Why Doesn't the Car Horn Work?
2 Answers
Reasons why the car horn doesn't work: 1. If the horn is pressed for a long time, it can easily cause the horn contacts to become corroded, creating impedance. This weakens the current flowing through the electromagnetic coil, reducing the electromagnetic force, which then fails to attract the armature to drive the diaphragm to vibrate normally, resulting in a hoarse sound or even no sound at all; 2. Although the interior of the horn is sealed, if the seal is not tight, moisture may enter during car washing, or water vapor may be present in the internal air space. This moisture can easily cause the contacts to become damp and fail to function properly; 3. Some horns have electromagnetic coil enameled wire terminal connections made of aluminum metal rivets pressed together, rather than being securely welded. If the insulation paint on the ends of the enameled wire is not properly removed or the rivets are not pressed firmly, it can easily lead to poor connections, causing the horn to malfunction.
When I drove out earlier, the horn didn’t respond, which gave me a scare. Upon careful reflection, it might be a blown fuse because all the button lights in the car suddenly flickered. It could also be dust or corrosion stuck in the steering wheel’s horn button—I tried tapping it a few times with my finger to clean the dust. Another time, a friend’s car horn didn’t work, and after checking, it turned out to be a loose wiring connection—just plugging it back in fixed it. Rain or high humidity can easily cause rust damage to the relay or horn unit. In severe cases, the internal coil of the horn may break, requiring a replacement. Driving without a horn is quite dangerous, especially in traffic jams when you can’t alert others. So, if I encounter such an issue, I’ll pull over as soon as possible to check the fuse box or seek help from a repair shop to avoid accidents.
