Horn constantly sounding after leaving window cracked open in the rain

[jtre]

1997 mountaineer. so i accidentally left my driver window slightly cracked open, and the driver's side got pretty wet. Been drying overnight with a fan running (my fan only runs for 4 hours, so i am doing a second round with the fan now). when i got home yesterday i noticed the horn honked constantly on it's own, like one long blast, so i disconnected the battery after moving it to my garage to let it dry. This morning i tried to reconnect the battery and same issue. I assume since the steering wheel was wet that the horn switch is shorted due to moisture. Currently, i have the horn relay pulled (the horn fuse is also connected to the PCM in this truck so i didn't want to pull that) will leaving the relay out prevent the horn from sounding until i can work on it? Have to take my car to college this weekend.

 

[lobo411]

Why not just disconnect the horn? It's located under the battery compartment, and it has a detachable connector.

 

[boominXplorer]

Pop the 2 plugs out the side of the steering wheel and take the 2 8mm screws out to remove the airbag. It bolts to the horn switches. Inspect, clean and reassemble.

 

[koda2000]

Honestly, I don't see why things getting a little wet would cause this. It may just be a coincidence.

 

[boominXplorer]

Honestly, I don't see why things getting a little wet would cause this. It may just be a coincidence.

The leather on the wheel can swell up and make the air bag twist enough to set the horn switch. Same thing happens if you just tighten the airbag down while pushing on it too much. Technically this problem could be fixed by loosening and tightening the 8mm bolts.

 

[jtre]

The leather on the wheel can swell up and make the air bag twist enough to set the horn switch. Same thing happens if you just tighten the airbag down while pushing on it too much. Technically this problem could be fixed by loosening and tightening the 8mm bolts.

possible, but before it started honking randomly, as if someone were pressing the horn button randomly, then it started constantly, the dealer said the CS was wet

 

[jtre]

another issue now. the headlights flash as if the car alarm was going off (no sound because the horn relay is out) when the car is locked. Can i just pull out the anti theft fuse (#24, 10A i think) or would that disable the car?

 

[boominXplorer]

Sure you don't have an aftermarket alarm install that you don't know about? Like one a previous owner installed.

 

[jtre]

Sure you don't have an aftermarket alarm install that you don't know about? Like one a previous owner installed.

unlikely i think, because when the alarm goes off it is the same as the horn. plus they never mentioned anything and they were pretty good with giving me the maintence recipts

 

[jtre]

i remembered something...my hood had been slightly open (as in able to open it without pulling the latch under the dash, forgot to close it all the way. would that potentially cause the issue? Not sure if this truck has a hood sensor when the car is locked, never tried it since obviously I need to unlock the car to get at the hood latch to open it.

 

[boominXplorer]

They actually had a hood sensor till 98 I believe in the limited models and Mountaineers

 

[koda2000]

They actually had a hood sensor till 98 I believe in the limited models and Mountaineers

Yeah, my '97 has one. Just a button switch really. Kind of a PITA really and easily removed/bypassed or adjusted if necessary.