How to Change a Car Horn
by Jule PamplinWe use it to say "Hi," to say "Bye" and to say "Watch it, buddy!" It's the horn on your vehicle---ready to give a "Beep-beep!" at the press of the button. Eventually, if you have your vehicle long enough, you'll have to have the horn replaced. While it doesn't take an auto mechanic to perform this simple task, having a professional change could cost hundreds of dollars. With a few easy steps, you can do it yourself.
How to Change a Car Horn
Step 1
Check the fuses for the horn. If this is not an elective replacement, checking the fuses might save time and money replacing the horn.
Step 2
Disconnect the ground wire from the battery. The ground wire is the black wire extending from the battery to the frame of the vehicle.
Step 3
Locate the car's horn. The horn is found under the hood in one of three places usually: near (almost touching) the car's battery, above the left or right wheel-well or near the front grille. Make sure that the replacement horn, if aftermarket, will fit into your vehicle as the old horn did. If the new horn is substantially larger than the old horn, you may need to find another mounting location.
Step 4
Disconnect the power supply wire from the rear of the horn. Then place it into the replacement horn.
Step 5
Mount the horn to the vehicle. Again, if you need to find another location, you will need to not only attach the horn, you will need to remove and replace the entire mounting bracket. The removal of the bracket will require a screwdriver (kind varies, usually Phillips). You may also need to prepare receiving holes for the remounting.
Step 6
Reconnect the battery grounding wire. Test the horn.
Things You'll Need
- Flat screwdriver
- Replacement horn
Warnings
- If the fuses are in working order, the battery is connected properly and the correctly mounted horn still doesn't work, you may have a disconnection at the point of the horn button in the steering wheel. Since the steering wheel also has components essential to the proper deployment of your airbag, it is recommended that you enlist the assistance of a professional.
Writer Bio
Jule Pamplin has been a copywriter for more than seven years. As a financial sales consultant, Pamplin produced sales copy for two of the largest banks in the United States. He attended Carnegie-Mellon University, winning a meritorious scholarship for the Careers in Applied Science and Technology program, and later served in the 1st Tank Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps.
