Technical WTF, Horn just started blaring!

[RickF]

Wierd. Watching TV.. and I hear a car horn stuck on.. Went outside and realised it was my mk2b sporting blaring away...

I just disconnected the battery... what the heck could have caused that? :|

 

[s and b]

probably the clock spring below the steering boss gone doo lally

 

[RickF]

I noticed a slight burning smell, but I presume that was the horn because it had been on for a few minutes...

What does spring to mind is that a while ago my rear light cluster stopped working due to a corroded earth. Tried cleaning it up and the lights are working..

Other than that.. :\

What do you guys think I should do?

 

[s and b]

dont put the battery back on till either yourself or a knowledgeable person has checked it over
your airbag might go off next or the car might combust

 

[RickF]

A bit random to go off in the middle of the night though lol.

The airbag light hasn't been on. Not noticed any horn issues.

 

[s and b]

your horn works via a relay under the bonnet so no real reason why it would go off unless you had underlying electrical issues
smelly smelly burny burny is as you can imagine not good and if the cables turn to goo are cancergeneic ,i wont touch them unless i have latex gloves on and even then stay clear if possible
so difficult to advise without having the car but do please be careful

 

[RickF]

your horn works via a relay under the bonnet so no real reason why it would go off unless you had underlying electrical issues
smelly smelly burny burny is as you can imagine not good and if the cables turn to goo are cancergeneic ,i wont touch them unless i have latex gloves on and even then stay clear if possible
so difficult to advise without having the car but do please be careful

Yeah will do thanks. What sort of price is it for a clock spring replace if it is that?

 

[Ziggy122]

Check the relay - pull it from the car and test the Hi-current side for continuity when not activated
if you get no resistance the relay is to blame

But as said - if the clock spring was to blame - then i'd be wary of whats really going on

ziggy

 

[RickF]

Wonder if its linked to the dodgy earth on rest light cluster.. Must be as that was only 2 days ago that effed up..

 

[Ziggy122]

Wonder if its linked to the dodgy earth on rest light cluster.. Must be as that was only 2 days ago that effed up..

Earthing on rear light cluster and horn going off in my eyes are hardly linked

2 completly different systems


unless your james may and ye old clarkson has been playing

Ziggy

 

[RickF]

Earthing on rear light cluster and horn going off in my eyes are hardly linked

2 completly different systems


unless your james may and ye old clarkson has been playing

Ziggy

Haha. Yeah I know they aren't directly linked, but seems strange to have this happen after the lights playing up.

I've frequently had ESP warnings come up after starting car but always goes out. Think it's time to ditch the fix it again tomorrow. It's gearbox isn't too healthy either!

 

[RickF]

I spoke to two different autolecs and they both said to try and reconnect to see if the horns starts blaring again..

I did that, no horn blaring at me. They said to see if the horn works or if it gets stuck.. Tried it and it worked and didnt get stuck on...

I also connected my basic code reader and it did return a dtc of p0520, which is a circuit malfunction of engine oil pressure sensor?

Never noticed any oil related warnings before. Only the frequent ESP faults, and over the last week or so noticed the hill holder warning come on, but I have seen that a few times in the few years ive had the car..

Does anyone know if there would be a possible link here?

Rick

 

[Ziggy122]

esp needs fault code reading
the horn blaring randomly is to worry.....

ziggy

 

[RickF]

A friend checked the obd with software that works with fiat specific codes and can reset service light etc - the name escapes me., it showed no errors. :/

 

[Ziggy122]

A friend checked the obd with software that works with fiat specific codes and can reset service light etc - the name escapes me., it showed no errors. :/

Fiat ECU scan? Multi-ecu Scan?

The light on means a code is been stored - it might be his cable isn't confirgured to access the BSI/Can network to the Traction control/abs/esp system

Ziggy

 

[RickF]

I will ask him. I'm sure the cable/software was bought for his punto and works with everythings fiats own scanner can do i.e. steering ecu, service reset etc

 

[Ziggy122]

I will ask him. I'm sure the cable/software was bought for his punto and works with everythings fiats own scanner can do i.e. steering ecu, service reset etc

BUT they require different connectors to access abs and other items

Airbag for instance is a different pin setup to ABS

Ziggy

 

[RickF]

Its fiatecu scan yeah. Only has some of the connectors I think.

I've reconnected the battery today as I'm home all day..
Gonna see if it happens again.

My car got broke into a few years back, the drivers door was bent out, i bent it back in so its not got a perfect seal so water does get in if its raining hard or a lot.

The rain wasn't really heavy on the night it went off.. Is there anything in the drivers door area that could have caused the horn to sound?

What else could have caused the horn to go off?

 

[homeward]

Is there anything in the drivers door area that could have caused the horn to sound?

It could well be water getting into the door sensor (you know: the thing that switches your interior light on and off, when you open/close the door...) -- and maybe shorting it...? But don't take my word for it, I'm barely awake...!

Hope you find the source of this... -- alarm faults are a PITA....

PS: Just realized you haven't got an alarm fitted (or mentioned it): so probably best to ignore this, as I can't, now, see a connection between the door sensor and the horn.... (Told you I was asleep....)

 

[RickF]

Yeah it could be that I guess.

Although its not an alarm issue.. no alarm on the car.