Air Horn Solenoid failure

[Jim&MaryJo]

Fired up the coach and was greeted by the air horns.

Cycled the horn switch and shut off the coach, horns still blowing. Man, felt like I was being "stress-tested".

Called WRV and started running away from the coach, so I could hear the person on the line.

Funny now, but at the time, I wuz a little stressed out. This wuz a little bit more than "how do I shut off my car alarm..."

Anyway, there's an old post on a NAPA part# that's not good. Did an internet search on solenoids and couldn't the find same one (1/8th NPT connections positioned vertically top/bottom).

Wanted to order it first, rather than remove it for a walk-in match at a truck store.

Anyone know?

p.s. If it happens to you, I had to shut off chassis power and let the air tank bleed down to stop the horns. I now know where the solenoid is, so I can disconnect the horn side fitting, if it happens again. You might want to familiarize yourself with the solenoid's location (generally in the footwell area, mounted on the firewall for most coaches) or be open to a little stress-test.... It may be a low probablity event, but the gravity of its occurence was rather replete with fecal matter reactions; for me.

[Jim&MaryJo]

Fired up the coach and was greeted by the air horns.

Cycled the horn switch and shut off the coach, horns still blowing. Man, felt like I was being "stress-tested".

Called WRV and started running away from the coach, so I could hear the person on the line.

Funny now, but at the time, I wuz a little stressed out. This wuz a little bit more than "how do I shut off my car alarm..."

Anyway, there's an old post on a NAPA part# that's not good. Did an internet search on solenoids and couldn't the find same one (1/8th NPT connections positioned vertically top/bottom).

Wanted to order it first, rather than remove it for a walk-in match at a truck store.

Anyone know?

p.s. If it happens to you, I had to shut off chassis power and let the air tank bleed down to stop the horns. I now know where the solenoid is, so I can disconnect the horn side fitting, if it happens again. You might want to familiarize yourself with the solenoid's location (generally in the footwell area, mounted on the firewall for most coaches) or be open to a little stress-test.... It may be a low probablity event, but the gravity of its occurence was rather replete with fecal matter reactions; for me.

[Jim&MaryJo]

Here's a follow-up to my own question...

The solenoid is a Grover Products #1136.

According to a local distributor, they fail frequently. Grover does not make them, they buy from another factory.

http://www.airhornsoftexas.com/ told me they went to the same factory and ordered the same unit with a stainless steel plunger/valve, following numerous complaints of failures, caused by corrosion of the stock zinc plated plunger/valve. More complaints arise on motorhomes than semis using this valve.

Grover wants ~$55 plus shipping, plus $25 (for orders less than their $250 minimum).

I just bought the solenoid off ebay at
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Air-Valve-1-8-for-Grover...dZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

for $27.95, free shipping

If it doesn't fit or work, I'll post back, but this made sense to me.

[FRED MASINO]

Jim, I found my horn relay at:

Grover Products Co.
3424 E.Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90023
Tel# 323-263-9981

I don't known the part # but they sell the air horns. I had to replace my because the solenoid was leaking air, and the front air bag where deflating over night, something the factory never could find.

[Jim&MaryJo]

Thanks Fred,

That's the same Grover I contacted. Given the feedback I got from two of their distributors on failures, I'm going with the stainless steel alternative.