2001 Boxster Horn Trouble

[bmblack34]

Hi all!

I was enjoying a nice drive on the blue ridge parkway last weekend when some yahoo pulled out in front of me when I was going about 45 and he was only a car length or two in front of me. Luckily, nothing bad happened to either of us, but it was at that moment that I realized my horn was not working (had to use my finger :)).

Oddly enough, I got the vehicle inspected just week ago and the horn was fine. It has even worked once or twice since this incident this weekend without any problems, but has since stopped working altogether. I have checked the fuse for the horn in the fuse box to make sure it wasn't blown or loose but everything was fine.

What else should I look at to help narrow down this problem? Is there a relay related to the horn that I should look at? If so where at? I would like to try and solve this myself without paying someone $60/hr to do it for me.

Any advice you guys have would be great. Thanks in advance!

[stumpjumper]

when my horn stopped working in my 2002 it ended up being the horns themselves, I replaced them with hella compact trumpet horns which bolt right into the same spot with minor electrical harness changes, they're a good bit louder than the stock horn

people will rightfully reccomend air horns, they're louder still and with horns louder is better... I just went the easy way and appeased my wife :)

to get to the horns, I put the car on jack stands, removed the front wheels, and that gave me access to the front bumper, which I removed, also removed the air duct on the passneger side (and took the opportunity to clean both out very well

right under the passenger side duct is the horns

others have been able to get accses to the horns without removing the bumper, I wasn't going to try that because it looked too difficult, it's probably even possible to go in under the car using ramps instaed of stands but I didn't have any that were low enough to clear the bumper

once I got the bumper off it took 10 minutes

good luck!

[RFM]

There are 2 horns, 1 hi and 1 low. Are you sure if they worked both, or only one? In this case it's possible that both horns are faulty. Look at the connectors for 12 V supply, if yes replace both horns ( they are located behind the bumper shell on the R.H. - dismount the shell to replace. )

Succes

[bmblack34]

One weird thing I noticed was that when I lock the car it still beeps (i have an after market radio) and the horn still beeps when the alarm goes off.

Is the horn I am hearing the same horn that my steering wheel is attached too?

If so, to me that indicates that something actually wrong inside the steering wheel rather than with the horn.

[Tool Pants]

The horn for the alarm is next to the battery on the drivers side. Alarm horn has nothing to do with the pair of horns under the front bumper cover for the steering wheel.

Since you say the fuse is ok I would check the relay next.

Do you have a 3 or 4 spoke steering wheel. I think by 2001 both the 2.7 and 3.2 had the 3 spoke.

[rsfeller]

In my case the horn for the alarm did fail...but most likely the bushings behind the airbag have gone bad. This is a easy DIY with a new airbag frame for about $80 from Sunset Imports. Of course this is dependant on which steering wheel you have (as toolpants asks) if you have the early 986 this could be your issue, not sure what year they went to the differnt steering wheel.

Before those who jump on here stating that this failure is noticeable when the horn beeps itself, mine never did and the bushings were shot. Do a Google on this board and you find lots of good stuff and photos (toolpants?) of the decayed horn bushings.

I doubt both your horns failed at the same time.

Edited March 28, 2007 by rsfeller

[stumpjumper]

I doubt both your horns failed at the same time.

while that's probably true, it's possible that one has been bad awhile and the other just failed