper. I repaired my console lid button after it broke and I use it as a spare. I used gorilla CA and you can't really see the repair.

[MuRCieLaGo]

So, as expected... Problem is not from the horn buttons. I still sanded the contacts with 800 grit. There's something wrong with that cable I'm pretty sure. But I don't know how it works. I've seen something about a broken plastic retainer?

[Mystic ZR-1]

That spring thingy was what was wrong with my horn.
Gordon pointed me to it and he was right, of course.

[MuRCieLaGo]

Originally Posted by Mystic ZR-1

That spring thingy was what was wrong with my horn.
Gordon pointed me to it and he was right, of course.

Do you have any clue how to fix it? I don't even know how it is supposed to be/if it is broken...

[Vette Guy]

That side doesn't look broken. It should ever so lightly twist into the connector receptacle down in the center of the steering column. It's been years since I fixed mine, so I'm providing my best recollection. I'm searching for a photo for where it should be connected....

Only found one for a C5, but the idea is the same.