Horn stopped working.

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jediger
Posts: 213
Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 8:24 am

Horn stopped working.

#1 Post by jediger » Sun Sep 17, 2017 7:33 pm

On the most recent trip out on the water had a great day. Typically as we approach the dock we give a single beep on the horn to let people in the cabin know we're home. Wouldn't you know it, our horn has gone silent. Thinking I'll need to pull the volt meter out and do some chasing to see if there's a short anywhere. Anything you knowledgeable folks can suggest that I should ensure to check?
Pinawa Bay, Manitoba
2014 Premier Cast-a-way 231, PTX; 2014 Evinrude 250HO ETEC

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curtiscapk
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Location: OP KS\Hillsdale Lake

Re: Horn stopped working.

#2 Post by curtiscapk » Mon Sep 18, 2017 6:10 am

horns go out quick, on my 3rtd one in 4 years! Unhook it and wire directly to the battery if it works that way it's you switch or wires.... Got mine at PS.

18$ with discount.

https://www.pontoonstuff.com/collection ... -boat-horn
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boocat
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Re: Horn stopped working.

#3 Post by boocat » Mon Sep 18, 2017 6:51 am

Sound advise,, ha ha... Yeah check the horn for sure first before all that trouble of chasing wires. Good chance it is the horn . Pitch it, get a new one. 30 minute job.

jediger
Posts: 213
Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 8:24 am

Re: Horn stopped working.

#4 Post by jediger » Mon Sep 18, 2017 7:31 am

Thanks all for the heads up. That sounds like the smart play for sure.
Pinawa Bay, Manitoba
2014 Premier Cast-a-way 231, PTX; 2014 Evinrude 250HO ETEC

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rbtnt
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Re: Horn stopped working.

#5 Post by rbtnt » Mon Sep 18, 2017 8:30 pm

There may be an adjustment screw on the horn that needs turned a few turns in or out and then back to the original spot.
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Jayjoans
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Re: Horn stopped working.

#6 Post by Jayjoans » Mon Sep 18, 2017 8:46 pm

I just installed this high/low Hella set of horns. I was tired of the meep-meep of the stock horn. I only use the horn in an emergency, so the weak horn was useless. This pair sounds like a freight train, especially reverberating off the log and underskinning. My wife was coming up the rear ladder and I thought I'd give these a try up front, scared her so much she fell back into the water. (I only get to do that once apparently)

Cost me $32 on Amazon and a few lengths of scrap wire and connectors.

If you want my old horn (pictured in the foreground), I think I still have it and will send it to you for the shipping cost.

https://www.amazon.com/HELLA-003399801- ... B000CRZXPI
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guy48065
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Location: Atlanta, MI

Re: Horn stopped working.

#7 Post by guy48065 » Tue Sep 19, 2017 6:52 am

Mine quit this season & when I pressed the switch it made a little "dink dink" sound. Did same with new horn. I had 12V at the terminals with the horn disconnected but only 4V when hooked up. Traced problem to bad ground splice in console. Very crappy wiring in there. I plan to re-wire with a decent blade fuse panel & bussbars to get rid of all the cheap crimps & Scotchlock splices. Those things don't belong on a boat.
Mark
1996 Sweetwater 180EX + Johnson 40
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Woody
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Re: Horn stopped working.

#8 Post by Woody » Wed Sep 20, 2017 7:33 am

[quote="guy48065"]..... Scotchlock splices. Those things don't belong on a boat.[/quote]


They don't belong on anything, IMO.
2014 Benny (Until I find a replacement for my totaled JC Tritoon)


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NonHyphenAmerican
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Re: Horn stopped working.

#9 Post by NonHyphenAmerican » Wed Sep 20, 2017 9:00 am

If ya'll weren't so "Horny", they'd last longer!

;-)
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jediger
Posts: 213
Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 8:24 am

Re: Horn stopped working.

#10 Post by jediger » Thu Dec 21, 2017 2:42 pm

Update: Took the old horn off and tested it on another battery as suggested here. YUP. Not a wiring issue. Just need a new horn. As luck would have it, the dealer had two of the same make/model in on special order that were never picked up. Took both of them cheap. Just had to splice in my current connector!

Thanks for the great advice all!
Pinawa Bay, Manitoba
2014 Premier Cast-a-way 231, PTX; 2014 Evinrude 250HO ETEC

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