help please- horn not working
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New User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2
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From: California
help please- horn not working
94 f150, 170,000 mi. got the truck about 4 months ago, with no working cruise control.
Today i wanted to honk the horn, but it wouldnt honk.
Checked the fuses with a circuit tester, seems okay, dont hear anything from the relay, checked with spare relay, no noise from relay or horn
i've been seaching and found a bunch of clock spring posts, and when i turn the steering wheel, i hear something rattling inside. could that be the problem? if not what other things should i check?
if it is, will the removal of the steering wheel with air bag be a problem?
what tools would i need?
any help would be greatly appreciated.
Today i wanted to honk the horn, but it wouldnt honk.
Checked the fuses with a circuit tester, seems okay, dont hear anything from the relay, checked with spare relay, no noise from relay or horn
i've been seaching and found a bunch of clock spring posts, and when i turn the steering wheel, i hear something rattling inside. could that be the problem? if not what other things should i check?
if it is, will the removal of the steering wheel with air bag be a problem?
what tools would i need?
any help would be greatly appreciated.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 243
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From: Calgary
Sounds like you've identified your problem. I'm not familiar with the air-bag steering wheel, but somebody will tell you how to go about it. Chances are you'll be able to fix your cruise-control at the same time.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 641
Likes: 1
From: Louisiana
I would invest in a Haynes or Chilton manual before removing steering wheel. I had to change the horn button on my Mustang which required removal of the wheel. If I remember, disconnect the battery first. When you remove the wheel, you have to short the SRS plug to prevent it from firing. Also, don't lay the wheel face down. If it does accidentally fire, it will become airborne. Just be careful with this thing. 
Last edited by LoosMaster; Apr 7, 2004 at 01:46 PM. Reason: lack of wording
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 641
Likes: 1
From: Louisiana
Tools - Other than general, you'll need a "duck foot" type puller. If you're going to buy one get the large kit, works in alot of places. The one just for the steering wheel is just for that. Also, a large wrench or crescent for the shaft nut, if you have sockets that large would be better. Hold the steering wheel while turning the nut c/c, don't use the steering lock, you can possibly snap the pin if the nut is too tight. Mark the shaft and wheel so you can put in on the same way.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 641
Likes: 1
From: Louisiana
Don't have my truck manual handy but Stang manual says to disconnect neg side of battery and wait 15 minutes, if disconnecting Positve, ground it and wait 1 minute. The airbag has a secondary power supply(capacitor) to fire the bag if battery is damaged in accident. Disengage the driver air bag module connector and attach a jumper wire to the air bag terminals on the clockspring(wiring harness). If you have a passenger side air bag, you'll need to disarm it also. The Stangs plug is behind the glove compartment. Again, I would recommend you buy a manual for your year truck.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Memphis USA
I had intermittent horn operation and simply cleaned the switches. Mine was a '96 air bag E250 - I'm not sure whether yours is like mine: air bag in the middle, two buttons "under your thumbs".
Once the air bag cover comes off you will find an electrical connectior for the air bag assembly. All the literature has lots of warnings about not pointing it at yourself. (It's hard to imagine one firing out-of-circuit, but some are equipped with a capacitor which, when charged, sotres enough energy to make it go bang. I'd guess the chance of a firing is greater if you hook it up to a hot system. Disconnect the battery!) Four bolts through the back of the steering wheel attach the air bag.
You should be able to borrow a steering wheel puller from AutoZone. The switches are pretty simple and shouldn't cost much. Left and right sides are different.. Mine were simply dirty and a bit of contact cleaner worked.
PITA to get to the switches without removing the wheel.
Once the air bag cover comes off you will find an electrical connectior for the air bag assembly. All the literature has lots of warnings about not pointing it at yourself. (It's hard to imagine one firing out-of-circuit, but some are equipped with a capacitor which, when charged, sotres enough energy to make it go bang. I'd guess the chance of a firing is greater if you hook it up to a hot system. Disconnect the battery!) Four bolts through the back of the steering wheel attach the air bag.
You should be able to borrow a steering wheel puller from AutoZone. The switches are pretty simple and shouldn't cost much. Left and right sides are different.. Mine were simply dirty and a bit of contact cleaner worked.
PITA to get to the switches without removing the wheel.
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 57
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From: Columbia
Same horn and cruise control problem.
I have the same problem with my 94 F150 no horn no cruise control and the airbag dash light will light three times then wait and light three times. Let me know how you solve the whole problem.
Question, how do I ground the + battery cable?
ScottSC
Question, how do I ground the + battery cable?
ScottSC
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 641
Likes: 1
From: Louisiana
To ground the Positive cable, just attach it to the frame somewhere it has clean metal, i.e. no paint. This is after you have disconnected it from the battery. 
Last edited by LoosMaster; Apr 7, 2004 at 07:27 PM. Reason: Possible misinterpetation
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 641
Likes: 1
From: Louisiana
I had the same problem on the Stang's air bag, found out it was one of the triggers behind the bumper, Ford wanted $175 for it. I disabled the dang thing. They told me that a bad trigger could cause the bag to fire inadvertently.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 57
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From: Columbia
No horn no cruise control
I have been monitoring this thread. I have not heard any rattling as I turn the wheel and have also checked the fuses.
How do I test the horn by connecting to the battery?
scottsc
How do I test the horn by connecting to the battery?
scottsc
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 641
Likes: 1
From: Louisiana
How do I test the horn by connecting to the battery?
scottsc
Unplug the connector to the horn, put a wire from terminal to Pos battery post. If it works, she'll blow.
if the trigger is disconnected is the air bag out of commission?
ScottSC
From what the Ford tech told me, yes. But I never bothered to look at the schematics to be sure.
scottsc
Unplug the connector to the horn, put a wire from terminal to Pos battery post. If it works, she'll blow.
if the trigger is disconnected is the air bag out of commission?
ScottSC
From what the Ford tech told me, yes. But I never bothered to look at the schematics to be sure.
Last edited by LoosMaster; Apr 10, 2004 at 12:02 PM. Reason: added info
New User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10
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From: Greenville, NC
howdy
Howdy folks, I noticed a few of you are having similar problems... I too had this problem a while back. First thing to go bad in my truck was the cruise control... then about a month or two later the horn stopped working. Turned out to be the clockspring. I think I paid like 165$ or so.. cant recall for sure.. had to go to the Dealership though... grrrr
I was just wondering, are any of you getting the 3 - 2 flash from the airbag light on the dash? If so I would say it is definately clockspring.... steve83 taught me good on that one! thanks steve!
The job was pretty simple once i got the right steering wheel puller
I think the hardest part out of all of it was getting the plastic parts all back on the right way... then again im like a bull in a china shop when working on anything.
I was just wondering, are any of you getting the 3 - 2 flash from the airbag light on the dash? If so I would say it is definately clockspring.... steve83 taught me good on that one!
thanks steve!The job was pretty simple once i got the right steering wheel puller
I think the hardest part out of all of it was getting the plastic parts all back on the right way... then again im like a bull in a china shop when working on anything.