The horn in my 89 IROC doesn't sound very strong. In fact, I'd call it wimpy. I know nothing about horns, where to look or what could be wrong. Perhaps this is the way they all sound, I've never heard another Camaro to compare it to. Does anyone have a link to a mp3 or wav file of how it should sound? Anyone have any tips on replacing the horn with a new one or how to repair a broken horn? Thanks!

Make sure the horns are both working. A single tone horn does sound a little "wimpy". Generally, problems with the horns are due to poor connections, either power or ground, and the rust and corrosion that causes them. There should be a horn at each corner of the front of your car. One is an 'F' tone, if my memory is any good, and I think the other is a 'C', but I'm not positive. Regardless, the tone of the horn should be stamped in the housing if you need a replacement, but check connections first.

Here is a wav of how it should sound


<a href=http://farts.netcarver.com/graphics/speaker.gif>CLick here</a>

You're link is wrong.

big enough sig don't ya think?

oh yeah, just so i'm on the topic, my horn sounds "wimpy" too.

Thanks! That is the problem. One of my horns isn't sounding. I never even realised there were two horns on the car. Both of my horns are in the same corner next to each other, though. Now, where do I order replacements?

go to your local NAPA, or Autozone.. etc.. they dont cost about 7 bucks...

You have an IROC with a working horn????

No way in hell. I can't remember ever seeing a thirdgen with a working horn. I'm pretty sure the factory made something in them that stopped their functionality after three days or something like that. Same with the A/C...I found out my cousin has a thirdgen T/A with working A/C, musta been a special option...I'll check his console code list. Door locks too, most thirdgens I've seen have those neat automatic locks with a much needed "power assist" (I refer to the human index finger as a great source of power). I think hatch and hood lift shocks shared some sort of common ground in their development, only the power assist came in the form of a pipe or wooden stick.

At least they're fast, wicked fast. I'd own 50 of em if I had the money.

Kelly

You couldn't be more right Kelly. My trunk and hood struts are dead, i have no trunk popper, i took my a/c out because it sucked so much, but my locks DO work! The ones in my friend's 86 iroc don't, neither does his a/c. My horn works too though. And it sounds the most manly out of all my friends. It's really loud. The kid with the iroc is Curt86iroc, and with his aftermarket grant steering wheel, if he honks his horn, the cap will fly off and hit him, and the horn will stay on until you go under the hood and disconnect it! It's pretty funny. He says that if he wants to get someone's attention, he just revs. Whatever works. I use a wooden stick for my hood and a golf club for my trunk. Golfclub came with the car. Anyone else have any good support objects?

~Matt

I dunno about you guys, but I only have one horn, and it sounds way wimpy. I think the dual horn was a RPO but i dont have the code. Anyone added an aftermarket horn that sounds better?

all the things you guys have problems with work on my car . all power options work pefectly (including hood/hatch shocks). only if my damn car would idle silk smooth

My horn works fine. Also my power locks, windows, and pull down hatch. The things that aren't are the AC, rear hatch struts, and headlights

Lets see, my horn works, power mirrors work, power locks, power windows, hatch popper and map lights all work My hood and hatch even stay up with no help hehe, cargo light needs to be fixed though...

same goes for my car, as well as all the other thirdgens i looked at while shopping for one last year, go figure

Of course they all work if someone keeps fixing them. I replaced my hood struts 3 years ago & now the hood sags to the half way point when open. Things inop: hatch release, cargo lamp, AC, PW on RH side, underhood lamp, but the horns are okay, even with the Grant wheel.

The moron who owned the car before me had one of those miniature chain steering wheels on his car before he sold it to me. I guess he figured he didn't need his horn, because when I got my Grant I was gonna reconnect the horn but the wire was cut flush so that I can't get to it. I bet he looked mad pimpin' though!

This is kinda funny...

My 83 only has one horn, and it does sound a bit... neutered. But all the rest of that stuff seems just fine.

I've had to replace my hood struts and my hatch struts: like on every other brand & model of car that uses them, they don't last forever. In fact, now the hood will sproing itself all the way up from just past the struts' over-center point, since I have the fiberglass hood. But my power windows, power door locks, power hatch release, power antenna, power mirrors, A/C, and everything else, all work just fine (except the cruise... I'm on about my 7th or 8th junk regulator), and of course I have to add Freon every couple of years.

My hatch popper works like the day it was born. Hood and hatch struts were shot though. And manual locks all the way! Oh yeah, and the firebird hood latches suck *** too.

Just bought one replacement horn for my Bird, because the horn has never worked.

Only needed it once, but instead had to watch some guy in an SUV back into me, bending my front plate and cracking some paint on my nose. Oh well, minor, but still, would be nice if the horn worked--so I'm going to try and replace it tomorrow with a Carrand Low Note 125db trumpet style horn, replacement for GM and other vehicles, got it at Kragen for 12 bucks.

Think I saw two horns though, on driver's side. Will find out tomorrow. Oh yeah, hood struts are dead, hatch works during the day because it's warmer, and the gas in the struts is less dense, but everything else works, power options, cruise, AC. Although one headlight is gettin dodgey--ordered rebuild kit from Hawk's, and the highbeam switch won't work. Minor details, I love my car and it runs and idles super nice.

305 TBI, open air element, 160* thermostat, manual fanswitch, Flowmaster catback

LoL, this thread is like 2 yrs old!

After 2 years, the stuff I listed still work lol except for that dang cargo light switch...

Ha ha, didn't notice the thread was so old. Just ran a search because I want my horn to work. Going to try the replacement today, hopefully that will work.

Hooked up new horn, a two terminal unit, no go. Stock I had two horns in the driver's side fender, each with a single terminal, grounded at the bracket.

The new horn could be used single terminal, by connecting the second terminal to ground. Didn't work. Don't have a voltage tester, but I think there is no power going to my horn wires, making me think the problem is in the steering wheel.

Even so, I will try to get two stock type horns, and hook them up, to see if that will work. In the meantime I will just roll down the winder and yell.

Try checking the horn relay in the convenience center.

I was thinking the EXACT same thing! I've owned 3 third gens which none of the horns have worked in them. Hell, I don't think I've ever heard a thirdgen horn!

Had my car for a year now, and it honked for the first time today, when I connected the new horn directly to the battery. Even so, it was an exciting moment. Looking forward to honking like a flock of migrating geese when I get it fixed!

Thanks for the input Trickster...now, if I only knew which one was the horn relay...

Any clues would be greatly appreciated.

mine has a air horn in it, I love making some of these @$$holes who can't drive jump out of their seats when they cut me off. by the way- power door locks- don't go all the way, power hatch relese-works, map lights- works, A/C-works now, hood and hatch struts-lift without help, power windows-have to hit the lower front of the pass. side door sometimes, dirvers side works fine(anyone know how to fix that?) that's all my car came with.

Maybe this will help.

You forgot the one broken foglight and the never-work rear brakes.

the only thing in my car out of that list that does work is the horn!! i took the AC out cause it don't work too. and yeah the hood and trunk are supported by a broom lol.

Everything in my car works and always has, hood and hatch struts, power locks, windows, A/C, hatch pull down motor and remote release, hood light, interior light and trunk light. Engine idles perfect.

The guys screwing it together on the assembly line were obviously having a good day...

Even the t-tops don't leak at all, but it is the aftermarket Cars and Concepts conversion...


Something near the rear of the drivers side door or the quarter panel behind it is squeaking something bad though.

guess you can't have it all...

Thanks Trickster, once again you have saved the day with detailed diagrams. Thanks to you, I can get my key out of the ignition now. Will check out the "convenience" center today, and see what gives. How do you know if the relay is bad or not? Just try a new one?

And for the guy with the squeak near the rear quarter panel, I think it's the latch for the fold down rear seat--just wrap a bit of black duct tape around the peg, bolt thing sticking out the side of the seat. Or it could be missing trim screws.

Also, perhaps the main reason some of these things don't work on our cars is that they are older, and this stuff wasn't ever replaced. Hood/trunk struts are 25 bucks at the auto parts store, light bulbs are plentiful as are weatherstripping kits, etc. The things on my car that still don't work, foglights, hood struts, high beam switch don't work because I haven't gotten around to fixing them yet.

Did fix--new idler arm, new rear pinion seal, and new brakes all around for about 4 bills and change yesterday. Big improvement, and now I have back brakes! Perhaps some thirdgens don't have rear brakes, because they don't complain much when they are gone. Mine barely squeaked, and they musta been gone for months. Car stops on a dime now.

Thanks I'll check that out!
I've already pulled the drivers door apart and covered stuff in tape but it wasn't that...

Yeah the stock horn does sound a little wimpy. I want an air horn or one that goes AAAUUUUUUUGAH!

Met at guy with a '69 Camaro that had the General Lee horn on it...:rockon:

just replaced all my hood and hatch struts last night... Mighty lift struts from Autozone. It was soooo EZ...cant believe i used a broom handle for 8 years.

All I have to say is DIXIE HORN!!

Kevin