The horn on my '90 Golf is intermittent, in most cases it will work fine. When I take it to the test centre and it has been driven for say 30 minutes, if I then leave the car running idle it will typically fail. I've tried turning the wheel and then pressing the horn but to no avail. Typically I'll then drive 5 minutes up the road and it will work again fine.
Any suggestions?
Thnaks,
I had a similar problem turns out it was a relay loose in the fuse box. Can't remember which one but is identified in hayne's manual.
Do you have the original steering wheel fitted or an aftermarket one?
When I bought my current Golf it had a crappy boss fitted with an aftermarket steering wheel. The horn ring didn't make great contact so only worked occasionally. I still have an aftermarket wheel fitted, but a decent brand one with a better quality boss.
it is the original steering wheel - I did hear the contacts can get dirty and may need cleaning. Does the square button that is pressed pull off with the aid of a screw driver?
The button is held in with plastic studs you should be able to remove with your hand.
Tried the car today, after a run in very warm heat the horn stopped working as befirr, it then worked once then again the problem returned. When it wasn't working it wasn't totally dead but sounded very weak, as if the battery was dead, which is isn't. Only noticed this once engine was not running.
Not sure if that helps identify the issue?
.. Also popped the button off the steering wheel, the contact and look clean and no corrosion, when I make the black and brown directly I get the same weak parpaing sound.
Checked the fuse for the horn which is fine and confirmed that this golf doesn't have a relay for the horn.
Starting to wonder if the horn itself isn't faulty.
Disconnected the horn and checked with a multi meter and I have voltage as the horn is pressed. I then connected the horn directly to the battery and it worked so I am really confused now.
Just replace the horn itself. I’m not sure how the internals of the horn work, but I suspect they are corroded/worn/perished/seized. If you have access to another car you could just borrow a horn to test. But if the button is fine and you have a connection it’s the only thing left, and I imagine a generic horn will be cheap enough
Oh, clean the earth!
It might watch through the mounting bracket so check that for corrosion. If it’s a problem wire a fresh earth to the back of the horn.
Just replace the horn itself.
Given that when i connected the horn directly to the he battery does this not rule out a faulty horn?
Oh, clean the earth
Not sure I saw an earth on the bracket, just two wires to the horn, the live and switched live prsumably?
Just replace the horn itself.
Given that when i connected the horn directly to the he battery does this not rule out a faulty horn?
Yeah I realised that after answering which is why I thought about the earth as I presume you removed the horn from the car and brought it to the battery?
Just replace the horn itself.
Given that when i connected the horn directly to the he battery does this not rule out a faulty horn?
Yeah I realised that after answering which is why I thought about the earth as I presume you removed the horn from the car and brought it to the battery?
Yeah did that exactly, removed it entirely and put temporary wire to horn and it worked.
A few years ago I had some starting issues, local garage I think fitted a hot start relay. I am wondering if this might be what is required here too...
So in the end I took it to a local garage, they fitted a new horn and they have run a wire to the live terminal on the battery, presumably by-passing the problematic live feed. The horn works well now and got through its annual inspection which was the end goal.