'69 alarm horn

[Jeffrey S.]

Today I tried to set off the alarm on my '69 and all I got was a faint beeping (not that it was very loud when it worked as designed). Can this be corrected by spraying a lubricant or penetrating oil into the horn or is the only way to fix it to rebuild it? Thanks, as always, for your advice.
Jeff

[Joe L.]

Re: '69 alarm horn

Today I tried to set off the alarm on my '69 and all I got was a faint beeping (not that it was very loud when it worked as designed). Can this be corrected by spraying a lubricant or penetrating oil into the horn or is the only way to fix it to rebuild it? Thanks, as always, for your advice.
Jeff

Jeff------


I don't think it can be corrected in the manner you suggest. In fact, that might do damage to some of the horn components that are not replaced in a rebuild.

[Russ S.]

Re: '69 alarm horn

I have often gotten a horn to work when it acts like yours by doing a slight turn on the tuning screw which is on the top side as installed.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: '69 alarm horn

Today I tried to set off the alarm on my '69 and all I got was a faint beeping (not that it was very loud when it worked as designed). Can this be corrected by spraying a lubricant or penetrating oil into the horn or is the only way to fix it to rebuild it? Thanks, as always, for your advice.
Jeff

Jeff,
Here are a couple photos of the top of the horn showing the adjusting screw that Russ mentions. If your horn has never been removed it's probably rusted. I wouldn't recommend spraying anything up in the horn, it may damage it as Joe warns. It would be much easier to work on if you remove it from the car. You can spray some PB Blaster or LPS on the adjuster then after it soaks you carefully try turning one way then the other. You'll need to keep testing it with two wires connected to twelve volts. The ground on the horn bracket and the positive to the wire connector as shown below. It's a trial and error process. Hopefully, you can get it to sound this way. If not it may need to be taken apart to clean the contact points.
Hope this helps,
Jimmy

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: '69 alarm horn

Thanks for all your input. I am planning to get to this as the weather turns colder and the car is in my shop. I am afraid that the small screws that hold the horn to the mounting plate are "terminally" corroded in place since this was never removed. Once I get it on the lift and remove the muffler, I will give it a try. The problem is that in the 45 years I have owned the car, the alarm has been used maybe 5 times and only in the first year I owned it. I probably should have set the alarm off on a regular basis over the years.
Jeff

[Jimmy P.]

Re: '69 alarm horn

Thanks for all your input. I am planning to get to this as the weather turns colder and the car is in my shop. I am afraid that the small screws that hold the horn to the mounting plate are "terminally" corroded in place since this was never removed. Once I get it on the lift and remove the muffler, I will give it a try. The problem is that in the 45 years I have owned the car, the alarm has been used maybe 5 times and only in the first year I owned it. I probably should have set the alarm off on a regular basis over the years.
Jeff

Jeff,
On a positive note, since your horn is at least trying to sound that proves that your relay,door/ hood switches and wiring are all functioning properly. Since I repaired/ restored my 73's alarm system I try to activate it at least once a month as a test.
Good luck with your winter projects.
Regards,
Jimmy

[Edward J.]

Re: '69 alarm horn

Jeff, If you decide to fix the horn Gary at the Horn Works repaired my Alarm horn many years ago and still works. He is listed in the Driveline.

[Jim T.]

Re: '69 alarm horn

Jeff,
Here are a couple photos of the top of the horn showing the adjusting screw that Russ mentions. If your horn has never been removed it's probably rusted. I wouldn't recommend spraying anything up in the horn, it may damage it as Joe warns. It would be much easier to work on if you remove it from the car. You can spray some PB Blaster or LPS on the adjuster then after it soaks you carefully try turning one way then the other. You'll need to keep testing it with two wires connected to twelve volts. The ground on the horn bracket and the positive to the wire connector as shown below. It's a trial and error process. Hopefully, you can get it to sound this way. If not it may need to be taken apart to clean the contact points.
Hope this helps,
Jimmy

Your pictures do no show the type of horn for the factory installed alarm system.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: '69 alarm horn

Your pictures do no show the type of horn for the factory installed alarm system.

Hi Jim,
Here is a photo of the other side of the alarm horn as pictured above. I was just trying to show the adjusting screw. Aren't the horns the same for the 69?
Jimmy