Horn trouble.

[strawberripocky]

I've searched the forum for similar problems and have found a few only slightly similar, but for an accurate answer, I figured I would post my problem here.

Okay, so... I have a '99 Saturn SC1. My horn just stopped working one day. I replaced the fuse, honked the horn a few times, and the fuse immediately blew. Can anyone tell me if it's just a problem with one of the wires, or if it's the entire horn that needs to be replaced? I'm a little new to repairing things on my own but I've had my car for 4 years now so I'm pretty familiar with how things work on it. The only problem is, I don't know where exactly the horn is located; my Haynes manual tells me very little. I've read in other forum posts that you can access it through the driver's side headlight, but I'm not sure if that holds true for different year cars. Also, is the relay for the horn connected to the horn itself? I'm looking to work on fixing it tomorrow, so if anyone could help me out, I'd GREATLY appreciate it

[OldNuc]

It is an electronic relay and its built into the horn. The horn is in the left front fender and you can see it if you look through behind the headlight. You don't have to take the light out to get at it though. Might have to remove the air filter box though. Its not fixable, you replace it. This is how its wired.

Welcome to the Forums!

[Saturninin]

Here is richpin's troubleshooting testing, it might help you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEMO0qARRec

[strawberripocky]

Both of those posts helped me a lot, especially the video. I went out and located the horn. Will I have to replace the entire horn? I didn't really specify in my original post; the horn beeps, just blows the fuse when the button on the steering wheel is pressed. Thanks again!

[PurdueGuy]

Yes, you almost certainly need to replace the horn. The issue is actually with the relay, but the relay is built into the horn. You have 2 options: replace it with another stock horn, or rework the wiring for a universal horn and external relay.

[OldNuc]

The reworking is not real straight forward either. There was a recent thread on the proces that went on for quite q while. The horn buttons are expensive and will not tolerate 10amps to ground too many times. Take the fuse out before you run the bill up. The best deal is a 2nd gen horn from the junk yard. Get one with a guarantee that its good. Your electronic relay has failed and is grounding the horn positive supply through the horn button.

[strawberripocky]

Thanks so much for your help everyone! I went to Autozone to see what kind of universal horns they had, but decided I didn't want to rewire everything (I had already put aftermarket speakers in a few months ago and knew what a pain that was) so I cruised the junkyard for a bit and found a 2nd gen horn that's cracked at the end, but I figured it might work. For 5 bucks, it works and doesn't blow the fuse. It doesn't sound as good as my first one, but it'll hold me over to get through inspection 'til I find a better one.

Again, thanks for all your helpful advice!

[OldNuc]

Just roll down the window and yell at them, works as well as the horn.

[strawberripocky]

I like that idea better

[PurdueGuy]

Originally Posted by OldNuc

The reworking is not real straight forward either. There was a recent thread on the proces that went on for quite q while. The horn buttons are expensive and will not tolerate 10amps to ground too many times. Take the fuse out before you run the bill up. The best deal is a 2nd gen horn from the junk yard. Get one with a guarantee that its good. Your electronic relay has failed and is grounding the horn positive supply through the horn button.

That thread made the whole thing seem more complex than it is. It's not that hard to wire a universal horn and relay to mimic the stock horn setup exactly, but just with the relay not built into the horn. The horn button only actuates the relay, and thus does not carry any high current.

[OldNuc]

You know that and I know that but not everybody knows that. Therein lies the trouble. And, the $6.00 30amp light relays have a low coil resistance that will fry the button contacts. When re engineering something it is a good idea to have an idea what the original design envelope was or you will rediscover the law of unintended consequences. The mechanical relay that is replacing a solid state relay that does not have an arc suppression diode added across the coil is just one example. Really should use one across the horn contacts also if you like to use the horn a lot.

[beermonkey]

my horn never went out on me but i replaced it with 2 aawooga horns and finnally an air horn. its funny to see peoples faces when i honk HAHA

[OldNuc]

Every so often I think I want one of these.
http://www.hornblasters.com/video
http://www.hornblasters.com/products...-air-horn-kits