Horn not working need advice

[whiskers]

G'day everyone,
I had my AU since new its a 99 build stock standard car and I haven't had any probs with it except for a few things like the air con compressor clagging it and a front wheel bearing. not bad for a 7 year old car I think. But this is the prob that I have with it at the moment my daughter was driving the car late last year and had a prang she rear ended an old bloke (woops) :
anyway since I got it back the horn hasn't worked properly it keeps on blaring, so I have taken it to my local ford dealer and was told I would have to replace the center unit air bag and all, for a cost of $600 then I had a air bag specialist come out to have a look and he has quoted me $400 for the same thing, the other day I was at the wreckers getting some stuff for my daughters car and was told by the wrecker that there is a relay switch that can be replaced on the horn ring for approx $55.

now I have got all that out has anyone got any suggestions for me regarding the horn. As I have disconnected it by taking the fuses out.

[GlennBA]

screw that.. get onto a wrecker. Ford are ripoffs.

So your horn just stays on or it won't work?

[whiskers]

the horn just stays on. its got me, don't know what to do

[xr8man83]

Originally Posted by whiskers

the horn just stays on. its got me, don't know what to do

if your horn is on all the time go to the freezer and put some frozen veg on the poor old fella :hihi:

[jcxr]

Disconnect the horn and just give every one "the bird"

[GlennBA]

Originally Posted by whiskers

the horn just stays on. its got me, don't know what to do

it sounds like it might be a rooted clock spring?

[whiskers]

hahahaha wrong horn got any other suggestions?

[T3man]

Get a sign for the back of your car that says "horn broke - watch for finger".

[whiskers]

yep done all that guys finger and all, don't kow about the clock spring what ever that is I was told that the circuit board gets fried!!!! because of where it sits. But if there is no useful info here why have the forum, as I'm sure you guys use it a fair bit yourselves to get ideas and help. So if you can't help me why post s**t

[rodderz]

It wouldnt be something in the steering wheel would it, in the horn pad?

My missus has a car where 1 of the lugs that hold the horn pad on was broken and it caused it to go to one side when the horn was pressed, and didnt come off

[whiskers]

na had the horn pad taken of by a specialist who deals with airbags and such also had it at my local ford dealer

[AWD Chaser]

Had the same prob about 8 months ago. Gave a friendly toot to 3 hot babes crossing infront of me, and the hron decided it was gonna stay on. Instead of a nice wave from them, all three gave me the bird, and I went of down the road punching the horn. Every time I punched it, it turned off, the got stuck on again. It sorted itself out after a while....

[SLYXT]

Originally Posted by au3 chaser

Had the same prob about 8 months ago. Gave a friendly toot to 3 hot babes crossing infront of me, and the hron decided it was gonna stay on. Instead of a nice wave from them, all three gave me the bird, and I went of down the road punching the horn. Every time I punched it, it turned off, the got stuck on again. It sorted itself out after a while....

:

[JL]

replace the switch gear mate... my dads had the same problem solved it.

[whiskers]

hey there DA S PAK I'm about to ask a stupid thing here but you just said that the same prob happened with your dads. what and where is the switch gear? I know it sounds silly but I'm more mechanically minded not electrical

[JC]

I had the same problem with mine, and got a used steering wheel with airbag on ebay for $75.00. Just make sure you disconnect the battery before replacing the airbag pad/horn assembly and you will have no problems. I have seen these on ebay from what i apid up to $200 odd, but still way cheaper than new.

It could possibly be the clock spring which is 4 wires that take power from the column side of the steering wheel up to the airbag, horn, cruise and radio buttons. Don't know why it's called a clock spring - it's not a spring and has nothing to do with a clock - maybe the parts naming guy got sick of labels like "door button" and "indicator" and went for something from this bit of wiring. But I doubt it's this.

The problem is actually caused by the horn button being stuck - I don't know of any way to actually fix it properly, but I did fix mine using "bush mechanics" while I waited for delivery of the "new" (used) airbag.

[Mechan1k]

Mum's old KF Laser did it ... there's foam padding behind the front cover and this degraded over time ... I was woken up in the morning one day when the sun hit the steering wheels and the outer skin expanded and somehow set the horn off ... had to pull the bloody fuse and take it to Ford ... they replaced the hornpad itself.

[whiskers]

thanks for that JC someone else in the thread said it may be the clock spring but for the life of me I didn't know where or what it was. I have been quoted anywhere from $400 from a wreckers-$700 for a new circuit board/airbag assembly and that has kinda put me off a bit, so he car is running around unroadworthy at the moment, I have even been thinking of putting a set of air horns on her for the time being.

[JC]

Originally Posted by whiskers

thanks for that JC someone else in the thread said it may be the clock spring but for the life of me I didn't know where or what it was. I have been quoted anywhere from $400 from a wreckers-$700 for a new circuit board/airbag assembly and that has kinda put me off a bit, so he car is running around unroadworthy at the moment, I have even been thinking of putting a set of air horns on her for the time being.

Or just put a push button switch on the dash, or steering column, and hook it into the horn wiring circuit.

[XR6-VCT-2000]

did you check the relay ?

[whiskers]

yep had the relay checked out by ford and the airbag specialist it is removed at the moment to stop the horn from going off all the time.

I may have to resort to a switch or something on the column don't think I want to put a switch on the dash mught be a bit hard to get to if needed in a hurry.

[JL]

Behind the steering wheel there is a cable which hooks up to a relay (housed in a circular disc to follow the steering turning)... which sits in front of the switchgear(idicator stalk/wiper stalk mechanism)

Replace the part that sits in fornt of the switchgear... try a wrecker for them.

[Tezbo-BAXR8]

Hello Ladies and Gents,

I have recently had a minor accident {a rear ender} and just drove my car home from the panel beaters after it has been repaired and I have just realised my horn doesn't work. I didn't realise it didn't work until I need it the other day when a tool pulled out in front of me. Does any one know how I could get it working? I pressed panic alarm button on my remote and the indicators flash, but no horn. Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Tez.

[snap0964]

So you rear ended another car ?
If so they probably removed the front bumper for repair and didn't reconnect the horns when it was reinstalled.

[Tezbo-BAXR8]

Hi Everyone,

I have a BA XR8 and I just got it back from the panel shop the other day and realised that my horn is not working. I had a look at the fuse diagram and it says the fog light share the same fuse, but they are working, and I have no horn. I even tried the panic alarm on my remote, which sets off the hazard lights, but horn not working. Any help would be appreciated!!

Cheers,

Tezbo-BAXR8

[Tezbo-BAXR8]

Hi snap0964,

I'll have a look in the light tomorrow and check the wires. I hope it's any easy fix, as I need it the other day and realised it wasn't working!

[snap0964]

Originally Posted by Tezbo-BAXR8

I hope it's any easy fix!

You don't mention if the front bumper was repaired, so it's hard to suggest anything else at this stage.