Hello all.

Just joined with the hope that someone can help out. I have a 2004 Mazda Rx-8, no aftermarket parts. Basically, my horn works intermittently if at all. Below is what happened. I am not a learned mechanic and am far less familiar with the car than I would like, so if you could keep answers simple as a lay man would understand, I would really appreciate it:

1) Jumped my dead battery. Emergency alarm system went off (car was running) and couldn't be deactivated by my key fob. Only thing that helped was leaving it alone for about 15 minutes and NOT touching the doors. Then it would stop unless I opened the door again. I am not sure if this had anything to do with it, but after it continued its alarm fit for about an hour, I held in my emergency indicators button (has red triangular emblem) for about 10 seconds and the whole shebang stopped. This happened whether or not the car was running.

2) After that, my horn wouldn't work.

3) Brought it to the shop and they said I had a blown fuse. They replaced the fuse and the horn was working, but I got home and noticed only the "low" horn was working. Couldn't hear the "high" horn. In addition, the horn was only working only sometimes. Sequence (car was not running):

• Unlocked/locked the car via key fob, horn worked.
• Unlocked/locked the car again, horn didn't work.
• Go inside cabin, honk steering horn, horn didn't work.
• Hold down steering wheel horn, horn worked after a 5 second delay.
• Honk again, horn didn't work.
• Go outside, lock my car, horn didn't work.

So if anyone can help with this really odd issue I would really appreciate it!!! I need to explain to the mechanics that replacing the fuse just scratched the surface. Or whatever it is. I will leave it to your expertise

Best Regards,

Katrina

 

lmao, i've never honked the horn in mine, but i do have the wiring diagram right in front of me.

the horn circuit is simple, the switch in the steering wheel or alarm triggers a relay which powers both horns.

if its only one horn that isn't working, it might be that horn, or the wire to that horn. if both aren't working and the fuse is good, then its either the relay or one of the switches.

since the horn works without the key, you could probably borrow another relay from something else to see if that changes/fixes anything. just make sure that the relays have the same number on them (there are two kinds of relays, normally open and normally closed. the horn is normally open, if you put a normally closed relay in there the horn circuit would be closed and the horns should just be on)

 

Text time the alarm triggers, you can shut it off by inserting the physical key into the ignition and turning the switch.

(Unless it's totally messed up) (And jumping a dead battery can really mess things up)

 

My vote (based on electronics experience and not car experience) is for the relay. A failing relay pretty much does what you are talking about. It's not too dissimilar to the problem that we have with the speakers in the doors cutting in and out.