Signal Stalk Horn Button ...

Anyone have an idea of the color of the wires that go to and from the stalk mounted horn button on an early G ('79/'80)

Well, to answer my own question - it is the two brown wired at the lower end of the clamp on housing around the steering column ... I still have not discovered where they go from there but I don't know that it matters as long as I can tie a hot wire in one side and a wire running back to the horn on the other. I have a feeling it ran through a relay, but have no way of confirming it without some help ...

Indiana Drew wrote:Well, to answer my own question - it is the two brown wired at the lower end of the clamp on housing around the steering column ... I still have not discovered where they go from there but I don't know that it matters as long as I can tie a hot wire in one side and a wire running back to the horn on the other. I have a feeling it ran through a relay, but have no way of confirming it without some help ...

Be careful. Brown is almost universally a ground wire on German vehicles.

DUTCH wrote:Be careful. Brown is almost universally a ground wire on German vehicles.

I will keep that in mind ... The horn is grounded by the mount to the body and the brown or burnt sienna colored wires go through the original horn button on the end of the stalk. I just don't yet know from and where they go. Next stop will be the fuse holder as the bundle coming out of the stalk dives in above it. As the steering wheel was updated but the male side of the rotary contact setup was not installed, that also might be a way to restore the horn to working order. I think it is #08 on the drawing and on the newer Gs. Here is the link ...

Oh and Dutch - thanks for answering - I began to feel I might be "a voice crying in the wilderness ..." :suspect:

Most horns operate on a negative trigger vs. positive.

mb230s wrote:Most horns operate on a negative trigger vs. positive.

If it were a negative trigger, would the horn not be isolated from the frame/ground?

http://dieselgiant.com/mercedes%20horn%20troubleshooting.htm
Might help you
Good luck

Bill K wrote:http://dieselgiant.com/mercedes%20horn%20troubleshooting.htm
Might help you
Good luck

Ah - now I get it! I am sure this will help ... Thank you Bill!

Indiana Drew wrote:

mb230s wrote:Most horns operate on a negative trigger vs. positive.

If it were a negative trigger, would the horn not be isolated from the frame/ground?

Yep - hence the two wires. Not 100% this is true for a G but it is for most other old MBs I've come across.

The picture is now becoming clearer - I know what is happening at the horn and the button ends of the system - just not sure what the pre-import owner did in between ...