I have a 57 fairlane (There's a universal wiring harness installed). I've used a voltage tester on the relay and the only thing that's not working is the horn switch itself. I've even taken the steering wheel off, and I can't find where the switch is to the steering wheel. I assume it's the button in the center, but where can i get into the wiring for it? Very curious how the stock set up is, I'm hoping i can retain the horn ring and not have to use an auxiliary horn button. :-/





Thanks in advance for everyone's help.

William



1957 Ford Fairlane 500

292 Bored .30 over

Fordomatic

I'm also curious about how the ground system is for the switch. I think I remember someone writing about the horn ring "contact", does that mean that the system is grounded from the horn ring touching the contact plater or....?



I ask this because i'm not sure if it's a power problem or a ground problem from the relay to the switch. All the wiring "That I can physically see" looks fine.

William



1957 Ford Fairlane 500

292 Bored .30 over

Fordomatic

Fords of this era run a wire up the centre of the column which acts as a switch wire for the horn relay when earthed through the horn button.

You say you have an aftermarket wiring harness fitted. These are all generally set up to suit a Chev wiring system with the horn connecting to the turn signal plug group on the column. The wire for the horn is black in colour and needs to be removed from this plug and connected to the wire protruding out the bottom of the steering column. Just join a bit of wire to the black and run it through the firewall to pick up and connect to the Ford column switch wire.

Once you have done this you can check if it is right by touching a wire on the round terminal sticking out the centre of the steering column and touching the other end of the wire to the steering column. This terminal normally rubs against the bottom of the horn button. If you have it right the horn will work.

Most kits have a horn relay integral with the fuse panel with a terminal marked as horn out - this connects straight to the horn. The black wire I have mentioned completes the circuit for the relay to open and close.

Hope this helps.

Regards


Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

awesome!!! where's the easiest place to access the horn wire from the column?

William



1957 Ford Fairlane 500

292 Bored .30 over

Fordomatic

The wire from the column comes out the lower end of the steering box in line with the column. The steering column is a hollow tube and the wire is passed down inside it. It may be hard to find but it should be there. If it is not there you can get replacements from most classic parts suppliers and slide a new one in from the top of the column. It is part #14308.

If you are asking about the wire in your harness, just remove it from the plug which connects to the turn signal plug connector .

Regards

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

Rick, i think its a 57 us model that has 59 type horn contact ring ontop of blinker switch, the contact wire is down side of column with other wires as the column is solid, just a detail not to mix up models,

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

it works by going Honk, Honk!

the relays have a live wire going to them, check and make sure sure you have a live wire to the relay. the horn is activated by grounding out the other side of the relay, if I am thinking correctly, just came back from a wedding so a little foggy. then from the relay is a wire to the horn which when the relay is activated sends power to the horn.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

Hi Bill



The bible, 49-59 Parts manual shows 55-7 all use the same column. 58-9 had that awful brush setup.

But the hope is that it goes Honk,Honk.

Regards

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

Rick: that awful brush setup you refer to is found in one form or other on all 1958 & later 50s Fords. Apparently the reason was because of the earlier necessity to drill the entire column shafts, likely an expensive time consuming process..

Paul

Sorry..correction to my previous post..should have read..later "60s" Fords. (I don't know how to edit an existing post?)

Paul