horn doesn't work

[jaws325]

Hey...my horn doesn't work...If I ground the relay it works.must be a bad ground or with my luck the 'horn switch'.....anybody know how to test the switch?

[TECH]

The "switch" in the steering wheel IS the ground for the relay. Maybe the steering column isn't grounded well, I've seen that on older cars.
If you remove the airbag, you'll see all the wiring behind it. The horn ground is one of them, but I'm not sure of the color-probably the same as the relay control.

[jaws325]

is the airbag easy to get off? any danger of messing it up (like blowing up in my face?)

[El Presidente]

by an electronic air horn and rig that. You can buy one with sirens and big-rig horn for like $30. Its on my list of wants......

[dutchbmw]

Ask someone who can work with a electrical Ohm gauge (is this the right word??), and you'll know within a few minutes what the reason is for the not working horn.

[Furious]

Originally posted by dutchbmw@Mar 29 2004, 06:34 AM
Ask someone who can work with a electrical Ohm gauge (is this the right word??), and you'll know within a few minutes what the reason is for the not working horn.

ohm meter, ohm gauge, same thing.

[jaws325]

I have no problem buzzing out the circuit, only thing that scares me is taking off the airbag.....hey, what is the worst that could happen..my airbag deploys but at least I'll fix the horn..I thought of adding an air horn but would prefer to to fix mine.

[dutchbmw]

Thanks furious for your help....

Jaws325:
When you buzzing out the circuit, you can disconnect the wire at the relay that comes from the steering wheel. Than connect your ohm meter and push at the horn (on the steering wheel). The ohm meter should give you the value of 0. This means, no resistance in that circuit, so there is nothing wrong with the contact in the steering wheel!

When only doing that, the airbag should not come out, yet?? So i do not comprehend why worry about that stupid airbag!

BTW: welcome at the forums!

[jaws325]

Thanks for the tips I'll work on this weekend..

[jaws325]

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[jaws325]

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[dutchbmw]

Weekends are over, does it work yet?

[jaws325]

I buzzed it out and there is a break in the slip ring or the clock spring as some call it ( the ribbon cable in the steering columb) ...$295 CDN at the dealer and $100CDN from a bone yard..
I'll get a blow horn to blast the daydreamers on their cel phones till I change it.
thanks again...

[bitcore]

Check out this thread if you wind up running more wires or something...

Pritty soon I'm gonna make the regular horn button do both horns [much louder + sounds like a train], and leaving my new button alone so it only triggers the additional horn.

I can't wait to sell this car and see what they do when they press the button