Horn Fuse Blowing?? :-(

Hi folks some advice would be great,

Since I had my dash open to change my ignition switch and dash lights my horn has been blowing a fuse.

The relay still clicks but it immediatley blows the fuse when i press the horn.  I may have snipped a wire causing a short but something tells me it might be from when I removed the steering wheel and wiper stalks etc.

Could anyone advise me if there is something i should have been careful with when reassembling the steering column etc or any anything else? There was a white threaded sleeve over the steering column which appeared worn, I refitted it but not sure if it could be that.  Worried about my mot when it comes so need this fixed.

Many thanks,

Simie.

which fuse is blowing, 16 or 18?

Ressuerected after 6 months….. apolgies for the delay in getting back.
Baby has joined the household - enough said.
 I'm lucky i've still got my Mk1 tbh and desperate to get it on the road for the summer, once the horn is sorted for MOT.

Anyway,

I've just been out to the car,
Its a 1980 GTI and has the old style fuse box.

Fuse No.9 is blowing and when doing some checks there is a constant 12volts at the horn as even when the horn button isn't pressed.  I can remember when I reassemble my dash when this all happened I turned the ignition and the horn started blowing on its own and then the fuse blew and it stopped.  Now the car blows a fuse if its in when I turn the ignition.
I'm going to check the horn but I am hoping someone could tell me where best to hunt for a short circuit.
I'm close to tears…..

Cheers in advance,


Simie.

VW wire the horn different from the rest of the world. +12v is run to the horn and its earthed at the steering wheel. Most people have problems with the horn not working due to the steering column/rack not being earthed to the car body. You must have a 'short' at the wheel contact or somewhere from the wheel to the horn that carries the earth to the horn, esp as you have had the dash in bits. Not sure about S1 cars but S2 GTI have a twin horn setup including relays. When you have fixed the 'short' if you still have problems just try one horn not two and half the load on the circuit.

Thanks alot for the reply, it's given me a good place to start looking.

Just to be clear, the steering wheel should have a contact from the ring on the back of the wheel with the contacter behind it? And then some sort of circuit down the steering column to an earth wire at it's base?
A bit lost but i'll try and work it out…..

cheers again.

fuse #9 also powers the reverse light switch, so check that too!

it will only be a short in the horn or reverse switch  + wire. the wires to the column are the horn earths, a short here would just make the horn sound constantly!

to start with look at the wires to the horn and reverse switch, see if there is anything obvious. then unplug both the horns and the reverse switch and see if the fuse still blows. it could be a dead horn! then follow the wires right back to the fusebox as best you can looking for damage and loom tape

Hey guys,

Just a Quick note to say that my horn is now sorted. I didn't do anything specific to fix it, I just opened up the dash/steering column and checked for anything dodgy. Found a possible pinched wire and also double checked steering wheel contacts. Anyway, when it was all put back together the short was gone. I bought a replacement horn and all works now.
The posts helped me get my finger out and look in the right place.
MOT next week then on the road after that. Hopefully meet up with some of the Scottish lads soon.
Cheers again,

Simie.