Horn only working when moving

[RodrickHeffley]

I have discovered that my horn only works when I am in drive and moving forwards, not when parked or reverse or anything.

Any ideas on what it could be?

The fuse is okay, and I swapped in another to be sure, the clockspring appears to be working as cruise works, maybe a bad ground? I can't hear the relay click when I hit the horn while parked.

 

[brillo_76]

Bad horn contacts. Maybe just warm enough when you're moving to heat it up. As I can't see any reason for the horn not to work all the time as they do. Clock spring probably toast from someone grabbing the steering wheel to get in.

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[RodrickHeffley]

Bad horn contacts. Maybe just warm enough when you're moving to heat it up. As I can't see any reason for the horn not to work all the time as they do. Clock spring probably toast from someone grabbing the steering wheel to get in.

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The airbag does feel slightly loose, so it might be that as well, I didn't think it'd be the contacts

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Clock spring probably toast from someone grabbing the steering wheel to get in.

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Didn't know this could kill a clock spring, interesting. I normally grab the oh crap handle to get in, I'll be a little more cognisant about that in the future.

 

[RodrickHeffley]

I've discovered my cruise control isn't working now, does that change anything or is it still the clockspring?


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[Rushthezeppelin]

I've discovered my cruise control isn't working now, does that change anything or is it still the clockspring?


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Have you checked that your brake pedal is properly adjusted and contacting the cruise switch? I had that problem with my clutch when I first got my truck.

 

[brillo_76]

Could even be a warn out switch that needs replaced.

If manual could be a bad switch on the clutch padel

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[RodrickHeffley]

Have you checked that your brake pedal is properly adjusted and contacting the cruise switch? I had that problem with my clutch when I first got my truck.

I haven't, but I figured that seeing as the horn has stopped working and the cruise has also when before they both worked fine that they're both related issues.


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[Rushthezeppelin]

I haven't, but I figured that seeing as the horn has stopped working and the cruise has also when before they both worked fine that they're both related issues.


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Does the cruise light come on or not? The cruise light will still come on if its your brake switch. It won't if it's the clock spring I would presume.

 

[RodrickHeffley]

Does the cruise light come on or not? The cruise light will still come on if its your brake switch. It won't if it's the clock spring I would presume.

no, it doesn't


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[ArthurKotb]

It could be contacts (I doubt it, though), the clock spring (my guess it that since the cruise control is not working, this may be it) or a bad ground (unlikely since you report that it is working and not intermittent).

I have a '99 Sienna that I removed the air bag, steering wheel, contacts and clock spring on, then squirted WD-40 down the shaft to remove rust on a steering shaft bearing. It wasn't making a good ground. Horn works fine now, no other problem with it. It might be of some help to you to watch my video on taking things apart. If it is the clock spring you might have some luck at a junkyard. It's an expensive part. Maybe the process is the same for your 4Runner's steering wheel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8g87FX1VBM

 

[RodrickHeffley]

It could be contacts (I doubt it, though), the clock spring (my guess it that since the cruise control is not working, this may be it) or a bad ground (unlikely since you report that it is working and not intermittent).

I have a '99 Sienna that I removed the air bag, steering wheel, contacts and clock spring on, then squirted WD-40 down the shaft to remove rust on a steering shaft bearing. It wasn't making a good ground. Horn works fine now, no other problem with it. It might be of some help to you to watch my video on taking things apart. If it is the clock spring you might have some luck at a junkyard. It's an expensive part. Maybe the process is the same for your 4Runner's steering wheel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8g87FX1VBM

interesting, I think you might be right, yesterday I took a lap around my town to see if anything had changed, the cruise/horn this time were working intermittently, I'll have to find a diagram somewhere that shows where it grounds.


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[RodrickHeffley]

I did some more digging and found this thread: Cruise Control Mystery Malfunction ON/OFF "sometimes" | Toyota 4Runner Forum [4Runners.com]

I suspect that if the clockspring is/was bad that the airbag malfunction light would turn on, which it hasn't.

However, another thread said the horn directly grounds to the body, if that's the bearing or another wire I'm not sure yet, I'll have to do more digging.


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[Bad Luck]

I did some more digging and found this thread: Cruise Control Mystery Malfunction ON/OFF "sometimes" | Toyota 4Runner Forum [4Runners.com]

I suspect that if the clockspring is/was bad that the airbag malfunction light would turn on, which it hasn't.

However, another thread said the horn directly grounds to the body, if that's the bearing or another wire I'm not sure yet, I'll have to do more digging.


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The clock spring contains several different circuits so it’s likely that the horn and cruise control circuits in the clock spring are worn and not making good contact. My vote is on the clock spring. Even more likely to be the clock spring if your airbag went off during your accident.

Edit: the horn grounds to the body where it bolts to the body.

 

[RodrickHeffley]

The clock spring contains several different circuits so it’s likely that the horn and cruise control circuits in the clock spring are worn and not making good contact. My vote is on the clock spring. Even more likely to be the clock spring if your airbag went off during your accident.

Edit: the horn grounds to the body where it bolts to the body.

I did replace the clock spring after the accident, so I'm not sure if that'd be the cause, however I think I'll just order one once I find one.

I do know the horns ground to the body, but I was thinking maybe the problem was grounding the clockspring

If it's not the clockspring, I can at least sell it to my friend who ironically has a really similar problem to me.


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[RodrickHeffley]

I'll update this thread once I've gotten a new clockspring

Edit: for those looking for a new one also, you can find them (for the 96/97 two spoke) in the following:

TOYOTA 4RUNNER 1996-1997
TOYOTA AVALON 1998-1999
TOYOTA CAMRY 1997-1999
TOYOTA RAV4 1997
TOYOTA SIENNA 1998


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[RodrickHeffley]

this morning I went to a local junkyard and grabbed a clockspring out of a 1998 Camry, fit right in, same plugs and everything, and everything also appears to be working

Thanks for helping guys, I wouldn't have guessed it'd be that

 

[ArthurKotb]

The horns themselves ground to the chassis. I ran across someone who thought they had a clock spring problem too, but it turned out the actual horn had the problem. I had both of the horns go out at the same time on my old 1991 Camry. I had to throw parts at it because that was before the Internet was born. Finally tested each horn and just got clicks. I went to the J.C. Whitney site and found some cheap ones that were still working when I donated the car to Goodwill in 2020...still running.

The horn button in the steering wheel completes the ground circuit when you press it. Down the steering shaft there is a bearing that can get rusted and make a poor ground. In my case I found a text write-up on it after days of searching. I took the steering wheel, contacts and clock spring off and sprayed the WD-40 into it and that was all it needed. Rusty WD-40 ran down the shaft and (luckily) onto a rag I had on the floor. Reassembled everything and there's not been a problem since then.

When you said the cruise control stopped working then I strongly suspected the clock spring. It's a ribbon cable and when that goes bad it's usually not just one thing but multiple things breaking.

Glad you're up and running again. :lookout:

 

[RodrickHeffley]

My mother recently moved away. Since I live in Spain with my family, I could not help her. We were very worried about this, because my mother is an elderly woman. Then a friend advised me to contact "Born to Move Moving Company". These guys are real professionals in their business. They took great care of my mom and her belongings. Everything was neatly delivered and unpacked on time.

you know what i advise? get the hell out of here!


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