While driving on the road on a 4×4 vehicle, “You need the horn to work.” Bee it a Jeep Wrangler or any other vehicle; if the horn doesn’t honk at all, you might get into some serious trouble. It’s not only risky for the driver, but it can be dangerous for the passengers and other commuters too.
So, when you find your horn to be not working properly or not working at all, you really should take caution. There might be several reasons for the horn to be dysfunctional. Have no worries, in this article; we’ll be covering it all. Not only that, we’ll discuss the solutions as well.
So, if your Jeep Wrangler horn isn’t working well, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to find out all there is to know.
Contents
Horn Location
Before getting into the Causes and the solutions to the problem, you might find it useful to know where the horn is actually located.
The actual sound device (Horn) is located under the front right side. Yes, I’m talking about the front bumper. Still confused? Just stand in front of your Jeep. Then, just reach out to the cut-out on the leftmost side beneath the plastic bumper. There you’ll find the dual horns.
Now that you know where it’s located, it should be rather easy for you to repair or replace it.
Testing Things Out
Hold your horses! Jumping straight in right away to the cause and remedy portion might not be as smart of an idea as you may think. You might find it useful to go about a few tests beforehand to know if your Jeep Wrangler horn is okay or not.
Step 1
The first thing you want to do is, honk the hood open. Now listen carefully. If the sound of the horn is still there, but it’s definitely lower than usual, then you can be certain that the tubes are damaged, and a few of them might be still working.
Note that these amplify the sound and need to be taken care of.
Step 2
We’ve talked about the horn location before, but still, it may vary from model to model. It can be positioned near the Jeep Wrangler’s radiator, which is positioned in the front. Yes, it’s just behind the grille. It’s basically the part that allows air intake, which cools the parts and protects them at the same time.
The Causes of The Jeep Wrangler Horn Not Working with Solution
Now, in this portion, we’ll be talking about the causes and how to identify them and fix them. We’ll be covering quite a few of them. So, it’s important for you to read them all attentively for complete knowhow of the issues that you might be facing.
Fuse Issue
Just so you know, the horn on the Jeep Wrangler is electrically powered. So yes, there’s bound to be a fuse there, right? In cases of a faulty fuse or if the circuit is interrupted, the horn just won’t work.
Identification
- Check the Wrangler’s manual to pinpoint the exact location of the fuse.
- Check the fuse by pulling it out of the fuse box by using a fuse puller or needle.
- Hold it against the light for a clear view.
- Look at the metal strip. If it’s broken from the middle, be sure that the fuse has blown.
How to Fix
Replace the fuse with one of the same amperage. The color should match in this case as well. Know that the direction of insertion doesn’t really matter here. All you need to be sure of is the amp rating.
Broken Horn
Apart from the fuse issue, the horn itself could be broken or damaged. Horns don’t usually break down and commonly last for decades in common cases. However, it still isn’t out of the sphere of possibility.
Identification
- If the horn is working, but the sound is off, you can be sure that the horn is broken.
- It can also mean that the horn is damaged or worn out.
- Check the issue with a test light.
- Check the voltage with a connector as well.
How to Fix
Well, this problem is best fixed with a completely new replacement. It’ll save you from the time and hassle of actually fixing it.
Bad Relay
To switch electrical loads off and to turn them on again, relays are the only options. Relays are generally electromagnetic switches. A bad relay can result in the failure of your Jeep Wrangler’s horn.
Identification
- First of all, you need to locate where the relay is. Each Wrangler model can have its own distinct location. Check the manual to get a clear idea.
- Disconnect the vehicle’s battery before you decide to replace the relay.
- Checking if there is a similar relay in the box is a good idea.
- The AC relay can be used to check the horn relay.
- This will give you a clear idea of whether the electromagnetic switch is the issue here.
How to Fix
The solution to this problem is to replace the relay. Know this that the relays may be plugged in, but they still can be proven to be rather tight. Try not to damage any other parts while trying to remove the relay. Remember to reconnect the battery after replacing the relay. And that’s about it.
A Damaged Clockspring
You might be asking yourself at this point, “What is a Clockspring?” Well, it’s a spiral cable or a spiral wound, which is a special rotary connector in the Jeep Wrangler. This allows the steering wheel to turn, and at the same time, it creates the connection between the Jeep’s electrical devices.
The horn button included.
Identification
- The obvious thing you want to do first is to locate the clockspring.
- Generally, you’ll find it between the steering column and the steering wheel.
- Keep note that the clockspring contains a number of delicate wires that can get damaged if roughly handled during servicing especially if the vehicle has run too many miles.
- Here’s a bit of advice, if the clockspring is found damaged, then you’ll want to look for other malfunctions. If you’re lucky, it’ll be just the horn wire and nothing else.
How to Fix
It’s not really a practical idea to try and fix a clockspring. These are rather inexpensive and can easily be replaced.
Bad Connector Issue
You already know that the horn of the Jeep Wrangler sits at the front side of the Jeep Wrangler. Small particle build-up and grime is pretty common in this case. So, connector corrosion is a very common scenario for Jeep Wrangler owners.
Identification
- First, you need to be certain that there’s a corrosion issue. If not, then you’ll need to go through the following steps.
- Perform a voltage test using a multimeter. You can also use a test light if needed.
- You’ll need to turn on the multimeter and then insert the probes inside the connector.
- Make sure that the metal parts of the probes don’t touch each other. It might actually cause the fuse to blow up or cause a shortout.
- After inserting the porbes inside, ask someone to blow the horn of the Wrangler. If the multimeter doesn’t read 12+ volts, there’s a problem.
- 0 volts indicate a connectivity issue/ failure in the horn system. It could be a bad connector, a broken wire, or many other things.
- If there are bite marks then it’s obvious that there’s a rodent problem. They can let off the steam of your Wrangler in the engine compartment.
- It’s a good idea to carefully observe cables and hoses for this kind of damage.
How to Fix
It’s not always necessary to go for a replacement in the bad connector issue. You can choose to clean it up using WD-40. It should work just fine. But still, it’s best to go for other measures if the damage is severe.
Non-Functional Horn Button Switch
This one is also a common occurrence and can cause the horn to not work. Depending on how many times and for how long the button has been used, the button switch can wear out and cease to function. Replacing it is the best way to go about this problem as well.
Concluding Words
Well, as you have read, there might be quite a lot of reasons behind a Jeep Wrangler horn not working. Yes, fixing it is necessary, but you’ll also have to be aware of the problem’s nature and exactly how you can attempt to identify it. And I believe I’ve covered it all.
So, without further ado, let’s close this one up. Hope you enjoyed the read.