ok, here is my dilema. I bought my 88 from my step-brother. He had it on the road for a year before I got it, and in that time, the horns started acting weird. One just quit altogether, and the other was working, but weak. He put new horns in place with no change. When I got it, I tried switching the horns to see if it would make a difference, and now, neither work, no matter which way I hook them up. I'll be perfectly happy re-wiring a new horn set to it, but I have been unable to find the wiring diagrams, or anything, anywhere without forking out big cash to the dealer near me. The only information I REALLY need, to do this, is which wires lead to the horn button on the bar? I'll run new battery lines from there if I have to, but have no idea which wires they are up there, without really ripping them all up. If anyone knows which they are, or can maybe point me in the right direction, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

first thing i would do before re-wiring anything.. would be to run a continuity test, or test light test.. on the horn wires from the switch to the horn.. if you have continuity.. the wire or wires are good. i bet if you cleaned up the horn contacts in the switch your horn just might work again...

 

yeah, that's the first thing I'm gonna try. I was just hoping to get some advance knowledge in case I had to dig further. Just trying for a worst-caase plan, ya know? lol.

 

Just an update...and another question...

Ok, so I pulled the bike out of storage today, charged the battery, fired her up (took a bit, but runs beautiful still ). Since I'll be putting it on the road next week, I want to get my horns fixed for inspection. I took my meter with me, to test. I noticed that when I hit the button, the horns actually do click. If you hold your finger on them, they both click, like they are TRYING to work. So I put the meter to it, and I get about 9 1/2 volts to the horns. SO, I'm thinking maybe the relay? Or something else? I haven't had a chance to take the horns and try them on 12. Just wondered if anyone else had any experience with things of this nature. I checked the wiring diagram on Kaw's website, but it doesn't really help me with the locations of the relay (and there's a diode too? I think? ). I have had the entire fairing off last year, but didn't seem to find everything. Possibly missed it, not knowing where to even look. I don't know if there's not enough voltage to the relay, or what's going on. If anyone has an idea of where it might be hiding, that would be wonderful. I was going to just run new wiring for the horn, all new relay, and the like, but I can't figure out which wire is the horn line from the button. Any other thoughts?

 

9 1/2 volts???

That seems a little low to me.

 

right. I'm trying to figure out where the wiring traces to...where the relay is, and all that, so I can test there for 12 volts. Somewhere, I seem to be losing the other 3 volts, but I'm unable to actually FIND where the rest of the circuit is. Was hoping maybe someone knew, or had a diagram, or something.

EDIT:

Turns out it may actually be the horns, though they were purchased new right before I got the bike. I ran straight from the battery to the horns, with no change. If I touch the terminals, I get a click, and that's it. So I'm gonna grab a new set, and see if I can get them to work. Hopefully, there isn't something in the wiring that is somehow shorting the horns out. Thanks all, for the help.