Has anybody done any troubleshooting on a clockspring? Is it even possible and if so how do you do it? My air bag light is turning on and off on my 2000 ES and the dealer and my mechanic both say I need a new one but this is a $200 part and I don't want to spend the money if I don't need to.

 

HORNS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page page
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
HORN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
HORN RELAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
HORN SWITCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
HORN SYSTEM TEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
HORN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
HORN RELAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
HORN SWITCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
INTRODUCTION
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAG,
SEE GROUP 8M, PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
FOR STEERING WHEEL REMOVAL.
The horn circuit consists of a horn switch, horn
relay, and horn. The horn circuit feed is from the fuse
to the horn relay in the Power Distribution Center
(PDC). The PDC is mounted on the battery tray.
When the horn switch is depressed, it completes the
ground circuit. The horn relay coil closes contacts
and allows current to flow to the horn. The horn is
grounded to the headlamp ground connection (Fig. 1).
HORN SWITCH
The horn switch is mounted between the outer and
inner cover of the Driver Airbag Module (Fig. 2).
When the Driver Airbag is pressed the horn switch
makes contact to ground. The ground signal is carried
to the horn relay and the horn sounds.
(1) The horn switch grounds to the airbag housing.
(2) If horn does not sound check for corrosion:
² Horn wire
² Horn switch ground connected to airbag metal
housing
² Airbag to steering wheel
² Ensure horn wire is properly connected and
insulator is in place on wire
(3) Refer to Group 8W, Wiring Diagrams if wire
circuit needs to be repaired.
Fig. 1 Horn System
1 – CLOCK SPRING
2 – HORN RELAY
3 – 15 AMP FUSE
4 – HEAD LAMP GROUND
5 – HORN
6 – HORN SWITCH Fig. 2 Horn Switch
1 – AIRBAG MODULE
2 – HORN SWITCH
PL HORNS 8G - 1
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
HORN
(1) Disconnect wire connector at horn.
(2) Using a voltmeter, connect one lead to ground
terminal and the other lead to the positive wire terminal
(Fig. 3).
(3) Depress the horn switch, battery voltage
should be present.
(4) If no voltage, refer to Horn System Test. If voltage
is OK, go to Step 5.
(5) Using ohmmeter, test ground wire for continuity
to ground.
(6) If no ground repair as necessary.
(7) If wires test OK and horn does not sound,
replace horn.
HORN RELAY
(1) Remove horn relay from Power Distrubution
Center (PDC).
(2) Using ohmmeter, test for continuity between
ground and circuit 65 of horn relay.
(a) When the horn switch is not depressed, no
continuity should be present.
(b) Continuity to ground when horn switch is
depressed.
(c) If continuity is not correct repair horn switch
or wiring as necessary, refer to Group 8W, Wiring
Diagrams.
(3) Insert a jumper wire between circuit 63 and 66
of the Power Distribution Center.
(a) If horn sounds replace relay.
(b) If the horn does not sound, install horn relay
and refer to Horn Test.
(4) Using voltmeter, test voltage at:
(a) Circuit 62 and 66 test for battery voltage
from fuse C to body ground.
(b) If voltage is incorrect repair as necessary.
Refer to Group 8W, Wiring Diagrams.
(5) Check relay for 70 to 75 ohms resistance from
terminal 85 to 86 (Fig. 4). If resistance not OK,
replace relay.
HORN SWITCH
(1) Remove horn relay from the Power Distribution
Center.
(2) Using ohmmeter, connect one lead to ground
and the other lead to cavity 65 of the power distribution
center. Refer to Group 8W - Wiring Diagrams.
(3) Depress horn switch, should have continuity. If
no continuity go to Step 4.
(4) Test continuity at horn switch, remove the
Driver Airbag Module. Refer to Driver Airbag Module
Removal and Installation procedures.
(5) Using ohmmeter, connect one lead to the airbag
module ground and the other lead to B+ wire. Refer
to Group 8W - Wiring Diagrams and (Fig. 3).
(6) Depress horn switch, and the meter should
show continuity. If no continuity, replace the Driver
Airbag Module. If OK, repair as necessary.
HORN SYSTEM TEST
Refer to Horn System Test table. If the horn does
not sound, check the horn fuse located in the Power
Distribution Center. If the fuse is blown, replace with
the correct fuse. If the horn fails to sound and the
new fuse blows when depressing the horn switch, a
short circuit in the horn or the horn wiring between
the fuse terminal and the horn is responsible, or a
defective horn switch allowed the horn to burn out is
responsible.
(1) If the fuse is OK, test horn relay. Refer to Horn
Relay Test.
(2) If the relay is OK, test horn. Refer to Horn
Test.
CAUTION: Continuous sounding of horn will cause
horn to fail.
Fig. 3 Horn Harness Connector
Fig. 4 Horn Relay
8G - 2 HORNS PL
Should the horn sound continuously:
² Unplug the horn relay from Power Distribution
Center.
² Refer to Horn Relay Test.
Refer to Group 8W, wiring Diagrams for circuit and
wiring information.
HORN SYSTEM TEST
CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION
HORN SOUNDS
CONTINUOUSLY.
NOTE:
IMMEDIATELY
UNPLUG HORN
RELAY IN THE
POWER
DISTRIBUTION
CENTER (PDC)
(1) FAULTY HORN RELAY.
(2) HORN CONTROL CIRCUIT TO RELAY
SHORTED TO GROUND.
(3) PINCHED HORN SWITCH WIRE
UNDER DRIVER AIRBAG MODULE.
(4) DEFECTIVE HORN SWITCH
(1) REFER TO HORN RELAY TEST.
(2) CHECK TERMINAL 65 IN PDC FOR
CONTINUITY TO GROUND. IF
CONTINUITY TO GROUND INDICATES:
(A) STEERING WHEEL HORN SWITCH/
LEAD SHORTED TO GROUND.
(B) WIRING HARNESS SHORTED TO
GROUND. FIND THE SHORT AND REPAIR
AS NECESSARY.
(3) REPLACE DRIVER AIRBAG MODULE.
(4) REPLACE DRIVER AIRBAG MODULE.
HORN SOUND
INTERMITTENTLY
AS THE STEERING
WHEEL IS
TURNED.
(1) HORN RELAY CONTROL CIRCUIT X3
IS SHORTED TO GROUND INSIDE
STEERING WHEEL.
(2) PINCHED HORN SWITCH WIRE
UNDER DRIVER AIRBAG MODULE
(3) DEFECTIVE HORN SWITCH
(1) REMOVE DRIVER AIRBAG MODULE
AND/OR STEERING WHEEL. CHECK FOR
RUBBING OR LOOSE WIRE/
CONNECTOR, REPAIR AS NECESSARY.
(2) REPLACE DRIVER AIRBAG MODULE.
(3) REPLACE DRIVER AIRBAG MODULE.
HORN DOES NOT
SOUND
(1) CHECK FUSE 23 IN PDC
(2) NO VOLTAGE AT HORN RELAY
TERMINALS 62 & 66, AND FUSE IS OK.
(3) OPEN CIRCUIT FROM TERMINAL 65
OF THE HORN RELAY TO HORN
SWITCH X3 CIRCUIT.
(4) DEFECTIVE OR DAMAGED HORN.
(5) DEFECTIVE HORN SWITCH
(1) REPLACE FUSE IF BLOWN REPAIR
AS NECESSARY.
(2) NO VOLTAGE, REPAIR PDC AS
NECESSARY.
(3) REPAIR CIRCUIT AS NECESSARY.
(4) VOLTAGE AT HORN WHEN HORN
SWITCH IS PRESSED, REPLACE HORN.
(5) REPLACE DRIVER AIRBAG MODULE.
FUSE BLOWS
WHEN HORN
SOUNDS
(1) SHORT CIRCUIT IN HORN OR HORN
WIRING
(1) REMOVE HORN RELAY, CHECK FOR
SHORTED HORN OR HORN WIRING.
DISCONNECT HORN WIRE HARNESS TO
ISOLATE SHORT AND REPAIR AS
NECESSARY.
FUSE BLOWS
WITHOUT
BLOWING HORN
(1) SHORT CIRCUIT (1) REMOVE RELAY, INSTALL NEW FUSE,
IF FUSE DOES NOT BLOW REPLACE
HORN RELAY. IF FUSE BLOWS WITH
RELAY REMOVED, CHECK FOR SHORT
TO GROUND WITH OHMMETER ON
CIRCUIT BETWEEN TERMINALS 62 & 66
AND THE FUSE TERMINAL. REPAIR AS
NECESSARY.
NOTE: FOR
WIRING REPAIRS
REFER TO GROUP
8W, WIRE
DIAGRAMS.
PL HORNS 8G - 3
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING (Continued)
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
HORN
REMOVAL
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable (Fig. 5).
(2) Remove the windshield washer reservoir. Refer
to Group 8K Windshield Washer and Wipers, Washer
Reservoir Removal and Installation.
(3) Disconnect the harness connector.
(4) Remove the one screw holding the horn assembly
to vehicle (Fig. 6).
NOTE: The screw holding the horn assembly is a
captive screw and will remain as part of the assembly.
INSTALLATION
For installation, reverse the above procedures.
HORN RELAY
REMOVAL
(1) Remove the Power Distribution Center cover
and locate the horn relay (Fig. 7).
(2) Remove the horn relay.
INSTALLATION
For installation, reverse the above procedures.
Fig. 5 Battery Negative Cable Remove/Install
1 – NEGATIVE CABLE
2 – NEGATIVE BATTERY POST
Fig. 6 Horn Remove/Install
Fig. 7 Power Distribution Center (PDC)
8G - 4 HORNS PL
HORN SWITCH
REMOVAL
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable (Fig. 5).
(2) Remove the Driver Airbag Module. Refer to
Group 8M Passive Restraint Systems, Driver Airbag
Module Removal and Installation.
(3) Clip off strap tie holding the horn switch wire
to the airbag module.
(4) Unclip horn switch wire connector from airbag
module.
(5) Remove four torx screws from top side of airbag
module.
(6) Fold airbag module cover down to expose the
horn switch.
(7) Lift the horn switch off indexing tabs and
remove from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
For installation, reverse the above procedures.
PL HORNS 8G - 5