Car horn malfunctioning?

AL - MICHELLE

MEMBER
2012 FORD ESCAPE
2.5L
2WD
AUTOMATIC
35 MILES

Hi, about 4 months ago, my car horn stopped working. I've had this Ford for 4 years now and it's the first time this problem ever happened to me. I went to see a mechanic and he checked the fuse and the relay and if I remember correctly, everything seemed to be fine. To give you an idea, I hear a click when I press on the car horn button but there is no sound coming out. I went to see another mechanic. He changed the car horn I originally had but after two months, the horn stopped working. I went to see him again and he seemed to say the issue was the connection of the horn to the car. He connected the wire back to the car and sent me home but two weeks later, it stopped working again! I really don't understand what to do nor why this is happening. Do I need a new horn? Does the connection need to be reinforced?

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025 AT 8:50 AM

1 Reply

BORIS K

MECHANIC
835 POSTS

Hello,

Car horn operation.
The Smart Junction Box (SJB) or GEM module supplies the control voltage to the horn relay, integrated into the SJB (Smart Junction Box) via fuse F24(20A). When the horn switch (part of the steering wheel) is pressed, ground is supplied to the horn relay, sending voltage to the horn, enabling the horn to sound. See diagram below.

The SJB is located under the center console, see image 2+3 below

The clicking sound you hear should be the horn relay, integral to the SJB, not separately replaceable. If the relay is heard clicking that would indicate that the clock spring switched ground is working as it should

Suggest to check that fuse F24 is intact, also check the yellow/red wire outputs 12V when the horn button is pressed, and the relay can be heard clicking.

if 12V is present at pin 5 of the SJB next check that the yellow/red wire is intact to the horn.

How to test wiring:
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Hope this helps.

Cheers, Boris

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