Check the connections and wires to/at the horn itself first.

In Bentley, positive from S12 supplies power to horn and back up
lights. Corroded fuse? If the back up lights ok, likely fuse is ok and
ign switch is ok. (Supplies power to horn/BU lights when switched to
"15")

FWIW,  I was surprised (especially when it did the "LMS" routine!)
that my horn was much louder than some horns on the old Beetles I had
driven. i.e. when working right, it should have a healthy "beep". Not
a muted one. Although I might be misunderstanding the description of
your horn's "normal" sound, maybe the horn is on it's last legs and
minor wiring issues aren't helping matters.

On my '81 there is a spade connector lower down on the steering
column. Check to see if that's clean/tight. You connected the wires?
(bypassing the horn button itself). Still no sound?

Cheers,

Neil.

On Sat, Jun 7, 2008 at 10:56 AM, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:
> So the other day i decided to honk my horn for the first time in about 2
> years.....
> It used to work smashingly. It had that vintage, non intimidating VW bus
> horn sound i so love. Like an elderly mouse coughing on you.
> However, it no longer does. If i trigger it, you can hear it "click" and
> very, very faintly make noise. It cannot be heard at all with the engine on.
> I jumped the horn to a 12 battery, and it sounds as it should, and i took
> the horn button out of the steering wheel and jumped that but without any
> change.....
>
> Am i right to assume now that the horn ring is worn out? Or are there
> grounds somewhere i should be worried about?
>
> -Craig
> '85GL
>

--
Neil Nicholson '81 JettaWesty "Jaco
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/