Hi The horn on my 94 jetta diesel isn't working. I have checked the fuse in the fuse panel #13 and it seems to be fine. I have no power at the wires at the steering wheel. Which relay is the horn relay? Is there one or two fuses for the horn? Any ideas??
the wires at the steering wheel are actually most likely negative...horns are usually switched ground, not switched 12V.
Instead you should have power at the + wire at the horn. I'm not that familiar with the Mk3s but the Mk2s have two horns so I assume the Mk3 might be the same...and the likelihood of both failing isn't high.
I'm going to guess at your steering wheel construction and if it's like my Mk2, there's a metal ring embedded at the back of the wheel where it mounts to the column. This in turn should contact a metal tab on the column. if the ring is dirty (mine was kinda oily for some reason) or the metal tab on the column is dirty (I had mostly a big "dust bunny" built up on it, the contact won't be good and no horn.
Stick a flat screwdriver between the wheel and column and slide the screwdriver around the circle where the wheel meets the column. On mine the metal tab on the column is at about 10-o'clock IIRC. If you do this while holding the horn button (ignition probably has to be on too) and the horn sounds at some point, there's your problem. Remove the steering wheel and clean up the metal tab and the ring on the wheel (again, I'm assuming it's constructed like my Mk2, which I suspect is yes b/c I've seen non-airbag Mk3s in Canada with the same steering wheel as my Mk2). Might even take a little sandpaper to the ring and tab and bend the tab out a little so it makes good firm contact w/the ring when the wheel is reinstalled.
Hi
This is exactly what the problem was. It is now fixed and working great.
Thank you very much!!
Cheryl
Awesome! glad it worked. yeah over the life of my Mk2 the horns have acted up twice like this (due to dirty contacts between the wheel and column). Sometimes it's not so bad if it gives warning (sounds weak or intermittent) but I remember one time a Subaru was drifting into my lane and the driver clueless to my presence, I slammed on the horn...and...silence...that's not fun :).
Glad the fix was simple though.
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