2001 Ford Escort Car Horn activates randomly

2001 FORD ESCORT
129,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
DH9777USA1
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
The car horn, which the switch is located in the air bag, starts to beep constantly at random times (the last time was at 10:00 PM one evening) which caused me to pull the fuse and go without a horn. I've been advised that with the switch being in the air bag it's going to cost a minimum of $800.00 to fix. My other option is to run a kill switch to one of the terminals of the horn so I can deactivate it when not driving the car but I can't find the horn under the hood. What is the best solution that won't break the bank and where do I find the actual horn if the kill switch idea is a good one?
Apr 2, 2009 at 6:21 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
JDL
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 16,098 POSTS


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/170934_ford_escort_1.jpg

Hello, in my personal opinion,I 'd take it to a qualified technician and get it fixed. In the past, where ground side of the coil for the horn relay, only affected the horn, I have used a switch in that circuit, but, not with this system. Others may have a different idea.
Apr 2, 2009 at 6:53 AM
Avatar
DH9777USA1
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:01 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
JAMES W.
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 2,394 POSTS
Do you have a remote alarm system on this vehicle. If, yes, the problem could be in the alarm module.
Apr 2, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Avatar
DH9777USA1
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
No car alarm that causes it, before I had to take the fuse out I noticed that when I did beep the horn occasionally it would get stuck and I had to tap it again to get it to stop. Someone mentioned that the strips that contact within the airbag assembly are too close together or warped and that is causing my problem. My only hope is to install a kill switch I can toggle when I park the car for long periods so the horn won't go off.

[quote:0fddb44ad6="James R. Weizel"]Do you have a remote alarm system on this vehicle. If, yes, the problem could be in the alarm module.[/quote:0fddb44ad6]
Apr 3, 2009 at 5:05 AM
Avatar
JAMES W.
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 2,394 POSTS
OK, now I understand. I'll attach a simple diagram of the horn circuit. With a little "creative wiring", you could attach the feed to the horn curcuit to one that is hot only with KEY ON.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/248092_escort_horn_1.jpg

Apr 3, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Avatar
DH9777USA1
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks but anyway to make the picture bigger? By the time I blow it up it's too distorted to make anything out. I don't suppose it comes with written instructions.
Apr 3, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Avatar
JAMES W.
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 2,394 POSTS
I'm having trouble with my posting image program, but jdl123 posted a diagram earlier that is basically the same, and no, there aren't any "written" instructions for what you're trying to do. You're treading new ground.
Apr 3, 2009 at 2:39 PM