If you’ve ever heard a car horn honking for hours, you’ll know that the experience is anything but pleasant. Not only does a constantly running car horn cause annoyance to you and your neighbors, but it can actually drain your car’s battery as well.
A jammed horn is likely the result of a jammed mechanical component in the steering column. Luckily, there are quite a few ways you can fix this issue at home! Use the following steps to learn how to turn off a jammed car horn.
Method 1 of 4: Manually dislodge the jammed horn
Step 1: Attempt a manual dislodge. Try pushing your car horn several times.
This may dislodge whatever may be stuck in the horn and steering assembly and may be all you have to do to fix the issue. Twist your steering wheel to facilitate the process.
Method 2 of 4: Disconnect the horn’s fuse
Materials Needed
- Fuse pullers or needle-nose pliers
- Owner’s manual
Step 1: Determine the type of fuse. Refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual to determine whether or not your car has a fuse specific to the car horn.
Not all cars have this, but your owner’s manual should give you better idea of where and how to locate this specific fuse.
Step 2: Disconnect your battery. This helps ensure safety while working with the fuse.
Step 3: Disconnect your car horn’s fuse. If your car horn has a dedicated fuse, you may simply disconnect the fuse to turn off the car horn.
Step 4: Find your vehicle’s fuse box. This is usually located on the underside of the dashboard near the steering wheel.
Step 5: Remove the cover and examine the fuse box. Using a pair of needle-nose pliers or fuse pullers to remove the fuse.
Step 6: Reconnect your battery. Reconnect your battery when you are finished to test if this method worked.
- Tip: Anything that shares a fuse with your horn will also lose power.
Method 3 of 4: Disconnect the wiring
Materials Needed
- Electrical tape
- Fuse pullers or needle-nose pliers
Step 1: Turn off your car. Turn your car off and open the hood, making sure your battery is off.
Step 2: Locate the horn. Locate the horn, which often looks like a loudspeaker or a donut.
Once you find the horn, you will notice two wires attached to the rear of the horn.
Step 3: Remove wires. Use pliers to remove the wires attached to the rear of the horn.
Step 4: Reconnect your battery. Reconnect your battery when you are finished to test if this method worked.
- Tip: Wrap the ends of the now-removed wires with electrical tape to avoid short circuiting your car and ensure safety.
Method 4 of 4: Disconnect the battery
Materials Needed
- Rubber gloves
- Safety goggles
Step 1: Disconnect your car’s battery.If the steps above do not work, you may disconnect the car’s battery entirely to turn off the jammed horn.
This will shut off the horn, but in turn, it will prevent you from starting your car again, and you will need professional assistance.
- Tip: Wear safety goggles and heavy rubber gloves before disconnecting the battery.
The annoyance of your jammed horn should be addressed by one of these methods, at least as a temporary solution. But even if the simpler solutions, such as removing the fuse or banging on the horn, stopped the honking, your car battery, steering system, or horn should still be inspected by one of YourMechanic’s qualified mechanics to resolve the issue.
