97 4.6. checked fuses they all look fine. the relay in the underhood box is clicking. took both horns out cleaned all the connections. still im not getting 12 volts at the connections. every now and then ill hit and get half horn power. sounds pathetic. ive never seen a horn go before. i realize they are 20 years old but..im suspecting the relay. any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Take the horn relay out.

depending if the horn relay is marked like the other Ford relays :
Pull the Horn Relay and use the bottom of the relay as a guide to the pin numbers.

Check pin #1 / 86 for + 12V ( this is power to the coil )
Check Pin #2 / 85 for ground when someone is pressing on the horn button on the steering wheel ( this is the ground ckt from the clock spring
Check Pin #3/30 for +12V ( this is power to the horns )
Check Pin #5/87 for continuity to the Yellow w/ a light green stripe wire at the horn connector ( us Ohms or continuity setting on the meter this time..not to imply you are stupid, we are changing up from DC volts, just want to be sure ).

One last check, plug the horn connector back in, and jumper pin#3/30 to Pin #5/87 with a section of wire ( use male spades to make sure you don't short to pin #2/85 ) and see if the horns sound. They should, this is hot wiring the normally open contacts together.

Let us know where things are wrong.

I think you should have the numbers 1 to 5 on yours, I think it was 04+ when Ford went to the standard pin numbers for auto relays.

Good luck

 

also wires across the "clock spring" inside the steering columb will go out with age and use.

Do you have a tilt wheel?

 

yea i have tilt wheel. i hit the wheel and can hear the underhood relay clicking. i switched it with another relay still no horn so..

 

then check the power feed into the relay, and check the ground out.

And it is possible to have the relay clicking, but not having good enough terminals inside the relay itself. Changing them out can help to diagnose that, but you need to make sure you are using same part number b.c there are different functioning relays, even if they have the same pins on them

-Patrick

 

o ok i didnt know that. i used the one next to it which was the fuel pump one.i assumed same rating etc.. because same blade style.

 

That is what I asked him to check ( with the details on which pin is which ) above. Still no answer

What ??

A relay has the same terminals for the same functions.
Normally open and Normally Closed are the same place on all Ford relays. The only change is the size, half ISO to full ISO, and the socket size is also different, so you will not get one to fit in the other.
Same applies to all Auto Relay form factors. The Cube, 30/85/86/87/87A are all in the same place. The 30 A tall skinny ( forget the common / correct name ) pins are also in the same place.

 

there are some relays that have the pins in different orders on some vehicles. I cant speak out of experience for the F150 specifically. Thats why i was trying to suggest he look at the serial number on top of the relay to make sure it is actually a replacement.

Im not saying your advice wasnt good advice, im just offering further information to everyone
-Patrick

 

Sorry, thought this was a F150 site, and we were working on a problem on a 1997 Ford F-150.... My mistake

 

like i said you may be correct for this situation only b.c i dont have any F150 specific information in this case. But from time to time there are people that float through here that need help and search that my not need help for an f150.

 

"people" without a Ford, should look to another site, b/c is makes as much sense to look here for help with a Dodge, as it does to look on marthastewart.com.
Add to this...
You were answering keith97xlt, with info that other people need ? What about the thread you were in ?
Sorry, again my mistake, thought we were trying to help keith97xlt

 

how does any of this Bickering help the above mentioned problem. great advise on both sides. sometimes nonspecific/general knowledge is a good thing. only my 2cents

 

heres a few u guys can asnwer to stop bickering hehehehe, do you need to use the relay that comes with an after market air horn if your going to just splice into the the oem horns?? and how can you tell which wire is hot (+) on the oem horn, how come theres two (2) horns? are both horns or is one for the alarm????