Diagnose and fix car horn problems

Horns come in an endless variety of notes, or frequencies. Interestingly, a high-pitched horn note always indicates small vehicle and the lower the note the larger the vehicle. Horns are applied to undertake countless communicative tasks, with just one honk, a driver can get the attention of a pedestrian, signal frustration, let a date know he’s arrived, warn a passing motorist her lights aren’t on. A car horn is an essential part of a vehicle and is required by most states. With the passage of time, a car horn wears out and you may encounter several problems with it including a horn that blows at a lower tone than is normal or a horn that does not blow at all.
There are many causes that can lead to a broken car horn. It may be due to a problem in the switch or button, or there could be a problem somewhere in the electrical system or in the wiring connections. The source of the problem could also be the horn relay and in most cases, however, the cause of a broken car horn can be as simple as a burned-out fuse.
Fixing a broken car horn can often be a do-it-yourself project. However, when the damage requires that other parts of the car be removed, such as the driver side airbag, you will need the help of a professional mechanic.
In following passage, we’ll try to figure out some troubleshooting methods to help you find the problem and offer some pieces of advice to get it fixed. Hope some of the information will be useful.
If you get a dead horn that isn’t working at all, check the horn’s fuse inside the fuse box (usually under the hood). The vehicle’s owner’s manual tells you exactly where it’s located. Replace the fuse if it is burned out. After this, test the horn to see if it now works.
If both the fuse and the wiring are OK, check the horn button. Remove the cover of the steering wheel assembly in place using a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the screws holding it. Check the signs that could prevent the button from being fully depressed and remove such obstructions.
Check the horn relay, and make sure it is working properly. You need an assistant to help you complete this step. Let him/her operates the horn button at the steering wheel, at the same time, test for voltage at the relay’s power-and-control circuit with a voltmeter. If the relay is not working properly, replace it and test it again.
Check the horn wiring. Inspect the wire going from the horn relay to the fuse panel for an open or any corrosion signs. Fix it.
Apart from the above methods, when one or more horns refuse to operate, you can inspect the sound output device. Since it is exposed to the harsh elements as it is mounted on the front of the automobile to provide the most noticeable noise production. The cone shaped housing that helps amplify the sound can funnel water and road salt. Thus damage or corrode the electrical connection.