Horn Help Needed - Preventing Inspection

[s4cruiser]

Argh!!!!!!! This is getting frustrating ...

I'm finally getting around to fixing my non working horn. Previous owner had a shop swap the OEM steering wheel to a 94 model wheel (with wood grain, air leather, etc.) Horn didn't work from day one as I assumed the shop probably didn't do what was needed to make the newer wheel work properly.

I pulled the wheel and planned to replace with a redone Sportline (nice wheel). I have the original wheel/airbag, sportline wheel/airbag and 94 wheel/airbag. The original clockspring had been transferred to the 94 wheel, but only one horn wire. I swapped internals from the original wheel and clockspring to sportline wheel. Two horn wires connect and airbag connected. Checked all horn contacts on the wheel and they look new.

Horn doesn't work when put back together. All fuses in the driver side under hood box are good. Horn works when 12v is applied directly to it so it is good. Not sure what to check now, need direction.

One final question...the two studs that protrude from the steering column (that you see when no wheel is installed) at 8 o'clock and 11 o'clock, are they for the horn? If yes, shouldn't the horn work if they are jumped with a set of pliers, etc.? If yes, then I must have a problem in the wiring b/w the column and horn at the front of the car...cause jumping them does nothing.

On the bright side, I can now change a steering wheel like the pit crews in NASCAR change tires!

 

[s4cruiser]

Could someone provide me details of the wire routing from horn to column?

Also, should an amp meter show 12 volts when connected to the two column posts for the horn?

Any help or direction would be much appreciated!

 

[gsxr]

FSM indicates there is no relay... should go from Fuse #6 to the steering wheel horn contacts, then out to the horns. See PDF page #140 at link below:

http://w124-zone.com/downloads/MB CD/W124/w124CD1/Program/ETM/ETM.pdf

Sounds like you have the steering wheel connections fixed with the new wheel, which is good. With the key on, I believe if you short out the two horn contacts, the horn should work. If it does, you have an issue with the contacts inside the steering wheel itself. If not, you have an issue with the wiring under the dash or hood. Make sure the car didn't have an alarm system where someone monkeyed with the horn wiring.

 

[s4cruiser]

Thanks GSXR.

Should the car have 1 or 2 physical horns? Mine has only 1...but is also missing the yellow emission sticker so things may not be correct as they appear..

Also - should the horn work when key is NOT in ignition or only when inserted and at run or start?

 

[2phast]

Thanks GSXR.

Should the car have 1 or 2 physical horns? Mine has only 1...but is also missing the yellow emission sticker so things may not be correct as they appear..

Also - should the horn work when key is NOT in ignition or only when inserted and at run or start?

You have one horn behind the grill and the other horn is under the car somewhere.

 

[s4cruiser]

You have one horn behind the grill and the other horn is under the car somewhere.

Do both have to be functional for them to work?

I connected the horn behind the grill to 12v and it worked...but did not realize there was another horn located elsewhere.

 

[gsxr]

The second horn is located behind the passenger side fog light in the bumper. They are wired in parallel, so if one fails the other will still work.

 

[Lowman]

you can see it if you look inside where the flap for the right front fog light is,,,but to change it..you have to take off the inner fender liner in the right front wheel well.

 

[s4cruiser]

Thanks and wow that car is clean behind the bumper!!

 

[gsxr]

Thanks and wow that car is clean behind the bumper!!

Many toothbrushes died to make his car that clean.

 

[2phast]

Do both have to be functional for them to work?

I connected the horn behind the grill to 12v and it worked...but did not realize there was another horn located elsewhere.

As Dave already mentioned, no. They work independent of each other.

 

[s4cruiser]

Horn works...evidently one must turn the ignition key to run or have car running for it to work. I think this is the first car I've had where the horn was setup this way.

Learn something new everyday. Gladly chalk this one up to not being familiar with this quirk versus having to chase electrical gremlins.

 

[gsxr]

Correct. As noted in post #3, the key must be turned on for the horn to work.

 

[gerryvz]

Glad it all worked out OK. We all learn something we didn't know about our cars with regularity.

 

[gsxr]

IIRC, this is a German thang. Think my old VW's were the same way!

 

[gerryvz]

IIRC, this is a German thang. Think my old VW's were the same way!

Yes, my 1984 Rabbit GTI was the same way.

 

[Klink]

[youtube]AynXoLjYrKc[/youtube]

 

[Lowman]

Thanks and wow that car is clean behind the bumper!!

Thank you very much mate and ..no problem

 

[Lowman]

Many toothbrushes died to make his car that clean.

they are out of stock in my local store