My car has laryngitis

[Riley1123d]

That's right, she's lost her voice. I tried to beep at somebody (not in an angry way.. somebody I knew) and my horn doesn't work. -- I did a search and saw it could probably be the relay/fuses for it. I'm just curious.. i've never gone into that area of the car before, which one is the right one for me to check? Also, is there a way to tell if they're burnt out? Or is it just buy a new one and work on a trial/error basis? -- Thanks for your help!

[rixGAphx]

Step 1: Check fuse (in fuse box).

Fuse burned? ---> Replace.

Fuse not burned? --->Go to step 2.

Step 2: Check relay.
The Horn Relay is one of 3 'plastic boxes', about 1.25 x 1.25" x 2.5" tall);
Located under the rear edge of the hood, above the firewall, far right (passenger) side of the engine bay.
Sorry, I don't know which is the horn relay.

A 'good' relay will make a slight 'click' noise everytime the horn button is pushed.

Check that fuse first, as it is *prolly* the problem.

Get back to us if not.
-Rick

[Matt95GT]

^I agree. If it's not the fuse, have someone press the horn while listening/feeling the relays. If you don't hear it click, the relay or the horn switch (or horn ring around steering wheel) could be bad.

My 95 is a mute right now too. I have some air horns ready for install... didn't get to that yet.

[Riley1123d]

Update:

I went to the auto store, pulled out the fuse and brought it in. She said it was bad and I got a new one for like 51 cents haha. Its the same size but the blue color is different. I put it in and my horn works, alls well :) Thanks for the help!

[tenspeed]

All you have to do now is find out why the blue fuse went bad.

[Riley1123d]

They don't just give out over time?

[Prospeeder]

no not really, voltage and amp spikes will pop fuses but they usualy just dont die, somthing caused it, but it might not happend again for awhile

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by Riley1123d
[fuses] don't just give out over time?
^ ^ ^ Teh funny :lol:





Fuses 'blow' when too much electricity flows thru them.

Since the 'fusible element' (the little metal 'S' squiggley thing inside the plastic) is inertly-sealed, it will FOREVER carry the same amount of electricity. Therefore, it will never 'blow' unless something outside the fuse uses more electricity.

Might be a short-circuit (like a bare wire touching the body) at the device, or along the wire to the device.
Might be some other device (like a fog light) was improperly added to that circuit.
SOMETIMES, the metal contacts at connectors will become corroded. This corrosion causes resistance, so the circuit 'uses' more electricity. This may cause a fuse to 'blow', so check the connectors.

-Rick

[red98grandamse]

The other day, this same thing happened on my car, 98 2.4L. I checked the horn fuse in dash, and its fine. I've yet to check the horn itself, and am currently searching for where the relay is. I see 5 relays under my hood, 4 on the pass side, 1 on the drivers. the DS one is thb blue one, the pass side ones are 2 black, 2 grey. I guess my question is, is the blue one still the horn relay? I'm pretty sure it is, but I'd rather know before i take the 15 mile trek to the nearest auto parts store.

My horn works, but its just so low that I can barely hear it with the windows up.

[red98grandamse]

. nevermind.. found and fixed.