Horn problem

[JBX66]

Sometimes my horn will inexplicably go off and won't stop until I pull the power wire to it off. It drains the battery to nothing unless I fix it, and the only way to fix it is to pull off the steering wheel and then take half the column apart. When I get to the turn signal part, it stops. I reassemble the column and it will work normally for about 3 weeks. What on earth is wrong with this thing?

[Mackie]

Funny you use the word "earth" because earth or ground is the problem. The horn circuit works by grounding at the button so a short anywhere along the line will cause it to activate. Since it fixes temporarily when you monkey with the horn/signal switch I'd say the problem is right in there. Maybe button springs weak or missing or short to ground in that area.

[jtrichard]

the horn works by grounding the wire from the relay to the horn button so what you have is the horn wire shorting to ground if it stops when you are in the column then there is where it must be shorted you can narrow it down ....the next time it does it pull the wire plug apart at the bottom of the column if it stops then it is in the column if not then it is from there to the relay

[JBX66]

I guessed it was a short. The really weird thing about it was that usually I'd park it, go inside, and then four hours later it would begin to honk.

[Mackie]

So, what fixed it?

[tincan1966]

Could be a weak relay- lots of guys have had battery drainage problems from the original type relays.

If it is in the column I'd look at the plastic "insulator" that the screws go thru, below the contact plate. The plastic will deteriorate over time and retightening and can allow the plate to contact the steering wheel.

Of coarse, all of this is just a guess- hard to diagnose anything over the internet.