1983 Horn Replacement

**ev5oh** · 01-02-2018, 01:01 PM

I got my steering column back in after my MM manual brake setup was installed. When I went to check everything, my horn didnt work by coincidence. I went back through the electrical and fuses and everything is fine. I have voltage to the horn and provided a additional 1/4-3/8 turn to the adjustment. In return, I received a very weak tone and then nothing.... So, I need to replace, however Im seeing dual horn replacements. I believe I have only one, but dont know if it high pitch or low pitch? Additionally, would like to know if there is a preferred replacement? Im not looking for anything special.

**dagenham** · 01-02-2018, 08:50 PM

There is one horn on each side of the car iirc. Also if you take it off it might be marked hi or lo on it somewhere.

**ev5oh** · 01-03-2018, 11:49 AM

Hmm.. Im not sure where the second horn would be located. The one Im familiar with is in the engine compartment on the driver side frame rail almost to the headlights. It could be possible that one had been removed at some point previous to my 20 years of ownership. I guess further investigation would be needed.

**Ourobos** · 01-03-2018, 12:57 PM

My 86 SSP had one on the driver frame rail as mentioned and on the passenger. I just replaced them a few months ago.

**gr79** · 01-03-2018, 02:49 PM

NPD lists dual factory horns 87-93
79 had one horn.
Mine now has the later dual note horn combo.

The dealer i bought the Cobra and others from has a car horn in their ad jingle.
Everyone older in Detroit knows it. Goes way back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugBmS2bHgmM

Can tell an import by the horn.
Can tell a semi by the horn
Can tell a ship by the horn
Can tell a train by the horn
Can tell a Plymouth RR by the horn
Dukes of Hazard Dixie horn
Then there are the joker horns at cruises

Nothing like the 60's-70's loud brassy big car ones that make pedestrians on the sidewalk jump.
Horns you can hear in the house.
the 'OK just got here, lets go'. double medium long honk
the 'come on hurry up', 'get out of the way', 'WTF' long honk
the 'quit texting and go' toot
the 'i know you' or 'hey baby' drive by two short honks

**ev5oh** · 01-03-2018, 05:47 PM

Thanks everyone for the input. My driver side sits on top of the frame rail, but on the passenger side, wouldn't the battery tray be in the way (mine is long gone). This means maybe the other sat inside the frame rail on the passenger or below?

1983 didn't use a relay to power the horn. I think it was decided that '84 was the first year. Maybe this is when they went to dual horns?

Hopefully more early-car guys can chime in. I dont want to go to dual horns unless I had them.

**83GLCoupe** · 01-03-2018, 05:55 PM

My 1983 only has 1 horn as did the 1983 vert I stripped for parts. The horn I have now was from a 79 Fairmont. The wire I believe is purple.

**dagenham** · 01-04-2018, 12:17 PM

My 85 has one on the passenger side. I unplugged it from underneath the car.

**Ourobos** · 01-04-2018, 12:24 PM

The horn is mounted on the frame rail on the OUTSIDE, underneath the inner fender, but accessible from below. At least on the 150 or so fox bodies I've owned it was..

**83GLCoupe** · 01-04-2018, 09:13 PM

Here is where the horn is on a my '83. I didn't see any other horns on the '83 vert I stripped or the '79 Fairmont that i got that horn from in the local pick n pull.

Name: bay.JPG
Views: 125
Size: 116.3 KB

**83GLCoupe** · 01-04-2018, 09:37 PM

I dug out the horn from the vert and it says 'Lo' on it.
Name: image3.jpeg
Views: 125
Size: 89.3 KB

Name: image2.jpeg
Views: 125
Size: 86.0 KB

Name: image1.jpeg
Views: 125
Size: 94.0 KB

**ev5oh** · 01-05-2018, 05:59 PM

Sorry for my absence. Thanks to all that have posted. Yes, my single horn is where 83GLCoupe shared. I dont have another horn on the other side. I had the whole side apart for reconditioning and K memeber install. Just not there or wire hanging.

83GLCoupe,
Wire is consider Dark Blue per the diagram. Thanks for drawing my attention to the marking on the horn itself. I'll have a double look at mine. I think you confirmed for me that there is in fact only one horn (Low possibly). I'll mull over the car and the replacements out there that I can give a try.