What to Do When the Vehicle Horn Gets Water In It?
4 Answers
The solutions for a vehicle horn getting water inside are: open it to air dry and let the water inside evaporate naturally, otherwise prolonged exposure may cause a short circuit in the wiring; or promptly remove the horn to drain the water, then use a dryer to dry it thoroughly. Types of car horns include: 1. Classified by sound power: air horn and electric horn; 2. Classified by shape: cylindrical, spiral, and disc-shaped; 3. Classified by frequency: high-pitched horn and low-pitched horn. The horn is the audio signaling device of a vehicle. During driving, the driver can emit necessary sound signals as needed or required by regulations to warn pedestrians and alert other vehicles, ensuring traffic safety. It is also used for urging movement and conveying signals.
Last time I drove in the rain, water got into my car's horn, making the sound very muffled and almost silent. This situation most commonly occurs when washing the car or driving through water during rainy days, where water seeps into the horn opening and corrodes the contacts. My suggestion is to stop using the horn immediately, as forcing it may cause internal rust or even a short circuit in the wiring. If you want to handle it yourself, you can try using a hairdryer on the cool setting to blow air over the horn's surface, but don't hold it too close, as it might deform the plastic. Alternatively, park the car in a well-ventilated and dry place for a few days to let it air dry naturally—patience is key. If it still doesn't work after two or three days, then it's time to visit a repair shop. Prevention is also important: remind the car wash staff not to spray the horn directly with a high-pressure water gun, and be cautious when driving through puddles on rainy days. Repairing a horn can cost at least a hundred bucks, so it's better to be careful in the first place.
Water ingress in the horn is quite troublesome, and I've dealt with many such cases. The principle is simple: there are metal contacts inside the car horn that oxidize and rust when exposed to water. The first thing to do after water ingress is to stop pressing the horn, as the water can cause a short circuit and potentially burn out the wiring when powered. There are several levels of self-help methods: for minor water ingress, you can drive with the ventilation on for half an hour to let the moisture evaporate; if the sound is noticeably distorted, you need to remove the horn cover and use a hairdryer on low heat for ten minutes; for severe water ingress, the entire horn must be removed, and the water collection tray inside should be dried with a soft cloth. Some high-end models now come with waterproof horns, but most ordinary cars don't have them. For prevention, avoid deep water areas when driving in the rainy season, and check the horn cover for any signs of water accumulation after each car wash. If you can't handle it yourself, towing it to a repair shop will take at most half a day to replace it.
My neighbor's car horn stopped working a few days ago after she washed her car—it was simply water damage. She doesn't know much about cars, so she drove straight to the repair shop and asked the mechanic to fix it. The technician said this kind of issue is common and proceeded to disassemble the horn on the spot, pouring out the water inside and using an air gun to dry the metal contacts. He told me that car horns are far more sensitive to water than one might think—even a small amount can cause the contacts to rust. Now, when I encounter a waterlogged horn, my approach is simple: stop using the horn immediately to avoid damaging the circuit, then park the car in a ventilated area, open the hood, and let it air-dry. Usually, leaving it for half a day to a full day allows it to dry naturally. If the horn still sounds odd the next day, it likely means internal components have rusted or jammed, and the only solution is to replace it. The mechanic mentioned that an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) horn costs around 200 yuan, while an aftermarket one is just over 100. He also reminded everyone to be extra cautious in winter, as water ingress in cold temperatures can freeze more easily, leading to permanent horn failure.
