Hair Trigger Horn...

[jtucker]

My '99 horn has developed a hair trigger. If I lightly brush the center pad it will sound. It seems to be getting worse. Yesterday I went over some rough concrete and it went off. Any ideas? Is it easy to remove the airbag to access the korn contacts?

Thanks in advance,

J. Tucker

Do a search, you can fix it with some new rubber washers or something like that.

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

I bet you have the 4-spoke Steering Wheel right? Well, if so, the problem lies in the Steering Wheel. It's the Rubber Bushings on the Airbag/Horn Pad Retaining Frame - PN# 993.347.088.01 . This 4-Spoke Wheel is taken directly from the 993 and the problem is well known.

This Airbag/Horn Pad Retaining Frame functions to hold the Airbag/Horn Pad and keep it suspended above the Horn circuit electrical contacts. You push the Horn Pad against these bushings, which give, and the Airbag/Horn Pad will move toward the contacts, complete the circuit and sound the Horn.

What happens when the Bushings tear is that the Airbag/Horn Pad can no longer stand away from the contacts. When you apply the breaks, the inertia causes the Airbag/Horn Pad to move forward, complete the circuit and sound the Horn all on it's own.

Replacement is a pretty simple procedure and the Retaining Frame sells for under $50, last I heard, it was $39 from Sunset. You will need a T-30 Torx Bit to remove the Airbag/Horn Pad (that's the fastener in the 2 holes on the backside of the Steering Wheel), (be sure to disconnect the Battery and wait 5 min. to deactivate the Airbag System) pull the Airbag electrical connector. Other than that, it's just removing 2 bolts and the Retaining Frame comes free.

There is also an R&R that requires replacing the bushings w/ Rubber Washers. The difficulty may lie in finding the correct sized washers. For the difference, I'd go with a Frame replacement. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[986 Girl]

I had this happen about a week after purchasing mine. Went to an autocross and everytime I'd slam on my brakes, the horn would pulse. Some people advised me, wrongly, that it must be some "crazy German warning system." I called the place I got it from, and since it was within a month, they fixed it for free for me.

[RandallNeighbour]

How funny! This same issue cropped up with my 97 boxster one week after purchase. Cost me $220 at the dealership to fix it because I was so embarrassed about braking and honking at the same time, making everyone think I was upset they were stopped in front of me.

Had I learned it was as easy as buying the part wholesale at Sunset and taking off two screws, or just hacking it by using an old hose and making my own grommets, I could have saved a bunch of cash that day.

Worst part of it is that I upgraded to the 3 spoke shortly thereafter.

[kabel]

Common issue with the four spoke wheel. A good old thread on a DIY fix if your up to the task:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=1728&hl=

I fixed my hair trigger, now I keep blowing the fuse so I must have a bad relay or somthing.