Probably a futile exercise (horn repairs?)
#1
Probably a futile exercise (horn repairs?)
Hello all,
Been enjoying my new Mk2... I think it's been more than 4 months now! So far I'v done lots of driving and surprisingly little fixing as the car just keeps surprising me with how well it all works - but my dilemma for this weekend was to look into some dodgy electrical issues that have proven persistently annoying, including that one of the horns makes an uncommitted buzzing sound whereas the second doesn't work at all.
I took this latter non-servicable culprit off and removed the cover only to discover rust all over everything, but also that it looks like it's not possible to removed the cover from the diaphragm (which itself is rusty) as it's attached by hefty-looking rivets... so even if I rebuild the actuating mechanism I fear it may still not work properly.
Is it worth going any further with this, or should I just bite the bullet and get new horns?? Such an important part of a car's character after all, and one where I'd rather avoid a disappointing aftermarket experience.
Cheers.
Been enjoying my new Mk2... I think it's been more than 4 months now! So far I'v done lots of driving and surprisingly little fixing as the car just keeps surprising me with how well it all works - but my dilemma for this weekend was to look into some dodgy electrical issues that have proven persistently annoying, including that one of the horns makes an uncommitted buzzing sound whereas the second doesn't work at all.
I took this latter non-servicable culprit off and removed the cover only to discover rust all over everything, but also that it looks like it's not possible to removed the cover from the diaphragm (which itself is rusty) as it's attached by hefty-looking rivets... so even if I rebuild the actuating mechanism I fear it may still not work properly.
Is it worth going any further with this, or should I just bite the bullet and get new horns?? Such an important part of a car's character after all, and one where I'd rather avoid a disappointing aftermarket experience.
Cheers.
#2
Collared,
Mine were pretty bad. Sent them to Lawrie Rhoads. Returned in about one week working perfectly. Less than $100 as I recall. I know you are in OZ, would think you could find someone closer, but there you have it, nonetheless.
Lawrie Rhoads
Phone:5083592077
Knollwood Ln;Medfield;MA;02052-2703;United States
Lin
Mine were pretty bad. Sent them to Lawrie Rhoads. Returned in about one week working perfectly. Less than $100 as I recall. I know you are in OZ, would think you could find someone closer, but there you have it, nonetheless.
Lawrie Rhoads
Phone:5083592077
Knollwood Ln;Medfield;MA;02052-2703;United States
Lin
#3
it's futile, old horns are not worth the hassle. I ordered two Hella reproduction horns (Made in Spain), and they went bad in 6 months.
then I went to a salvage yard and pulled two horns (low and high tones) from a Jaguar XJ-6, mounted them in the original place with the original brackets, connected them using the original wiring, and problema resolved.
unless of course, you MUST have the 'original' horns for originality's sake. Not me, I want working horns under all types of weather, the XJ-6 horns have passed the test.
then I went to a salvage yard and pulled two horns (low and high tones) from a Jaguar XJ-6, mounted them in the original place with the original brackets, connected them using the original wiring, and problema resolved.
unless of course, you MUST have the 'original' horns for originality's sake. Not me, I want working horns under all types of weather, the XJ-6 horns have passed the test.
Last edited by Jose; 02-23-2014 at 09:05 AM.
#5
Thanks very much for the replies everyone. Sounds like a case of putting my poor old horns in a semi-prominent place in the garage, to be tinkered with if/when I ever have the inclination... and to buy some new horns, the satisfactoriness or otherwise of which will determine how long it takes to see to the original items!
Incidentally though - Mk2: your experience with having successful repairs done did alert me to the fact that there was a reputable auto intruments repairer near me (Manly Auto Instrument Repairs) which seems to have vanished since I last contacted them late last year. Must find out what happened... and see if they're still keen for some work!
Incidentally though - Mk2: your experience with having successful repairs done did alert me to the fact that there was a reputable auto intruments repairer near me (Manly Auto Instrument Repairs) which seems to have vanished since I last contacted them late last year. Must find out what happened... and see if they're still keen for some work!
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