Need Help Horn won't honk

[phideltkuntryboy]

I have a 2001, s-10 2wd. I recently discovered that my horn doesn't honk any more. A couple weeks ago i pshed it and it didn't work, I pushed it a couple more times and then it worked. Now No matter how many times i push it nothing happens. What could this be?

[movin2stereo]

You need a new horn.

[J-Ri]

Before you go replacing parts, test it to make sure that's the problem. There is (at least on older models) only one wire going to the horn(s). Hook a light of some kind up to the wire, hook the other side of the light to ground. Honk the worn and have someone watch the light (or position it where you can see it from inside). If the light doesn't come on, it is most likely the switch in the steering column.

[J-Ri]

I guess it would be a lot quicker to run a wire from the positive terminal of the battery to the terminal on the horn(s)

Sorry about the double post

[phideltkuntryboy]

what type of wire do i use? what type of light do i use? where is the horn at? Not really sure how to do this. I guess u can tell i'm not very familiar under the hood. So when u say run a wire from the + terminal of the battery, disconnect the horn and then connect it to the battery. Do i need any ground?

[J-Ri]

Any electrical wire would work for the light test... but I wasn't thinking when i typed that first post.

What I'd do is run a wire, at least 12 guage, from the battery positive to the horn(s)(some have 2, high pitch and low pitch). The older (probably newer too) horns are grounded to the body, so you don't need to ground it with another wire. If it looks rusty, a bad ground could be making it not work. If so, take it off and clean where it touches metal.

As for the location... somewhere up front. On my 86 Silverado both are in front of the condenser. On my 91 S-10, it's in the drivers side fender area behind and below the headlights.

It sounds like the problem is most likely the horn switch. On the trucks without air bags, you can just pop the steering wheel center cap off to get to the horn switch. If yours has air bags, I'm not sure if you can get to the switch easily or not. The older ones have a flimsy piece of metal that makes the connection when the horn is pressed. The only other likely part that would go out is the horn relay, but I don't know where it would be on yours.

Anyone know exactly where the horn is on the 2001s?

[phideltkuntryboy]

i found the horn, it is on the pass side next to the battery. The horn has a plug attached to it and a little black relay labeled A & B. not sure what it does. Do i take the wire hooked to the + and stick it in A and B? If i do both and hear nothing does that means the horn is bad? If it makes noise do I check the horn switch. How do i disable the air bag to get to the horn switch?

[mike1224]

phideltkuntryboy, theres another horn, its beside the window washer resivor... dang no horn? you poor soul well birdie works well too!

[J-Ri]

Pull the connector off the horn and touch the wire to that terminal. If you don't hear sound, the problem is most likely either the relay or the switch. If the "relay" is labeled A and B (meaning 2 connectors), then it's not a relay, but is something else.

Probably should have asked earlier, but you've checked the fuse, right?

[phideltkuntryboy]

yeah i checked the fuse. There are two fusesone thats labeled 10 and another one that looks different its gray and pretty big. If the fuse is burnt the little curve is broken right?

[mike1224]

yeah, fuse needs to be replaced.

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by phideltkuntryboy

If the fuse is burnt the little curve is broken right?

Yes.

Have you had a chance to test the horns yet?

[phideltkuntryboy]

j-ri

i haven't tested the horn at all, no fuse changes, no switch adjustments and the horn is working again, whats the deal? U think maybe the weather has something to do with it? I'm baffeled.

[hakogen]

the big 'fuse' is a relay. i hvae the same truck... hasnt happened to mine, but cheapest thing is to replace the realy and work from there