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Thread: horn doesnt work when its cold

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    Jr Member paulabreu's Avatar
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    Default horn doesnt work when its cold

    So like the title says, my horn doesn't work when its cold outside, its been -10 all day around here and the horn hasn't been working all day , its the second time it happens.

    Any ideas of what it could be? i'm going to be bringing it to the dealership either way

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    Member leecheefoto's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Did you wash your car?

    Check your fuse

    If not then it could be your wires or the steering wheel spring
    Click to enlarge!

    www.leenguyen.ca

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    Jr Member paulabreu's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Quote Originally Posted by leecheefoto View Post
    Did you wash your car?

    Check your fuse

    If not then it could be your wires or the steering wheel spring
    havent wash the car in a week lmao, last night when I locked the car it was fine, but this morning when I got to work and locked it, noticed the horn didnt make any sound, so when inside the car and tried from steering wheel and nothing...so not even when activating the alarm

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    Sr Member Flagrum_3's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    I'm think the horn has a relay, if it does, try changing it out. Temp changes along with condensation tend to effect relays somewhat. Can't hurt to check!.


    _3
    Last edited by Flagrum_3; 01-18-2013 at 04:51 PM.

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    Jr Member paulabreu's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Quote Originally Posted by Flagrum_3 View Post
    I'm think the horn has a relay, if it does, try changing it out. Temp changes along with condensation tend to effect relays somewhat. Can't hurt to check!.


    _3
    hmm...what is a "relay"?

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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    you might considering taking it to Richard at Friendly Autobody ... I had the same issue where my horns would work once, then die, then work once again after 15 minutes, then die. When I parked the car, I would lock the door, it would honk once then stop.

    In the cold, it was a craps shoot for it to work. In the rain, it wouldn't work. Sooooo I took it to Richard, he installed a heavy duty relay and added a 30amp fuse. Since then it's been working perfectly.

    I also have 4 hella horns installed

    Info on what a relay is - http://www.ado13.com/techs/relay.htm
    Current: 2021 Audi A5; 2008 Saab 9-3; 2003 Acura RSX Base

    Previous: 2015 Mazda 3 GT Hatchback; 2008 Mazda 3 GT Hatchback

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    Uncle Ben
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    a simple answer to what a relay is, its a sophisticated switch. you have + and - to activate a coil which magnetically flicks open or closed a switch that powers whatever you are connecting.
    The fog and the horn relay are the same type of relays and are right next to each other if memory serves me correctly. switching the 2 would be the easiest way to check if your relay is no good.
    Last edited by McGuyver_3; 01-20-2013 at 04:28 PM.
    1991 Nissan Pathfinder - trade in, 2005 Mazda 3 GX ty grey - Write off, 2010 Mazda 3 GT E sedan CWP- trade in, 2010 Speed 3 w/tech CWP - Up for sale (soon), 2007 Mazda 3 GS silver- motor swapped in to 2009 MS3 CWP that had blown engine, 2002 BMW 330ci silver- new winter ride, 2005 BMW M3- new toy

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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Chances are you can hear the relay when you hit the switch. If you can't, that's the issue but a more common cause for horn failure is the ground.
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    Newbie citrus's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    I have seen this happen a few times over the years with a few different models of vehicles. Most of the time it is the plastic in the steering wheel shrinking and warping in the cold allowing the horn switch to contact. We do live in Canada, eh!

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    Newbie citrus's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Doh! Disregard my last post, I misread what you wrote, I thought you were saying the horn gets stuck on. My bad.

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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    with my 06 it happened alot just on cold days though and then it would work again.. i think its just the cold haha

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    Uncle Ben
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Well cold or not it should work regardless. No that you use the horn all that often but it still is considered a safety item.

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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Fix it or get it fixed because you never know when you will need it for safety reasons like Dan said.

    It's not just installed to tell other drivers how you feel about their lack of signals

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    Sr Member Flagrum_3's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Quote Originally Posted by McGuyver_3 View Post
    Well cold or not it should work regardless. No that you use the horn all that often but it still is considered a safety item.
    I don't know about you Dan, but my horn gets a work-out everyday Especially with my bus horns installed, I get attention.

    Your right though, regardless of the cold, the horn should work.

    _3

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    Jr Member paulabreu's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Thanks for the input guys, I'll be stopping by the dealership today to get it checked... Yesterday it didn't work all day and today is the same :-(

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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Post up your findings, I'm curious who is right on this and wonder if there will be more of the same issue popping up.

    My horn has saved my life, numerous times, get it looked at asap. You never know when you may need it

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    Jr Member paulabreu's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    well, went to the dealership this morning after a fun drive from Guelph to Newmarket without horn and lot of snow , so when i got there magically the horn is working it hasnt been working since yesterday...anyways, as always, they couldn't find anything wrong as it was working while they had the vehicle. When im driving back home from the dealership I tried the horn a couple of times ( people must have thought i was crazy or something ) and it worked until i stopped to put gas then turned it on again and again, no horn....still no horn .

    Also, noticed last night that when I have highbeams on and I put windows up/down the lights dim a little, same happens when moving the side mirrors.

    Just what I need on top of all the problems I have with this car...Its only a year old and problems keep coming and coming, i think i may have a lemon lmao....anyways, anyone want to take over my financing and get into a nice problematic vehicle?

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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    The lights are normal. Happens in almost all vehicles.
    Don't sweat that. The car was inside when the dealer checked it?
    Nice and warm inside?

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    Jr Member paulabreu's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Quote Originally Posted by Lockdown View Post
    The lights are normal. Happens in almost all vehicles.
    Don't sweat that. The car was inside when the dealer checked it?
    Nice and warm inside?
    i would think so, not really sure, i was waiting inside all the time.
    they said they didnt find anything wrong with the horn but i would think there has to be something wrong with it

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    Uncle Ben
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    this is sounding more and more like a sticking relay. Judging by what you say you have a second gen?

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    Jr Member paulabreu's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Quote Originally Posted by McGuyver_3 View Post
    this is sounding more and more like a sticking relay. Judging by what you say you have a second gen?
    yea its a 2011 mazda 3 GX AT.
    How hard would that be to fix?

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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Not hard at all. Do you know what a relay is?

    When it's not working, can you hear the relay when you press the horn?

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    Sr Member Flagrum_3's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Quote Originally Posted by McGuyver_3 View Post
    This is sounding more and more like a sticking relay. Judging by what you say you have a second gen?
    Big +1, as I mentioned earlier, with the drastic temp changes recently relays sometimes start to act up. We've been having a rash of issues with the relays on our buses lately, we simply just change them out and it usually solves the issues....it's a relatively cheap fix.

    _3

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    Jr Member paulabreu's Avatar
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Quote Originally Posted by Lockdown View Post
    Not hard at all. Do you know what a relay is?

    When it's not working, can you hear the relay when you press the horn?
    i dont know what a relay is really, i googled it but im dumb when it comes to this , i do hear a click noise that ive never heard before when i press the horn, would that be it?

    btw, 3rd day in a row that the horn is not working

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    Uncle Ben
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    Default Re: horn doesnt work when its cold

    Quote Originally Posted by McGuyver_3 View Post
    a simple answer to what a relay is, its a sophisticated switch. you have + and - to activate a coil which magnetically flicks open or closed a switch that powers whatever you are connecting.
    Quote Originally Posted by paulabreu View Post
    i dont know what a relay is really, i googled it but im dumb when it comes to this , i do hear a click noise that ive never heard before when i press the horn, would that be it?

    btw, 3rd day in a row that the horn is not working

    Yes that click would likely be it. This means that you have probably a broken wire to the horn from the relay somewhere OR you could have a bad horn itself. I remember I installed one upside down on my car as it was more convenient that way and it ended up filling up with water lol. After turning it around and all the water out of it, it started working again. More then likely it will not be the ground for the horn itself as they ground themselves on the body. Are you any good with volt meters or accessing the horn? aka removing the front bumper?

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