Horn: Diagnosing misfunction/failure

[MuntucoGer]

My horn stopped working sometime between the last deluge and a few days ago when I washed the bike.

I've YouTubed the heck out of this and I'm now confounded, having confirmed that my switch is putting out 11.86v. I struggle with electrics at the best of times and admit some of the YouTube vids were above my grade. But I thought I'd established the basics: battery is sending power to the horn switch - switch is delivering power to the 'spade' terminals.

I suspected the horn was shot: it's only a two-year old bike, but the horn looked a rusty mess so I I took the horn apart (rendering it useless of course) to find it gleaming and shiny inside. I was expecting a rusty, congealed mess.

Fuses seem fine. I specifically checked the 15A. All of them are good.

Any help here would be most appreciated.

[Ianmc]

   I don’t have the wiring schematic for your bike,but I am guessing that yours will be the same as the 2014 model basically.The horn is fed continuously from the ignition switch whilst the ignition is on and when you press the button it earths the horn to complete the circuit.So when you are checking the horn button, you say you are getting 11.86v.it should be 11.86v.negative and not positive.I think I am correct in saying this so it might change the way you are looking at it.Check the orange wire on the horn with the ignition on, it should be at battery voltage and nothing on the other wire.If you put your meter onto both wires and then press the horn you should get battery voltage across them.

[kwackboy]

Buy another horn ...

It doesn't matter it being a couple of years old, it's one thing Suzuki can scrimp on when building new bikes.

[MuntucoGer]

I appreciate the reply Ian. I've packed up for today but will gt back on it with your guidelines tomorrow.

Thank you.

[MuntucoGer]

Quote removed

About an hour ago I ordered one from Halfords! I thought, well I've buggered this one up, so I'll need a new one even if the trouble is wiring/connectors/earth!

Thanks though :-)

[user650]

Mine lasted 6 months on my last vstrom650 (2017) changed under warranty no problem. 

[Rusty Nuts]

I noticed my car gorn had stopped working a while ago. Right down at the bottom at the front where it catches tons of road crud. I removed it and "woke it up" by connecting it to my 18v drill battery. Been fine ever since.

[kwackboy]

Sometimes giving the horn a tap while pressing the button brings them back to life 

[Gert]

You say that your motorcycle hooter / horn is buggered? Have you tried connecting the horn directly to a vehicle battery, to confirm this?
Some advice when replacing the hooter / horn, not all are motorcycle compatible. Some of the aftermarket products / brands are inclined to draw more amps / current, than other brands. Check on the fuse rating of your motorcycle horn and then check on the specs of the aftermarket hooter / horn that you are considering buying. If the current rating of the replacement hooter / horn is more than that of the stock horn, you may need to wire in a hooter relay. For more info on the horn relay wiring, have a look at https://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=21326.0 Also take note of the type and gauge wire used in wiring the hooter relay.

[MuntucoGer]

Quote removed

Thank you for this. And thank you for the link.

[Mr Nick]

I noticed my car gorn had stopped working a while ago. Right down at the bottom at the front where it catches tons of road crud. I removed it and "woke it up" by connecting it to my 18v drill battery. Been fine ever since.

Be careful when you wake a Gorn: they can be quite nasty...

[Rusty Nuts]

 
Especially when you electrocute them!!