Thanks to the people that gave me advice regarding horn problems on my
76 TR6.
I checked the steering rack ground and it was in place. I checked the
horn and it worked. I checked the horn again and it didn't work. The
switch in the steering wheel obviously worked because I could hear the
horn relay clicking.
One reply advised me to adjust the horns to make them work. It took me
a few minutes to locate the horns and a few more minutes to figure out
that I had to remove the radiator cowling to get to them. A few minutes
later the cowling was off and I had my hands on the horns. Everything
looked good until I spotted a dangling ground wire that was supposed to
attach to the center of the front valance (in front of the radiator). I
attached the dangling ground and tested the horn. Sure enough, the horn
worked. I reinstalled the cowling, tested the horn again, and - - it
didn't work!
I took the cowling off again, checked the ground wire - it was still
there. I tested the horn again and - - it worked again. I checked all
the horn connections again - since I had the cowling off for the second
time. Sure enough, I found a loose wire. I checked it out and the
connector was shot. So I drove up to Auto Zone and bought some
connectors and a crimping tool. I replaced the connector, attached it
and tested the horn. Sure enough, it worked.
I did some minor clean up under the hood for a while and then checked
the horn again. Sure enough, it didn't work. I double checked the
contacts at the horns, and the ground on the valance and everything was
in place. I went up to the fuse box area and checked the wires there
and sure enough I found a black and blue wire that was loose. I
replaced the contact on that wire, re-attached the wire and, sure
enough, the horn worked.
I did some more clean-up, got a beer, and tried the horn again. Sure
enough, the horn didn't work. I went back to the fuse box area and
checked the wires again. I now noticed that if I put pressure on the
connector that had two purple wires attached - - the horn worked. I
tried to replace the connector on these wires but the connectors I had
would not accommodate both wires. Back in the car - - to Pep Boys
this time. Back home with an assortment of connectors. Replaced the
connector, tried the horn and it worked. Tried it a minute later and it
didn't work. Put pressure on the connector again and it worked again.
I then re-crimped the connector and - - it worked. Tried 10 more times
until my son came out and raised hell about the noise.
So far so good, but I'm not sure. I'll try again tomorrow. Through the
whole process though, I enjoyed the simplicity of the TR6. Under the
hood things are not cramped. Things come apart and go back together
easily and logically. My project is obviously nothing like a
restoration project, but I can only imagine the satisfaction of an
accomplishment like that.
If the horn doesn't work tomorrow, maybe I'll buy an aerosol can boat
horn. . . . .
Thanks again to everyone for the help
Jack Radley
76TR6 sans horn
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