by "Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
Published 12/31/2017 at 02:00
by "Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
Published 12/31/2017 at 02:00
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STARS: 0
UPDATE: I peeled back the fender liner to see if I could see...something. The horn was plugged in with a connector, I unplugged it and plugged it back in. Tried locking the car to see what happened, horn honked! Did it 3 times and then...no more horn. Unplugged it again, plugged it in again: honked. Was able to honk a bunch more and for now it appears to be working. Hopefully it still works tomorrow....
What do? I checked the fuse, it’s fine. There is a relay that clicks when the horn is pressed. It is a different relay than all the others so I can’t test a different one unless I go buy one. I also can’t really get to the horn...it’s under the air box in the fender well, I would have to take off a wheel and remove the fender lining.
Would it be worthwhile to find a relay and test it, or should I assume if it’s clicking that means the horn itself is bad?
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
12/30/2017 at 13:29, STARS: 10
Time for a new car
"GE90man" (ge90man)
12/30/2017 at 13:34, STARS: 7
time for a new horn
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
12/30/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 0
The clicking means that the switch side of the circuit is good. Check for power where the “30” terminal of the relay plugs into, and if it’s got 12V there, jumper it across to “87”. If the horn(s) still don’t sound, then you’ll need to pull that fender liner.
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
12/30/2017 at 13:47, STARS: 3
This is how I like to solve problems
"LOREM IPSUM" (lorem---ipsum)
12/30/2017 at 13:48, STARS: 1
If the relay is clicking it’s probably working, although you can pull it and bench test it separately or just probe the wires going from relay to horn and see if they are getting power when the button is depressed. You can also pull the relay and manually jumper the connector to eliminate the relay from the equation altogether.
The horn itself going bad, while possible, seems somewhat unlikely to me as well because I have never personally had one fail even on cars older than I am. Maybe if it were submerged, but even then I’d be kinda surprised if it failed. Then again, anything is possible
Maybe the wire fell off the horn whilst mowing down pedestrians? (It’s a ‘Stang, right?)
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
12/30/2017 at 13:49, STARS: 3
I was thinking something like this:
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
12/30/2017 at 13:57, STARS: 0
Yup. If the relay clicks then the connection is probably good.
"Sovande" (sovande)
12/30/2017 at 13:58, STARS: 1
Two words: trained goose
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
12/30/2017 at 14:08, STARS: 0
Is this the Mustang? Isn’t it new enough for that to be under warranty...?
"smobgirl" (smobgirl)
12/30/2017 at 14:21, STARS: 2
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
12/30/2017 at 15:47, STARS: 0
I had the same problem on my Mazda5 after I drowned mine. I just grabbed one at the local pick and pull lot and connected it. It’s a little higher in the engine compartment because I didn’t feel like disassembling the front end, something I’ll take care of in spring when I fix the hole caused by the asshole with the trailer hitch that backed into me.
"Kaputnik" (Kaputnik)
12/30/2017 at 15:50, STARS: 0
Agreed, depending on the car pull the air box or the fender liner to access the horn (whichever is easier). Disconnect the connector and check for voltage across both pins with a multimeter (use the alarm button on your remote if you do not have a second person). If you have voltage, remembering it will cycle on and off if you use the remote trick, purchase and install a new horn. If not... witchcraft... I mean more diagnostic necessary. That would be my first step anyway. Hope I could help.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
12/31/2017 at 02:22, STARS: 0
I still wouldn’t rule out the relay, could be intermittently failing. Also keep in mind unplugging it and plugging it back it in, might not have affected anything. It could’ve just been the fact you were repeatedly testing it after doing so.
If the relay is in “fuck it” territory I’d just through a new one on. Although you should be able to test it with a D battery, some test leads and a multimeter.
Idk exactly how relay testers work. But if it’s just a simple pass/fail it may not be good enough. Because if the relay’s failing intermittently I’d doubt that it’s making good contact when it’s working. So it’d probably have too much resistance even when working.
But again, if it’s cheap I’d just replace the relay to be sure :)
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
12/31/2017 at 02:28, STARS: 0
Outside of bumper to bumper by mileage
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
12/31/2017 at 06:59, STARS: 3
Damn - the fact you unplugged it and plugged it back in and it worked makes me think bad connection? Maybe try and clean up the contacts or put new ones on?
"David Baker" (mark7lsc1)
12/31/2017 at 09:04, STARS: 0
Clean the connections
"Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
12/31/2017 at 10:14, STARS: 0
You mean an SBC swap won’t fix this????
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
12/31/2017 at 10:52, STARS: 0
Oh, so it’s an intermittent problem now, huh? My favorite :P (not)
If it acts up again, check ground path resistance, and as for the power wire, look for voltage drop. Maybe you have a loose connector, loose ground, or weak relay...
"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
12/31/2017 at 11:34, STARS: 0
I was thinking more like this: https://www.amazon.com/Train-Horn-Kit-Triple-Truck/dp/B00AA1JD0M
You know... for pedestrian safety and all that.
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
12/31/2017 at 14:34, STARS: 0
Maybe. Idk what would be involved with a new connection other than a new horn. If it happens again I’ll try cleaning the contacts but they looked pretty clean. It’s not exactly an area that’s exceptionally exposed to the elements, and the car isn’t very old.
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
12/31/2017 at 14:35, STARS: 0
Yeah, the relay is less than $20. If the horn goes out again I’ll probably try replacing it.
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
12/31/2017 at 19:01, STARS: 0
Very odd!