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Weird horn question.

A

Artemis Entreri

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Ok so I installed a train horn into my blazer, 3liter tank, attached compressor.

Anyway, I wanted to still be able to use my normal horn, so I pulled power to the compressor off an Aux power I found under the dash, it worked fine for a few weeks, and one day i decided to change the button I used to set the horn off(From a little black push button to a big horn button I could mount) and after taking the old button off and attaching the new one, it stopped working. Doesnt even work when i put the wires together anymore.

I checked, nothig has blown or anything like that, I was confused.
So the other day it snows, I throw the truck in 4x4 for the first time and I get this crazy vibration, no idea what it is, after a few mins I realise its my compressor and now the train horn works, lol.

Soo it only works in 4x4 now. I know a little about everything, but not alot about anything so im very confused, anyone have any opinions?
 
I have no idea what kind of compressor you have or how you have the compressor wired up but you should have it wired through a relay and i would recommend a toggle switch so that you can turn the power to the relay off so it doesn't start in the middle of the night and drain a battery should there be an air leak that keeps the compressor running. You should also pick up an electric air valve and just wire that to your normal horn button in the steering wheel. The button will open the air valve allowing the horn to blow.
 
It is wired up with a relay, and it doesnt kick on in the middle of the night because the compressor power is being pulled from an AUX line, so it only works once I turn my key on.

Had it set up so I pressed a button which I had floating around and the solenoid opened up and let it push the compressed air out the horns. Worked fine, then just started working in 4x4 when I tried changing the button I use to activate the solenoid.
 
how do you have it wired after coming from the aux? do you have a keyed on hot for the compressor and then a control (toggle activated) hot for the solenoid? I would check grounds first, they are usually the problem 90% of the time
 
Hey yea keyd on hot for the compressor then toggle for the solenoid. I'm going to check the grounds and all, but still weird that it works in 4x4 and not 2x4 lol
 
Sounds almost like you tapped in to the 4x4 inicator light for your power since it only works in 4 wheel drive.
 
I considered that, but it worked in 2x4 for a few weeks, then all I did was remove the toggle switch(Just a push and hold horn button) to change it out with a bigger one I could mount, and now all of a sudden, 4x4 only.
 
So what part won't work unless in 4x4? I mean does the compressor run or will the horn not blow (solenoid not opening) unless in 4x4? Maybe you have the switch wired to the 4x4 indicator light?

Oops, DR beat me to it.
 
The compressor wont kick on and the horn wont blow unless its in 4x4, its not wired to the 4x4 light because it was working weeks prior to me even using 4x4 for the first time.
 
Do you have power to the toggle in 2x4? We need to find out if it is the compressor or the toggle not working, have you ohmed the switch out to make sure your new switch is any good? Have you checked power to the compressor to verify it is only getting power in 4x4? Could be dumb luck the tank leaked down enough that the compressor kicked on at the time you put it in 4x4, also where is the new switch mounted?
 
No power to toggle in 2x4.
It seems to be both notworking, if I put it in 4x4 and build the air up then put it in 2x4 itwont blow the horns.

Havent checked power to compressor in 2x4 yet.
Its not the new switch, doesnt even work when I put the wires directly together.
Definantly not dumb luck, never works in 2x4 anymore.

Switch wasnt mounted at all, didnt even get to do that before it stopped working, the first one I had on was just floating around on the floor by the 4x4 control on extra length of wire so people in the pass seat could pick it up and blow the horn
 
do you have a test light? are you comming out of the fuse block? check to see if that has power in both 2x4 or 4x4 if not find a keyed constant
 
Is there any chance you have it grounded near the shifter? Something that came loose and is making contact when the shifter moves?
 
I will get under there and make sure it has constant keyd power, but it did for weeks so I dont see why it wouldnt now.

No there are no wires by the shifter except the two that went to the toggle button, and in 2x4 they are completely inactive, they work in 4x4. But the wires are only on the floor when im not trying to use them, usually with the switch hooked up its running up to the center console, so nothing would be grounding in or out when I go to 4x4
 
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