1987 328 Horn Relay

There are a lot of threads on 3x8 horns, but none that quite fit my situation, so I hope someone can help. I have to admit up front, I'm a novice so I hope you'll be patient with me.

I just purchased my first Ferrari, a beautiful 1987 328 GTS. The horn does not work, so I started by checking the fuses with no problems found. I then checked the relay by removing the horn relay and replacing it with another relay with the same part number I knew worked (headlights, I believe). Before I even had the other relay half way seated in the horn relay slot, a terrible sound came from the front of the car that sounded part electric motor and part horn. I immediately pulled the relay out, but it was too late as when I seated it back in the headlight slots, the headlights did not work.

I purchased new relays and the headlights now work with a new relay. However, when I tried to seat a new relay for the horn, the same terrible sound erupted and there was actually a small puff of smoke from the relay. I pulled the new relay out as fast as I could, but it was already extremely hot. Needless to say, I haven't tried another relay in the horn slot.

I thought I would look next to see if there were any obvious problems with the horn itself. However, when I look for the horn compressor (which I believe should be just behind the headlights on the passenger side), what I see looks much different than the compressors I've seen on line and in replacement catalogs. This looks almost like a propane cylinder, so I'm not sure I'm even looking at the right thing. I could post a photo, if that helps.

Any ideas on what I should do?

 

I would remove the relay panel and check if the cables that are plugged into the back of the horn relay are plugged in correctly. It happens many times that some "specialist" throughout the years, tries to fix or "upgrade" the electrical system and makes some fatal changes. Considering the relay burned up, it sounds like its a wiring problem.

Helmut

 

I second that as well,you also might have some wires that may have melted and shorted out to ground.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I think that's beyond my ability right now, so I'll take her in to see if the dealer can fix it.