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Air Horn Problem?

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charlie drake:

I have a 2006 Beaver Monterey. Just recently, while going down highway--heard a loud noise up on roof--uncertain cause.. but now we find that our Air Horns are NOT functioning. Question: do you think the loud noise was air line breaking??? does anyone have any ideas how to fix this problem??? thanks Charlie Drake (presently in Cleveland OH) :-/

Gerald Farris:
The noise probably had no relation to your air horn problem. An inoperative air horn is usually caused by a stuck air control solenoid valve.

First locate the valve (the solenoid valve on my 2000 Marquis is located in the left front electrical bay), then tap the solenoid while someone trys to blow the horn. If the horn starts working you will probably have to remove the air lines and apply a little lubricant (spray silicon) to the valve or it will stick again.

If you have air pressure (inlet line) to valve and power and ground when you try to blow the horn, but you cant get air out you will have to replace the solenoid valve, but it will usually clean-up and work fine.

Gerald

Mike And Mary Engen:
As Gerald said, it's probably the solenoid valve, it was on ours.  Also found we needed to change our air dryer canister as I had excess moisture when  I drained my air tanks. I think that was the root cause of the failure. Just something worth double checking.

Gerald Farris:
In my other life I lived in Houston Texas (tropical rain forest) and the problem that I had with moisture was water draining down the air lines from the roof mounted air horns and collecting at the valve causing it to corrode and stick. The way that I reduced this problem was to blow the horn on a regular intervial (every few weeks, especially after driving in the rain) and clean out the lines.

Gerald

Gerald Farris:
You have to remove the air lines from the valve to lubricate it. Just spray some silicon spray into the air line ports, and reinstall the inlet line. Then build up a little air pressure, and tap the horn button to blow out any excess lubricant before reinstalling the other line.

WD-40 will work but I do not like using petroleum based products on valves that are not designed for it as it can damage rubber seals.

I would not use this method as preventive maintenance, but only as a repair if the valve does stick since the air flow through the valve will remove so much lubricant that if it happens to get water in the valve it will probably stick.

Gerald  

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