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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Strangled Chicken


Hello All.

My horn now sounds like a 'strangled chicken'. It only reverts to full 'rooster booster' when the engine is running. I replaced the original 2 tone horn several years ago but this problem has only just started. It worked fine then even with ignition off. Can I have some suggestions as to what the cause might be please?

Thanks.
Gavin Rowles

You probably have a poor contact somewhere, check your earth and then the horn push. When the engine is running the voltage is higher and can "push" through poor connections, whereas when the engine isn't running you have a lower voltage with less potential to cut through the cr*p. It could also be the vibrator contacts within the horns, though this is a bit less likely.
Graham.
Graham P 1330 Frogeye


Thanks Graham.

I have always planned to move the horns from the air intake to near the wiper motor so rewiring might sort.

Gavin
Gavin Rowles

What I've run into is that when I toot the horn, only the high one sounds. The result is comical - to some. And then sometimes they both work normally.

It does this even after I cleaned the connections at the horns themselves, so I'm starting to suspect the switch, which may be creating enough resistance that it's passing reduced voltage and only sounding one horn.

I just can't summon up the moxie to get into that switch assembly, which is a known can of worms.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Gryf,
Might be the contact on the low horn. Have you tried a ground wire to the horn to verify that it does work? If it doesn't, try loosening the locknut and turning the center screw a turn in and then back to the starting point and tighten up the locknut again. This is usually enough to clean the connection to it.

OTOH, it is technically impossible for ANYONE to be offended when tootled at by a midget with only the high note working.
David "Ask me how I know" Lieb
David Lieb

Check that the horn dosnt have some corriosion inside or dirt build up, I have this problem all the time with my work truck...a little WD sprayed into the loud mouth part of the horn will most of the time make it squawk good and loud.

Prop
Prop

Gavin,

I have the same problem at the moment, with mine its the pencil thing between the horn push and the back of the steering wheel. I need to replace/repair it. Try that first

Mike
M J Pearson


Hello Mike - trust you are well.

On my Midget horn push is on the stalk but I know what you mean as had the pencil option on my previous 2 B's.

I have the Mighty Midget here at work in Sunny Sittingbourne today. Great drive in & I know where most of the pot holes are en route. Must get the Frontline mod then I can drive in a Staightline. Blimey - this sounds like a promo line so must go and get copyright on it!

Gavin
Gavin Rowles

This thread was discussed between 28/09/2009 and 02/10/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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