Hey guys,
First of all, yes I did some research throughout the forums and found nothing that relates to my situation.

Vehicle:
2003 Cavalier LS Sport, AT, ~73k miles

The Problem/Issue:
The horn does not work when pressed from the steering wheel, and YES I did checked the fuses and they are fine. Second the horn DOES WORK when you hit the lock button on the keyless entry twice and when the panic button is pressed.

Analysis:
The horn itself seems to work fine, no hesitation nor bad/dying sound. BUT the main issue is that is does not work when pressed from the steering wheel, which as many of you know it is a safety issue. And I really have no clue what it could be.

I will personally will open the steering wheel column and check it on Monday, but I would like opinions on what to looks for, ideas of the malfunction, and areas of concern

I'm NOT the best at electronics when it comes to the cavalier interior, I've only done myself the DRL mod, installed after market radio and sound system, and changed gauge clusters.

So I would really appreciate if I can get some feedback or pointers when opening the steering column and finding the main problem and what to look for.

Thanks for any valuable responses in advance.




CaviFL45

just an idea, but do you hear the relay click when you press on the wheel?



car audio noob since 1984.

sorry....I forgot to mention that. When the horn is pressed nothing is heard, not clicks, nothing



CaviFL45

maybe you need a new relay...just swap one quickly to test it...if it works go get another relay...

illdwes . wrote:maybe you need a new relay...just swap one quickly to test it...if it works go get another relay...

Where is this relay located?, like I said, when it comes about electronics on the cavalier interior I'm lost.
Is it inside the steering column? or on the fuse panel? detailed responses are greatly apreciated



CaviFL45

by ur foot on drivers side.. look down and its like looking right at u.


http://www.jbodytuner.com
^^ The real jbody store!!!!!

Hmm, my horn didnt work either. Then i punched my steering wheel and it works now

sikcavy wrote:by ur foot on drivers side.. look down and its like looking right at u.

I can't find it, I went this morning to look for it, check all the wiring going to the inside fuse box and found nothing ( I know I'm looking for a light color looking box, which is the horn relay ) but found nothing.
Here's a couple of pics, maybe you can help me look for it. By the way there's a small relay (black) on the first pics, but is not for the horn.

Also if you think about what I said first, the horn DOES WORK, it just that does NOT WORK when pressed from the steering wheel, shouldn't the relay be ok then?
Anyways here are the pics, I did as you told me to check on the driver side by my foot, but nothing found.
I would really appreciate if anyone can point it out for me, like I said before I'm no expert when it comes to cavalier electronics











http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/8342/img1055lb6.jpg

Thanks




CaviFL45

Is your alarm, or keyless entry rather stock or aftermarket? If aftermarket did you install it?

No, everything is factory.



CaviFL45

You'd think the alarm would trigger the relay, in which case it's probably fine. Have you tested horn switch continuity?


2002 Cavalier 2200 5spd

I got a co-workers car that does the exact same thing, I am supposed to diag it sometime.....but havent been able to yet.

If you hear no clcking from the relay, it is a problem at or before the relay.

Probably going to be something wrong with the switch. As the alarm chirp SHOULD go through the relay.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Thursday, January 15, 2009 8:00 AM

Yeah, I changed the relay yesterday and still does not work.... I'm out of ideas
The horn works, but NOT when pressed from the (inside) steering column. Like I said it works because when panic button is pressed horn goes crazy, same a double "lock" click.


Any ideas?





CaviFL45

Carlos, I think you should try checking the horn button and/or it's circuit. My car is a '99, so yours is a little different, but the horn button is part of the steering wheel airbag. Take a look at this eBay item for reference, which is an airbag set for the '03-'05.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/03-04-05-CAVALIER-Air-bag-Airbag-set-K26_W0QQitemZ280302818013QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item280302818013&_trksid=p4506.c 0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

View the larger picture of the item and you can see a small black wire on the lower right. Unfortunately, you can't see the back side of the airbag, but that black wire is the horn button wire. If you take the airbag off, you can then check continuity of the horn button with an ohmmeter. The airbag should be held on by screws from the back side of the steering wheel. Before you remove it, the service manual (at least the one for my '99) warns you to disconnect the battery and remove the air bag fuse to avoid accidental bag deployment. The airbag connector is yellow on the '99 and looks like it's the same on the '03-'05. Unfortunately if the horn button doesn't check out, you have to replace the airbag (at least that's the way it is on the '99). If it's okay, the next thing is the slip ring and contacts in the wheel that the button wire connects to. Good luck. - Mark

The airbag/horn on the 03+ work a little different. The airbag has like 4 metal "pins" that complete a circuit by hitting the steering wheel.
I've had the airbag wire get stuck between one of those pins and then the horn wouldn't work. If that isn't it, your most likely dealing with something screwed up with the clockspring or a wire is broke.
Easiest way to check would be to pull the airbag and look for a broken wire and possibly test continuity between the horn wire on one side of the clockspring and the other side.
If you aren't too comfortable pulling the bag yourself I would definitely recommend taking it to a shop. If you are, a slimmed down instructions would be disable bags by disconnecting battery, let sit for 10 minutes, and then pull bag.
There will be 4 holes on the back of the steering wheel and they house clips that hold the bag in. You have to un-clip those and the bag will be released. I usually use a small screwdriver and a pick tool if I need it. It's kinda hard to explain how to do it but if you look you should be able to figure it out. If you cant see clearly you can pull the 2 torx screws on the back of the wheel and that little cover will come undone and you should be able to get a better view but then the clips aren't as easy to get back in.

-Seth

Hmm... Sounds like it may be a ground at the horn button on your wheel. If your alarm is triggering it like said above the relay should be fine.



FOR SALE

wizkiddrummer wrote:The airbag/horn on the 03+ work a little different. The airbag has like 4 metal "pins" that complete a circuit by hitting the steering wheel.
I've had the airbag wire get stuck between one of those pins and then the horn wouldn't work. If that isn't it, your most likely dealing with something screwed up with the clockspring or a wire is broke.
Easiest way to check would be to pull the airbag and look for a broken wire and possibly test continuity between the horn wire on one side of the clockspring and the other side.
If you aren't too comfortable pulling the bag yourself I would definitely recommend taking it to a shop. If you are, a slimmed down instructions would be disable bags by disconnecting battery, let sit for 10 minutes, and then pull bag.
There will be 4 holes on the back of the steering wheel and they house clips that hold the bag in. You have to un-clip those and the bag will be released. I usually use a small screwdriver and a pick tool if I need it. It's kinda hard to explain how to do it but if you look you should be able to figure it out. If you cant see clearly you can pull the 2 torx screws on the back of the wheel and that little cover will come undone and you should be able to get a better view but then the clips aren't as easy to get back in.

-Seth

Thanks , I will try that on Monday... Ok, I have taken the steering column cover apart, but I can't remove the bottom part since that piece has a hole for the tilt lever and does not allow me to move it around, it is basically hanging from it... any ideas?

Also, regarding the horn top, after disconnecting the battery and letting it sit for 10mins.. Do I just pull the wheel cover? (see pic to see which part I'm talking)


Thanks for the inputs any additional tips are greatly appreciated.





CaviFL45

The tilt lever has to be removed to get the bottom shroud off. It unscrews but it's loctite'd in so you'll most likely screw up the finish when removing it. I just grabbed on to mine with a pliers and twisted until it broke lose.

And the "wheel cover" is the air bag so ya. What may be confusing is that the thing that actually looks airbag-ish in that pic is the passenger airbag. For the drivers, the cover is the airbag is the cover. Make sense?

-Seth