[T3] The no horn blues

[Daniel Nohejl]

I opened up the horn last night and it’s absolutely gleaming and spotless inside. There’s nothing obviously wrong and there doesn’t even look like there’s anything to clean because everything looks brand new and has that nice old electrical and electronics smell. Not really sure what to do other than try to get at the adjusting screw to see if it makes a difference. 

If it matters, the symptoms were as follows: one day two weeks ago, the horn seemed not to work if I pressed the left side of the horn ring but would work if I pressed it elsewhere. This happened maybe 4 or 5 times. Then, a few times the horn didn’t work at all no matter where I pressed. Then, last Friday, it sounded really weak and would sometimes only work after holding the horn ring down for a few seconds. Later that day, it beeped weakly and then stopped working. I guess you’re getting a sense of how often I have to use the horn in daily driving in NYC! When I tested the horn by trying to power it directly from the battery, it would vibrate ever so slightly inside and make a barely audible sound maybe 4 out to 10 times I powered it up. The weak Type 1 replacement horn works perfectly well. 



> On Jun 22, 2016, at 9:35 PM, Jim Adney <jadney at VWType3.org> wrote:
> 
> On 19 Jun 2016 at 20:58, Daniel Nohejl wrote:
> 
>> So....is there anything we can do to repair our T3 horn? It looks like the one here:
>> 
>> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=618250 <http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=618250>
> 
> It's worth trying to fix, as the OEMs like that are really nice.
> 
> Take it apart and clean out the rust. Try not to tear the paper 
> gasket.
> 
> Find the spot of tar on the back and dig out the tar to see if you 
> can turn the adjustment screw. Clean out any dirt from the contacts 
> inside.
> 
> Put it back together and test it. Turn the screw and find the place 
> where the horn is loudest. DO NOT turn the screw while it's sounding. 
> Alternate: turn-sound-turn-sound, etc.
> 
> I have one here that is perfect except for an open coil. I don't 
> understand what could have gone wrong with that beautifully potted 
> coil, but I'd love to fix it. The potting is just too tough to dig 
> out without damaging the coil.
> 
> Let me know how it goes, as my '69 horn has also given up on making 
> anything close to a serious sound.
> 
> -- 
> *******************************
> Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
> Madison, Wisconsin, USA
> *******************************
> 
> _______________________________________________
> VWType3.Org mailing list - type3 at vwtype3.org
> To unsubscribe or change subscription options, visit:
> http://lists.vwtype3.org/listinfo.cgi/type3-vwtype3.org
> If you need more help, contact: gregm at vwtype3.org