Air Horns aren't working

kzener40 · 08-05-2002, 12:13 AM

Remember I don't know much when it comes to the mechanics of the Airstream Motorhome. I have on top 2 horns. When I try and honk my horns on the steering wheel I hear a fant muffle sound. I was at Camping World the other day and saw their horn system. I was surprised what came with the whole system. It looked like a small compressor, holding tank and the horns. Are my horns on my 84' MH setup the same way. Are all of these components hidden somewhere on my AS body? Do you think I need a whole new system or just the horns. Stupid question I know, seeing the problem could be a number of things. Has anyone experience any problems similar to mine and if so what's the best way to attack this project. Is there a system most recomended my serious RV'ers?

Any help on this would be appreciated, I'd really like to hear those horns blow.....

Thanks
Ken

1985air345 · 08-05-2002, 06:41 AM

The funny thing about stupid questions is that usually other people have those same question.......ME!

I'll be watching the responses.

My hunch is that the whole assembly sits up top. On my 345, behind the horns is a box the size of a baseball and I think electrical wires going into the coach. Someone installed a musical horn in my coach and we were playing and writing them down while returning this weekend. 78 tunes in all.

kzener40 · 08-05-2002, 08:03 AM

I was poking around the underbelly of my MH and found near the step what looks like could be a small compressor with a tank coming off of it. I'm guessing this might be for the horns. It doesn't look like it has anything to do with the step. If that's the case and it all functions maybe it's just my horns that need replacing. Someone once told me the horns are proned to freezing up, but I'm not sure what that really means.

canny_banjo_man · 08-05-2002, 10:28 AM

Speaking of AIR HORNS....Sorry I can't help U on this one, but I'll tell U a little story instead...
Many years ago, I used to buy and sell OLD cars, NOTHING special, just small sellable well used little bread and butter cars....My pal and I, used to use this old Guy, who did the welding and tinkering in his workshop, and generaly check-out the cars b4 we sold them on, ALL cars were LEGAL...and ROADWORTHY with an M O T ....
Sat in one corner of his workshop was an old '30s Lagonda, mounted on the side was a HUGE HORN, the type U have to manually HONK....well, it was that little boy in me that just HAD to have a squeeze..." HONK...HONK...HONK...", to say it was LOUD was an understatement....my ears rang for many days afterwards...LOL..., but the funniest thing about it was the spider who LIVED in the HORN...He came out of the horn, looking like a octupus learning to ice skate, legs crossed, folded, and all of his tiny eyes still rolling about in their sockets...his little mouth was this shape ~ and he had the meanest look I have ever seen in a spider, he turned around and staggered back towards his web, inside the horn, we named him DEAFLEGS, and although it was quite amusing at the time, we did NOT honk that horn again...
The lagonda was sold on, and has been restored, I STILL see it from time 2 time at the local CLASSIC shows, and YES the HORN is STILL on the vehicle....HONK...HONK...HONK...Chris.....

PeterH-79MH · 08-05-2002, 05:31 PM

Ken,
the system is easier to troubleshoot, when you understand the components.
There is
the horns
the pressure line to the tank
the tank
the compressor
the pressure regulator (which turns the compressor
off when a certain pressure is reached)
and a pressure relief switch

When you push on your horn button, the pressure relief switch opens and blows your airhorns.
That is assuming that there is pressure in the tank.
First thing I would do, is find the tank and look at the bottom for a moisture drain plug or screw.
Let all the pressure out of the tank, close the plug and have someone turn the ignition on. The compressor should come on fill the tank and shut off.
If this checks out ok, find the pressure relief valve (it should be inline between the tank and the air horns and has one or two wires running to it. You could safely remove the airhose from the AIRHORN SIDE of the switch and have someone push the horn button while you watch for air pressure coming out of the switch.
If this checks out ok, you can use an air blow nozzle attached to an aircompressor set at 100PSI and stick it on the end of the detached hose.
If this does not honk your horns, you know what to replace.

kzener40 · 08-05-2002, 07:20 PM

Sounds like fun....thanks for the info. Do you think the tank is what I'm seeing under the MH by the entry step?

PeterH-79MH · 08-05-2002, 08:20 PM

don't know, Ken. I found 4 tanks on my rig.

Stick your head under there while someone is pushing the horn button. You should hear something.

swebster · 10-05-2003, 08:24 PM

Has anyone ever delt with Sparton electric horns? I have dual trumpets each with two wires going into them. They are made by Sparton Mfg. Co, Flora IL. (the same company made my remote control spotlight).

I removed them today to see if I can get them working again. They are pretty plugged up with road gunk and one has an old bees nest in the trumpet. The sun has also taken its toll as the covers are falling apart.

I could use some parts but can't find them online. Does anyone know the story on these? Were they OE? Can I replace them with something that will blow the paint off those toyotas and hondas that keep cutting in front of me?

I guess I could run air up there and put some "real" horns on....any tips or advice?

wb13798 · 10-05-2003, 09:31 PM

sorry the horns are not air horns. get a step ladder and put it on the side of the unit provide padding at the top (do not put ladder on the coach window glass) so not to scratch your skin. take a large screw driver and hit in front of the plastic cover and the horn will make a noise. it is electric and it is stuck. not much of a horn.that is the horn that came on 1984 units
mine is at present in need of a beating , going to give it a beating tomorrow. need a horn to wake the old folks at the six region rally this week.
one of the post called hydrolic jacks compressor a air compressor. kzener 40 i think.
if you got what i got that is what you got. peter dont that make sence. lol
al

87MH · 10-06-2003, 08:12 AM

Electric Horn

uncleneal · 10-06-2003, 09:12 AM

My 85/86 345 had Hadley air horns, the air supply came from the rear susp air tank, thru a solenoid in the drivers side wheelwell. I had to replace the solenoid to get them to work.
Neal

87MH · 10-06-2003, 09:23 AM

Neal:

My 86/87 only has the electric trumpet mounted on the roof. Does your unit have the air line running inside the wall, or did they run it internally or externally?

Thanks

swebster · 10-06-2003, 12:16 PM

Dennis & Al,
Sounds like we all have the same horns. I removed mine, pulled the trumpets off the horn, cleaned everything out with soap and water re-assermbled and they are both working fine now. I'll chrome spray paint and re-install them this week.

It'll be nice to hear more than a muffled buzz when the next guy cuts in front of me.

uncleneal · 10-06-2003, 01:10 PM

Dennis,
I've traded for a trailer, and don't remember how the line was run. I think it was just run along the frame rails. I had a dpdt "spring return to center" toggle switch on the arm rest where the seat controls are for the horns. One way did the air horns, and the other did the regular horns. The horn button was also wired to the regular horns, thru a relay, I believe. I replaced the original elec horns with a set of Fiaam elec horns. Rocking the toggle switch back and forth would make some noise.
Neal