Troubleshooting Your Car’s Horn

When you hear your car horn honk, and it’s not because you accidentally hit the horn button, there’s something wrong with the horn itself. While car horns are just glorified noise-makers, they are an essential safety feature on your vehicle, especially if you frequently drive in heavy traffic. How do you know if your car horn is broken? What should you do to fix it? Read on…

Troubleshooting a malfunctioning horn is not very difficult. However, the problem may require a professional to fix. There are some common issues that you can address yourself before bringing your car into a pro. Step one should be to check the horn fuse. Depending on the vehicle, the horn may be on the same circuit as other auxiliary equipment, so make sure you find the correct fuse for the car’s horn. Next, pull the fuse out and visually inspect it. If it looks damaged, replace it with a new fuse and test the horn. If the fuse is not the issue, you will need to keep looking.

If the horn does not work, the relay may be bad. The horn relay has a constant supply of power; when the horn button is depressed, the circuit is completed, and the horn is activated. Typically, the horn relay is located in the fuse box inside the engine compartment:

The next step will require removing the bumper cover to gain access to the horn. You can remove most bumper covers with a socket, and once the fasteners have been removed, the bumper cover should slide off easily. Next, inspect the wire harness for loose terminals or corrosion. Replace the wiring harness if necessary.

Troubleshooting your car’s horn is not a complex process, but if you complete the above steps and have still not found the problem, take your car to a professional. Issues with the horn switch or replacing the horn entirely are probably best left to a professional. Your car care professional can diagnose and fix your malfunctioning car horn.