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Milan15 · 03-07-2019, 09:57 AM

2005 Newmar Mountain Aire. The coach has 2 horns. One under the hood and air horns on top of the coach. There is a switch on the dash for the air horn. I think the way this works is when you push down on the horn button the horn under the hood beeps. Then when you flip the air horn switch on the dash and push the horn button the air horns blast. But right now doesn't matter which position the switch on the dash is, when I push the horn button only the horn under the hood works. Any idea why the air horns are not working?

FatChance · 03-07-2019, 11:11 AM

Do you have the engine running and the coach aired up?

signet63 · 03-07-2019, 11:26 AM

Hello,

When I purchased my coach, the original owner showed me the air horns worked. I flip the switch to turn on the air horns and press the horn button. Now, 2 years later, I can not seem to get them to work. I do have the coach running and air is in the system. I am drive down the road flip the air horn switch and press the horn button. Just the electric horn sounds now. I want to follow this thread to see what you all come up with for me to test.

Thanks,

Milan15 · 03-07-2019, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatChance

Do you have the engine running and the coach aired up?

It isn't a air ride. So I'm assuming it has a electrical compressor for the horns. I checked all the fuses and all are good.

Craig36 · 03-07-2019, 01:51 PM

I had this happen on my 07 KSDP. The tech found a bad connection on the solenoid/relay that activates the air horns. Put on a new connector and they now work.

TJ · 03-07-2019, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milan15

It isn't a air ride. So I'm assuming it has a electrical compressor for the horns. I checked all the fuses and all are good.

If you don't have your coach air pressure up, the air horn won't sound. Start the coach, let the air system come up to pressure and try the air horn. Then, get back to us.

TJ

Milan15 · 03-07-2019, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig36

I had this happen on my 07 KSDP. The tech found a bad connection on the solenoid/relay that activates the air horns. Put on a new connector and they now work.

Do you know where the solenoid is located?

Milan15 · 03-07-2019, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tranquil Jim

If you don't have your coach air pressure up, the air horn won't sound. Start the coach, let the air system come up to pressure and try the air horn. Then, get back to us.

TJ

Again this isn't a air ride coach. It has no air system.

RKins · 03-07-2019, 02:18 PM

My air horns didn't work when we bought the coach and a buddy showed me where the solenoids were located (mine are to the right of the generator up front and are mounted on a little air manifold). When you honk the horn, if the electrical connections are good (you need a good ground and the connection from the air horn switch), you can feel the solenoids click. Mine were not clicking. I removed, cleaned up the grounds and reattached. Then the solenoids clicked (I had the regular horns disconnected and was not aired up). When driving home I turned on the air horns and honked the horn and the regular horn came on and a second later, the air horns came on - yay. Then my wife told me to stop scaring everybody (there was no one around).
Now, my air horns are not working again. I cleaned the grounds again but still not working. So next will be to clean the connection from the air horn switch.
Since you don't have an air system I have no idea where your compressor is.

TJ · 03-07-2019, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milan15

Again this isn't a air ride coach. It has no air system.

OK, so it is a gas coach without air brakes, right? I am not familiar with that model. Sorry.

TJ

BobKatMsu · 03-07-2019, 04:00 PM

So is it normal if you have the air horn turned on, on the dash that you get both the dash electric horn and the air horn at the same time?

Milan15 · 03-07-2019, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobKatMsu

So is it normal if you have the air horn turned on, on the dash that you get both the dash electric horn and the air horn at the same time?

I was under the impression that its either or. But not both. Now I don't know for sure. I wish someone can tell me where on a gas coach the solenoid and compressor is located.

WoodyS · 03-07-2019, 05:36 PM

As I recall when I tested my air-horns before we bought the coach (the only time I've used them), not only did I have to flip the switch on the dash, but I also had to press and hold the horn on the steering wheel for a couple of seconds before the air-horns blasted.

The air-horns didn't come on instantly. There was about a 2 second delay. First the regular horn sounded, then if I held the horn on, the air-horns kicked in.

Since the air-horns are so loud, this isn't something you can easily test at home -- or in a campground.

I have a DP with air-brakes and air-suspension. But I'm thinking the air-horns still have that built-in delay.

TJ · 03-07-2019, 05:47 PM

The air horns in my 2018 MADP don't have any delay. And, IMHO, any horn that has a 2-second delay is pretty useless. Used as a warning device, you want it to sound immediately, not wait a couple of seconds.

As for the location of the compressor in the OPs coach, I'd start looking in the generator compartment up front. Look for air lines running toward the horns and follow them back.

Before I spent too much time looking for the compressor, however, I would go to the 12 VDC fuse panels and look for a blown fuse. If you are lucky, the fuses will be labeled. If not, start looking closely at fuses (especially in the 5A to 15A range that I would suspect the compressor uses) for one that is blown.

You might also call Newmar and see if some one in Service or Parts knows where the compressor is located. You might be surprised at the result.

Good luck.

TJ