Expensively horny?

Hi all

The horn on my 156 recently packed up, so after changing the fuse to no avail, I took it to a local Alfa 'specialist'

After looking at the car, they informed me that the horn was shorting out, and I would have to buy a new steering wheel and two new horns.

And the cost?

That's a pint or two shy of £750!!!!

Surely this can't be right, can it?

Any advice and/or sympathy greatly appreciated.

You'll get the parts off ebay/from a breaker for a fraction of that!

I thought of that, mate, but do I really have to bin my old steering wheel?

Also, just because it's shorting out, would I really have to buy two new horns as well?

Originally Posted by Zoso

After looking at the car, they informed me that the horn was shorting out, and I would have to buy a new steering wheel and two new horns.

But did they not just narrow the search down the the bit that's shorting, and replace (or suggest) just that?

I wouldn't think you'd need to replace the wheel AND BOTH the horns.

Sounds wrong to me.

£750?? Are you sure they didn't add an extra 0 by mistake? They have to be having a laugh, surely.

Well they reckon it's £330 for the wheel, the horns are £58 each (all plus VAT, natch) and the rest is labour!

Not sure but the steering wheel may be repairable. I'm sure someone with a nifty soldering iron would be able to sort out a short!

£750 is just too much money. You could test the horns by putting a 12v supply (battery) across the contacts and seing if they make you jump!

Well the garage managed to 'botch' a partial repair, but only the right hand side of the wheel works the horns, with the bottom and left side of the wheel doing nothing. This is why I'm rather doubtful that the horns need replacing and the garage may be getting a little bit extravagant with their pricing.

Sound like there just replacing everything they can to sort it . Don't bother with taking it to them!
I had bother with my horn not working on my 147 sorted the fault out in about 2 hours with a multimeter.
I'd ask them to tell you whats happened to each part they want to replace.
Can't stand garages taking the **** and charging so much! Grrrrrr