Horn sounds when locking car

[Gdyup50]

Hi guys, I'm sure this has been answered somewhere but I couldn't find it. My horn sounds when I lock the car, but the horn itself doesn't work when I try to use it. I'm assuming the relay and fuse are fine since I hear it when I lock the car, so what would be the problem? Thanks

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[Johnny Rockit]

What about when driving down the road? Is it just when parked that it fails to work?

 

[IPOGT]

The button on the steering wheel would be the first thing I’d check based on your experience.

 

[ORRadtech]

The button on the steering wheel would be the first thing I’d check based on your experience.

I've never had the airbag/ horn button off. Is the underlying switch discreet or part of something?
My first thought was the clockspring.

 

[IPOGT]

Honestly, I’ve never taken mine off. Just a simple guess.

 

[Gdyup50]

What about when driving down the road? Is it just when parked that it fails to work?

All the time

 

[Gdyup50]

The button on the steering wheel would be the first thing I’d check based on your experience.

What button?

 

[ORRadtech]

All the time

If it works when you lock the car but not from the steering wheel I'm going to stick with my guess of the clock spring. Do all of the other steering wheel controls/buttons work like they should?

 

[IPOGT]

There is a horse on your steering wheel. If you press the horse, the horn is supposed to operate……there’s a switch underneath the cover.

 

[IPOGT]

I've never had the airbag/ horn button off. Is the underlying switch discreet or part of something?
My first thought was the clockspring.

No idea. Obviously though, if the action of pressure on the pony triggers the horn, then there must be some sort of mechanical switch or contact.

 

[Gdyup50]

If it works when you lock the car but not from the steering wheel I'm going to stick with my guess of the clock spring. Do all of the other steering wheel controls/buttons work like they should?

Yes

 

[IPOGT]

I was thinking simple circuit stuff, trace and move on. Apparently clock spring is a “thing”
Anyone have a good primer on the subject? Wondering why they call it a clock spring..

 

[ORRadtech]

No idea. Obviously though, if the action of pressure on the pony triggers the horn, then there must be some sort of mechanical switch or contact.

Yes, but it doesn't appear to be a discreet switch. It appears to be built into the airbag. Watch the first minute or so of this video. The black connector is most likely the horn wiring to the clock spring. The yellow connectors are the airbag connectors. So unless that black connector is loose or disconnected it's either the clock spring or the airbag. Or I guess it could be a fuse somewhere or maybe the BCM but, I know the clock spring can be an issue with these cars. It would be easy enough to check, pop the airbag off, pull the black plug and jumper across the wires. If the horn works, it's the airbag. If not, more testing is needed.

 

[IPOGT]

Thanks Dave. Just what I wanted to see.

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