A Honking Big Jam (Stuck Horn)
March 7, 2021
At one time or another, most drivers honk their horn at someone who might be texting at a stoplight or not paying attention when they're driving. But what happens when you tap on your horn and all of a sudden it won't quit? Everyone's looking at you like you're an angry jerk and all you want to do is turn it off!
It helps to know the basics of what's happening when you honk your horn. There's a switch in the steering wheel, of course, and when you press on it, it sends power to a relay which then energizes the horn. Bingo. Sound. When the horn sticks on, one of these parts or the wiring has developed a problem.
With the ear-splitting noise inside your cabin, it may be hard to keep your cool, but do your best to stay calm. Try pushing the horn several times; it may un-stick the switch if you're lucky. If not, there are a couple of things you can try.
First, if you can, pull your vehicle off the road and into a spot where you're not disrupting traffic. If you feel comfortable rummaging around in your vehicle's fuse box, you might be able to pull the fuse that manages the circuit for your horn system. A hint: the fuse boxes sometimes have a label inside showing which fuse goes to which part of the vehicle. Find the fuse that goes to the horn and pull it out (sometimes there's a fuse-pulling tool inside the fuse box).
But many people don't feel like tackling that. Yes, you can drive over to a service facility with the horn blaring (not the best idea). Or call your service facility and see if they might be able to send someone over to where you are so they can shut off the horn.
At the shop, a technician can check wiring, switches, relays and other components to find out what's wrong. This is something that should be left to a professional for a couple of reasons. First, repairs around the steering wheel can involve airbags. Second, some horn components may be part of a vehicle's alarm system.
The bad news is that your horn may not give you any warning before it starts blaring uncontrollably. But the good news is that a horn doesn't malfunction all that often, and now you have a plan if it does.
Courtesy Auto Repair Plus
967 Bon Air Ave
Tiffin, Ohio 44883
419-443-0797
http://www.courtesyautorepairplus.com
More articles from Courtesy Auto Repair Plus
Lubricate Driveshaft
April 20, 2025
See if any of these are happening to your vehicle. You feel it vibrating excessively underneath when its running, or you hear strange clunking, grating, or grinding sounds coming from beneath. Maybe its hard to turn your vehicle, or you can hear squeaking when youre going slow. Perhaps you fee... More
Change is Good (Oil Change)
April 13, 2025
You've heard that expression, change is good. When it comes to your vehicle's oil, change is not only good, it's vital for the health of the engine. But there's one question that puzzles many drivers: how frequently should my vehicle's oil be changed? There is not one simple answer, but here ar... More
Fuel for Thought
April 6, 2025
If you're like most people and drive a gasoline-powered vehicle, you need to be up to speed on its fuel-related components. They're pretty basic: the fuel, the fuel filter and the fuel pump. The fuel's the easy part. You probably gas up your vehicle yourself and, if you're like most drivers, pr... More