Never ending horn

[Erebus671]

I just bought a 2003 century and everything was working fine, until I tried to honk the horn. It just didn't sound off, being an electronics technician the first thing I checked was the fuse box. I found that the relay was missing. I found the relay in my center storage console later that day, I thought it was strange that the relay would be in the car but not installed so I opened the fusebox and plugged it back in. After this, the horn worked just fine for a few hours, but all of a sudden it started blaring nonstop, I had to pull off to the side of the road and remove the relay. I've check as much of the wiring as I could andthe harnesses all seem to be in tact, what could my problem be?

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[Erebus671]

Update: I have tried replacing the horn assembly and the problem persists. I would really appreciate some help if anyone knows of a possible solution, or has any suggestions on steps I could take to further diagnose my problem, please let me know. Thanks in advance.

 

[901-Memphis]

The relay is bad? Can you swap a similar one from a non required function to test if the old one is bad?

 

[Erebus671]

I was thinking about doing that, but I didn't want to use a relay of the wrong rating. Do you know which relay I could use that is of the same if not an acceptable rating?

Edit: I tried that, I swapped the fog lamp relay into the horn slot and I get the same result, I'm thinking it might be the switch in the steering wheel? I wonder if I remove them and place them in a different location where they're less likely to get stuck? What do you think?

Thanks for your reply by the way, I was beginning to think I wouldn't get an answer.

 

[Spriteman]

Is your Century a Custom or Limited?

How many miles on the car?

It looks like the horn switch is part of the SIR steering wheel module. You have to remove the SIR to access it. The horn also ties into the BCM - body control module.

The BCM is located under the driver side hush panel.

SM

 

[Erebus671]

Is your Century a Custom or Limited?

How many miles on the car?

It looks like the horn switch is part of the SIR steering wheel module. You have to remove the SIR to access it. The horn also ties into the BCM - body control module.

The BCM is located under the driver side hush panel.

SM

It's hard to say if it is custom or limited, according to the KBB there is no custom or base package, and the car itself does not have any identifying markings that say it is limited, so I would have to assume that it is custom?

It only has about 47k miles on it.

Yeah, I downloaded a repair manual and found the same thing, the manual says that it could be one of two problems: 1. Constant ground is being applied to the horn relay. 2. Short to ground on the horn switch.

Could you explain exactly what the SIR is? I haven't had the chance to look through all of my manual to find it...

Is the hush panel that part of the dash assembly that lies between the door and the rest of the dash?

 

[Spriteman]

If you want I can decode your model/trim - just post your vin and I'll post the info back here or I can private message to you.

The SIR is the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint - aka the airbag - in this case the drivers airbag which is in the steering wheel.

The hush panel is under the dash just above where your feet would be.

 

[Erebus671]

If you want I can decode your model/trim - just post your vin and I'll post the info back here or I can private message to you.

The SIR is the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint - aka the airbag - in this case the drivers airbag which is in the steering wheel.

The hush panel is under the dash just above where your feet would be.

I'll PM you my VIN, I don't feel like that's something I should put out freely, y'know?

Ah, okay, so I was right in assuming that if I were to work on the switches I should disconnect the battery and disable the airbags?

Okay, I'll have to look into that, I'll probably do it tomorrow as it is too late to do anything today.

 

[Spriteman]

Be careful when working around the SIR - there are specific things you have to do to disable it. Just disconnecting the battery does not completely disable it.

I think that's because the manufacturer wants the airbags to be able to deploy even if the battery gets disconnected during a wreck. You might have to get the procedure from your Buick dealer or maybe from Autozone or someone like that.

Also - I think I read somewhere that you have to use a special tool to get the airbag off of the steering wheel. You can probably borrow that tool from Autozone - they have a fairly good selection of tools that they lend out.

From what I've heard a deployed airbag can cause a pretty good smack in the face or worse if you're not positioned in the seat correctly.

 

[Erebus671]

I'll look though the airbags section of my manual, see if I can't find it in there first. I'm sure that is the case, I know that you can drain residual power from the electrical system by shorting the battery terminal connectors (after disconnecting from the battery), but I sure there are fail safes in the airbag assembly that prevent even a residual power discharge from draining the deployment system.

I will have to check with Napa, we don't have an Autozone here on Guam, a shame if you ask me, but beggars can't be choosers, right? I am hoping that I might have the tool already, I have a very large collection of tools, too large for a studio apartment, lol.

You've heard correctly, even if you're positioned properly in the seat, the airbags can hit you pretty hard... I've felt it first hand in a '99 Century. It won't cause any damage or knock you out if your positioned properly, but it still hurts like hell. Lol.

 

[G-772716]

I just bought a 2003 century and everything was working fine, until I tried to honk the horn. It just didn't sound off, being an electronics technician the first thing I checked was the fuse box. I found that the relay was missing. I found the relay in my center storage console later that day, I thought it was strange that the relay would be in the car but not installed so I opened the fusebox and plugged it back in. After this, the horn worked just fine for a few hours, but all of a sudden it started blaring nonstop, I had to pull off to the side of the road and remove the relay. I've check as much of the wiring as I could andthe harnesses all seem to be in tact, what could my problem be?

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airbag assy and horn are one unit on that the contact gets stuck you have to replace the whole unit. this is a defect and it will burn up the horns too. i already bought two junkyard specials they worked for 2-3 months same problem again. havent tried a new one yet. they are not cheap

 

[Shellene Reich]

I have a 1998 buick century limited. It had no horn. Replaced broken fuse, changed relay and the horn just blows without stopping. Is there a way to bypass the horn on steering wheel and replace with a dash button or do I have to replace the contact assembly above the airbag?

 

[tomwssamarine]

I just bought a 2003 century and everything was working fine, until I tried to honk the horn. It just didn't sound off, being an electronics technician the first thing I checked was the fuse box. I found that the relay was missing. I found the relay in my center storage console later that day, I thought it was strange that the relay would be in the car but not installed so I opened the fusebox and plugged it back in. After this, the horn worked just fine for a few hours, but all of a sudden it started blaring nonstop, I had to pull off to the side of the road and remove the relay. I've check as much of the wiring as I could andthe harnesses all seem to be in tact, what could my problem be?

Posted via Topify using Android

Hyper Tough 12-Inch Trigger Ratcheting Bar Clamp and Spreader

Hyper Tough 12-Inch Trigger Ratcheting Bar Clamp and Spreader - from Walmart $6.44

U just need this placed on the center of the driving wheel and tighten it where it will not slip off: for about a week and the problem goes away

 

[tomwssamarine]

Hyper Tough 12-Inch Trigger Ratcheting Bar Clamp and Spreader

Hyper Tough 12-Inch Trigger Ratcheting Bar Clamp and Spreader - from Walmart $6.44

U just need this placed on the center of the driving wheel and tighten it where it will not slip off: for about a week and the problem goes away