Very odd horn problem
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4wd Low
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: Northeast PA
Very odd horn problem
So at 05:30, the horn on my 2001 Excursion Limited starts sounding continuously - one long tone. I go out and unlock the doors with the key fob, and when I turn the key, the horn stops. I close the door, lock the truck and as I'm walking away it begins sounding again. Not wanting to be bothered with it further at the time, I disconnect the battery and go back to bed.
I reconnected the battery later, and had no problems for about a week. Then it happened again. Had to disconnect the battery again.
Couple of weeks later, I'm driving at about 20mph, and the horn begins sounding again, like someone's laying on the horn button. I stop the truck and open the door, and the horn STOPS when the door is open. Fine, I close the door and continue. When I get up to 15-20mph, the horn starts AGAIN. Stop the truck, open the door and it stops. Ok, so I leave the door cracked open and start moving again. Horn starts again around 15-20mph and doesn't stop until I pull the fuse.
Any ideas about what to look for?
I reconnected the battery later, and had no problems for about a week. Then it happened again. Had to disconnect the battery again.
Couple of weeks later, I'm driving at about 20mph, and the horn begins sounding again, like someone's laying on the horn button. I stop the truck and open the door, and the horn STOPS when the door is open. Fine, I close the door and continue. When I get up to 15-20mph, the horn starts AGAIN. Stop the truck, open the door and it stops. Ok, so I leave the door cracked open and start moving again. Horn starts again around 15-20mph and doesn't stop until I pull the fuse.
Any ideas about what to look for?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 835
Likes: 126
From: CSRA, SC
I can't find the page of the electrical schematic for the horn system but if it goes through the GEM I'm thinking you have water in it. OR possibly there is something in the slip ring for the horn causing it to short the horn button.
Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: Northeast PA
Does the Excursion have a slip ring, or a clock spring? I would consider the clock spring to be a possibility if the horn sounding wasn't dependent on the door being open and / or vehicle speed.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 835
Likes: 126
From: CSRA, SC
Obviously I don't know what your root cause is, but I'm pretty confident the problem isn't actually related to the door or the speed even though I believe you that it really seems like it. I'm an electrical systems engineer in the off highway equipment industry so I'm pretty familiar with automotive and adjacent electrical systems even though I still can't find the page of the schematic I wasnted I can tell you there is no interaction between vehicle speed or doors and the horn itself.
The schematic I did find at least had the horn switch and called out "horn slip ring" specifically.
The schematic I did find at least had the horn switch and called out "horn slip ring" specifically.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,106
Likes: 540
From: Rock Hill, SC
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: CSRA, SC
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2017
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From: Rock Hill, SC
Other tings to check are,
Chafing in the gear shift stalk where it enters the steering column (pivot point)
Potential cracked/fatigued clock spring
And from my own experience after replacing my steering wheel airbag, were the pressure/forces needed to activate the horn switch. My original airbag had an extremely light touch to activate the horn, my new OE airbag module requires much more pressure/force to activate the horn.
Chafing in the gear shift stalk where it enters the steering column (pivot point)
Potential cracked/fatigued clock spring
And from my own experience after replacing my steering wheel airbag, were the pressure/forces needed to activate the horn switch. My original airbag had an extremely light touch to activate the horn, my new OE airbag module requires much more pressure/force to activate the horn.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,106
Likes: 540
From: Rock Hill, SC
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-location.html
The best referenced thread...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ater-leak.html
The best referenced thread...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ater-leak.html
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Ontario, Canada
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