Horn Problem, blowing

[71FordF100]

Good Morning Guys,
I need some assistance. I am trying to repair several issues while having the steering wheel off for replacement. But the problem I have is with the horn. When I bought the 71 F100, the horn didn't work at all. I found out the problem was the relay. Now with the relay replaced the horn blows constantly. I have the steering wheel off, the brush looks good. Wires look ok. But even with the wheel, and consequently horn ring removed, horn still blows. Any ideas where my problem may be?

Thanks,

[bluef250]

Did you use a new relay? If not I suggest you try a different relay that you know is good.

The relay is grounded throught the steering wheel. Somewhere between the relay and the steering wheel there is a broken wire causing the ground short. Start at the wheel and work back to the relay.

[71FordF100]

Thanks. Relay in new. Which means the fun begins..tracing wire.

[Whateverman]

I like to start with the simple things which other people usually point out to me - do you have the spring in place under the "brush"? pull it out of its hole and check in there ,if the springs wasted or missing find a retractable ball point pen and use it as an organ donor

[71FordF100]

Thanks. Brush is good.

[Thunderfoot]

You might have a defective relay, to check out whether it is the relay or the wiring unplug the connector from it and with a test light, clip the ground part of the test light to the Blue/yellow striped wire in the connecter and then touch the test light probe on the (+) terminal on the battery. If the light comes on them you have a short to ground somewhere in that wire, as it should only ground when you hit the horn button, if it doesn't light then the relay is stuck on.

[fordman]

where ever the problem is. it is because it is grounding out completing the ground circut so the horn will blow. the firs things i check are the horn brush. yous is good. ok so the next thing i would check is the wiring coming out of the column. how doe si tlook ahas it been messed with? if so i would fix that. i also agree about a possible bad new relay.

[71FordF100]

Thanks for the info. Should the relay self ground? If I hold the relay unattached to chassis my problem goes away.

[Thunderfoot]

Thanks for the info. Should the relay self ground? If I hold the relay unattached to chassis my problem goes away.

No it should work either way, it doesn't have to be grounded to work, sounds like a bad relay.
A horn relay is a ground activation relay in that the activation signal is a ground connection not a 12V power activation, these horn relays just have 3 connections the battery power, the horns, and the switch which is the ground connection for the field coil in the relay to activate (turn on) the relay.