Horn blows randomly
 

My horn just decides to blow all by itself frequently. I tried replacing the relay in the power distribution center, but it still "goes off." I can sometimes get the horn to stop by pounding the horn button in the center of the steering wheel. I am assuming that there is a problem with the horn switch in the center of the wheel. What do you think? Is it a hassle to fix with all of the airbag stuff?

Thanks for your input.

It's the pounding that does it. Inside the molded foam rubber of the wheel itself is thin aluminum that is formed to sit just shy of the contact. By pounding on the horn it bends the aluminum and it will not maintain a clearance. As the aluminum expands with temp changes it sets off the horn. Chances are it is only in one spot. Take it apart and inspect the aluminum, you will see where it has been bent, find the corresponding point on the other side and stick a small piece of duct tape, reassemble and all will be good. The horn will still work perfectly with all the other points of contact.

Boy...I bet that will keep you awake on a long drive.....

Hey Busboy, thanks for the advice, I'll have to try that!

Hey Top, how have you been? The first time the horn went off I was in the local big box store when "the owner of a red Dodge 3500 license plate 'OPASRAM' " was paged to come to the customer service desk. I was sure someone had hit my truck in the parking lot. (I always park way out away from the rest of the cars and trucks to avoid that.) They told me my alarm was going off. I thought that this was curious as I don't have an alarm! I didn't even have my key fob with me so that I could have "butt-pushed" the panic button.

I haven't been able to hang around here much in the last few years. I've been wondering how the "old guys" are doing.

Good to see you DPG! I hadn't seen much of you thats why I had to post in this thread ;)

I am doing well, how are things up your way? besides the horn problem [laugh]

Things going well here Top. The old '99 is still running strong and still looks new, but it's beginning to have a few aches and pains, kind of like it's owner!

Check for sabatoge my awesome friends wire a darn timer on my horn and the thing would go off for 10min then off for 5min lesson learned lock your doors[coffee]

Thanks for the heads-up, DodgeCowboy, but the problem was similar to what Busboy wrote above. I got brave and took the center of the steering wheel apart and removed the airbag module. Underneath was a rubber pad that was sealed down top and bottom, with a touch pad underneath. I broke the seals on the bottom of the rubber pad and removed the touchpad. I cleaned the space out and replaced the touch pad under the rubber pad, without re-sealing it, which left a bit more space. I reconnected the wires and re-assembled the wheel, and the horn works again! (By the way, I ALWAYS lock my truck!)