YACT: Help, my horn broke!

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imported_Tomato

Diamond Member
Sep 11, 2002
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A few days ago, I tried to honk and instead of a "HONK HONK", a little "brrt brrt" came out.

Today, someone cut me off on the highway to work, and I pushed my horn down to honk... and nothing came out. I have no idea what popped/tore/broke inside to cause it, but this is one more reason why I'll never buy a salvage vehicle again.

Is it legal to drive without a working horn?

Where should I go to fix it, and how much will it cost?

 
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KokomoGST

Diamond Member
Nov 13, 2001
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In my state it's technically illegal to drive without a working horn... but I did for around 4 months because it was cold and I didn't want to change my horn when it was cold. I use my brights instead of my horn in most situations anywho.

If you know how to do any basic wiring and can crimp, cut, and turn a bolt... it's easy. Just takes about an hour of your time after you find horn and buy a cheapo universal replacement for $10-15. Have one of your guy friends do it... otherwise mock them mercilessly until they do it for you. Use your feminine charms dammit!! :D
 
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Ogg

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2003
4,829
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damn I cant make the "Horn blows, how about the driver?" joke....
Rats....:D
 
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imported_Tomato

Diamond Member
Sep 11, 2002
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Originally posted by: KokomoGST
In my state it's technically illegal to drive without a working horn... but I did for around 4 months because it was cold and I didn't want to change my horn when it was cold. I use my brights instead of my horn in most situations anywho.

If you know how to do any basic wiring and can crimp, cut, and turn a bolt... it's easy. Just takes about an hour of your time after you find horn and buy a cheapo universal replacement for $10-15. Have one of your guy friends do it... otherwise mock them mercilessly until they do it for you. Use your feminine charms dammit!! :D
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Interesting... it doesn't sound too bad. I may give it a shot (with supervision :p ). Maybe I'll throw an ATOT meet soon so I can have someone more car-savvy take a look. :D
 
minendo

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
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Originally posted by: Dezign
Originally posted by: minendo
Check the fuse.
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How would I go about doing that?
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Locate the fuse box and locate the schematic of the fusebox in your owner's manual. Find the corresponding fuse and remove it. Check to see if the metal gap is broken.

 
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Quixfire

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2001
6,892
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It does sound like you horn is bad. Usually when a horn starts to go bad it makes a sound like a dying cow and then stops working all together.

What kind of car is it, I maybe able to post the replacement procedure?
 
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KokomoGST

Diamond Member
Nov 13, 2001
3,758
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If it was a fuse... it wouldn't even make the "dying duck" sound.

I've had a few horns die on me... the factory engineers picked the DUMBEST place to put the horn. In front of the sidemount intercooler on my passenger side front bumper... ready to be sprayed with salt, water, snow, and pretty much everything that my car drives in.

EDIT: If charm doesn't work... add BEER. I've offered to several friends to do basic maintenance on their cars for beer and food. Oil change? 6pack plz.
 
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Black88GTA

Diamond Member
Sep 9, 2003
3,430
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If you know a bit about cars (or have a friend who does) you can probably fix it yourself. It's usually a really easy job. The horn on my Trans Am broke, and I got two new horns (high and low note) from the auto parts store I worked at (total cost about $25). I splurged and got the LOUD ones :D. Mine was doing the same thing as yours, it started making a really quiet noise when I hit the button. I'd bet money that your circuit is OK, and it's just the actual horns themselves that need replacement.

A horn circuit is pretty simple. Since you got a small noise from the horn before, that means the relay is still working. I'd check the fuse first (locked up horn could have overloaded it) but it's probably OK. If fuse is OK, leave it alone, if bad, replace it. Then look at the horns - both of those will probably need replacement. They're usually not hard to spot, mine were mounted next to the battery behind the left fender. Replacing both of them took me 20 minutes. They were mounted to the car with one bolt each. The hardest part was getting to them.

Good luck!
 
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Rufio

Banned
Mar 18, 2003
4,638
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this is nothing a middle finger, an open window, and a loud irate voice can't handle. :D
 
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BooGiMaN

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
7,955
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put on a skanky tight outfit and flirt with someoen at track auto or auto zone or any parts place ..act dumb liek the paris hilton chick or jessica simpson..im willing to bet one of them will install it for ya...

after he is done get in the car to check the horn..start it up and speed away into the sunset as you yell SUCKA!!! out the window at him:p
 
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Quixfire

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2001
6,892
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Originally posted by: Dezign
The car is a 2001 Honda Civic LX. Thank you for all the helpful replies. :)
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I'm Dezign none of my manuals cover this model, but I will keep looking for it.
 
InverseOfNeo

InverseOfNeo

Diamond Member
Nov 17, 2000
3,719
0
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Originally posted by: maziwanka
i would replace it with a truck air horn. that would be badass.
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One of my friends put in a air horn in addition to his regular horn. He had an aux. button for it. It was funny scaring all the people that were walking down the sidewalk. Good luck wit your car Dez.
 
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MercenaryForHire

Lifer
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
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I sure hope you signed into the Honda/Acura thread. ;)

I don't have the manual for that year unfortunately. Basically, locate the horn, trace the wiring back to source, and at some point you'll hit the fusebox. If it is the horn, then buy a big honkin' diesel-type monster.

In the meantime - Right hand on wheel, left hand out window with finger extended. ;)

- M4H
 
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