COPYRIGHT WARNING:
DISCLAIMER:
Clean the metallic part of the horn with a wire brush, then apply a penetrating oil like WD-40 to the electrical connector and the central nut. Do not hesitate to replace the nut by a new one but in all cases, make sure to brush the screw very well as this is the mass connector of the horn.Try now your horn prior to refitting it to the vehicle and you will notice that it works like new.Push hard the horn bolt againt the negative terminal of your car battery and use any wire to connect the 12V battery lead to the horn connector to test the horn itself:If it works, then you need to proceed to step 2 below. If it doesn't, then you need to replace your horn.
Find out where the fuse holder is located inside your dashboard and identify the fuse of the car horn.Take it out, check it visually for continuity, or use a multimeter to test it.Refit it or refit a new one of the same rating while making sure it holds well in its place. Try your horn to see of this fixes the problem or else proceed to step 3 below.
This step requires the removal of the driver's airbag which should never be carried out without dismantling completelty the car battery.
If you find horn contacts like in this steering wheel of a Renault Trafic van (or Opel Vivaro, Nissan Primastar), then you can easily test them using a multimeter. Select the DC volt, put one lead on the steering wheel central nut and the other on the bare contactor. It should read 0V, then 12V once you push the contacts so they touch each other.
The below table lists the most probable horn failures and how to fix them.
You’re on your way to work and all of a sudden - a driver on his cellphone pulls out in front of you. You go to honk your horn but nothing happens. You quickly pull into the opposite lane, barely avoiding a collision. Not having a functional horn could have costed someone’s life. Typically, the horn circuit consists of the horn, switch, fuse, and relay. Battery voltage is applied through a fuse to the relay winding and contacts. When the horn switch is depressed, the relay is grounded, completing the circuit and blowing the horn. Some vehicles do not use a relay, and voltage is supplied directly through the horn switch to the horn. In this article, we will go over how to test and repair each of these components. Here is how to fix your car horn:
If you’d prefer to kick back and relax while someone else fixes your horn, the team at YourMechanic offers horn diagnostics and repair. Calling a professional can save you time, money, and frustration. If needed, our mechanics can replace your fuse, relay, switch, or horn so that you can safely venture on the road. |