horn works..then doesn't work???

[kirk r]

I have a 96 sidekick/1.6L/2d/4wd....and my horn works sometimes,..then all of a sudden it doesn't work...gives a "click" noise?....I'm not much of a mechanic but if anyone has any ideas let me know.....I've only had this rig for a few weeks so I'm just coming across some of the little hicups as they pop up.....thanks!!

[Ole-Boy]

raise the hood. Look at the radiator. There is a bolt on the top (outside) left and right. Remove those bolts and push the top of the radiator back. The horn is tucked in front of it. Tap the horn with the handle of a screwdriver a few times as it might be sticking inside. Then check the wires for tightness at the connectors. You might have to squeeze them together a little with a pair of pliers so they make better contact. Then test the horn. If it works, replace the bolts bak in the top of the radiator and tighten them.

It may not work, but that's what I'd try first.

[kirk r]

I'll give it a shot tomorrow....thanks

[relicduke]

Me,I'd take the grille out rather than risk breaking a rad mount bolt,when you put your "new"horn on,get one off something with a better sound,that doesn't sound so volkswagenie.

[lord_galathon]

Yeah like duke said, remove the grille unless you have bush bars. A honk is like what? 12$ Replace it, it's one bolt and two blade connectors.

So easy I had my daughter (8 at the time) help me replace it on my current Zuke with it stopped working.

I put in twin red dual tone horns. They're terrible.

[jtgh]

and horn must be grounded.
clean the ground under it.

if both fail, then bad ground.
if not bad ground bad relay.

if not bad relay bad wiring or prob. in horn ring assy.

actual , schematic for 96

with meter, anyone can find problem.


put VM black to good ground.
read VM lead to horn relay ,pin 4,
key on , and honk does pin 4 go hot.
yes, horns or ground at horns bad
no, then listen for relay click.
check horn socket for 12v at pins 1 and 2.
if bad, fuse is bad.

if good, check horn line.
pin 3
if line goes to 0.5v or lower and output of relay pin 4 does not go 12v honking then Relay is bad.

if horn line dont ground out 0.5v honking then you have a bad horn ring.


VM = voltmeter, DMM, DVM , any volt meter or multimeter, $2.99 at Harbor frieght works great. oops no HF in Canada.

[relicduke]

sometimes you can get one{vm}at crappy tire for ten bucks,on sale

[wolfwood]

i think its a bad relay imo..

[jtgh]

can be 5 things.

vm to pin 4 , when fail, cuts problem in half.

binary searche,s are our friend.


come fix mine. its same. too lazy to set the trap.