Morris Minor Owners Club

My horn is no longer working

By way of background, I removed the previous horn button when replacing the steering wheel and as I did so the horn push disintegrated (it had a crack in it). I've now replaced the steering wheel and the horn push but the horn no longer works. I've checked the fuses and connections and they are all OK and the interior light is working. Any suggestions?

internal fault in the horn push maybe

Tried cobbling the old one back together to see what happens?

Remove the new push and short it with a piece of wire - does it sound?

I didn't try a piece of wire but it previously shorted with a screwdriver and sounded (prior to removing the steering wheel). It doesn't do it now though.

It usually sounds awkwardly when removing the wheel....the chisel shorts it out..... I suggest going back to the fuse and fuse holder clips - check for bright/clean -and try another fuse. Is the interior light working?

Yes, the interior light is working. The original fuse looked fine but I replaced it with a new one just in case but no change.

It's the same fuse for the light - so if it's working the fuse is good. You need to check if there is power getting to the horn (Lilac wire) and then if you short the Lilac/black wire to earth - it should sound. If no power - you'll need to check for bad connection at the fuse holder - wiggle the connections !

Touch the wire in the centre of the steering column to the top of the column. That usually works at ten o'clock in the evening

Could be a protest against being called "Eric"?

try powering the horn direct from battery,could be the horn itself.

"Eric" is called "Eric" because he came from Morecambe!

ASL642 wrote:"Eric" is called "Eric" because he came from Morecambe!

was that ( WISE)......

Well it seemed an appropriate choice

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I'll hopefully get the chance to give everything a wiggle later in the week so will report back.

ASL642 wrote:"Eric" is called "Eric" because he came from Morecambe!

I suppose "Heysham 1 Power Station" doesn't slip off ones' tongue
as easily as "Eric"!

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a "Horn problem" today... Just driven back from work.. Today was very much stop start as the build up of traffic in Birmingham is terrile due to M6 closure... anyway... after a while, I notice (couldnt bloody help but notice mind) that when I steered left - the horn kept sounding.... Very embarrasing. Anyone got any ideas???? Doesn't do it when I turn right. Up to now the horn has been fine.

Thanks all

The horn assembly is basically a switch, we had this on a Jeep once.
Something is earthing the assembly when you go left, maybe the slip ring is loose or not on correctly.
It may be obvious. Take the wheel off (search here how to do it). There's a purple wire that goes from the stalk to the slip ring, and a wire that passes inside the column to earth. Worth checking the wire isn't damaged causing the 'short'.

Not sure what type of horn arrangement you have, but on my 1960 saloon with the centre horn push the problem is as follows (I prefer not to dismantle and take photo's right now, so I will describe in words!)

Just above the indicator switch is a slipring arrangement, that allows the cable from the horn to pass on to the horn centre push button, without touching any metal earth such as the steering column etc, because if it did the earthing of that wire will cause the horn to sound!

Now, the slipring is made up of two half pieces of some insulator, around which fits a brass ring, on which the brush from the indicator switch (connected to the horn as above) touches. The brass ring is connected by a piece of wire that then goes up the centre of the steering column to the horn push button.

What I have found is that due to wear and tear the brush from the indicator switch twists the brass bush when you turn the steering wheel, and that the wire that passes up the centre of the steering column inadvertently makes contact with the steering column, at the point where it connects to the bush, therefore sounding the horn as you turn.

My temporary fix was 1) tape the brass ring to the steering column to prevent/reduce movement and 2) install a hidden isolator switch under the dash so at least I can disconnect the horn when it goes mad!

It is a bit of a dicky arrangement and I have yet to see anyone sell NOS replacement parts or similar.

If this describes you problem I can take some photos...

Bless the pair of yers.

I'm gonna drive cautiously tomorrow to the train station wityh the hope I dont need to over steer on the left too much. It was bloody embarrasing. I will have a gander at the indicator stick etc tomorrow before night fall. But thanks both xx

Just pull the fuse out to stop it sounding when you drive to the RAILWAY Station , till you have time to investigate.