Horn problems

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E-carp

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Ram Year
2001 2500
Engine
V10 Magnum
Hey guys!

Just bought my 01 2500 V10 a few weeks ago. Having some issues with the horn.

It beeps when I lock the truck, but notwith the horn button.

I wired in another button to one of the horns to make it pass NC inspection, but I'd like it to work from the wheel.

Bought a new air bag with horn from the junk yard today, but that didn't fix it.

Any ideas?

Thanks and happy new year!
 

Okiespaniel

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magnum, 5.9
I wonder if the clockspring is junk...or the CTM (central timer unit) or a horn relay. Sounds like you'd have the CTM.


If you go to the DIY section of the 2nd gen forum and download or open up the factory service manual, the horn has its own section... 8h.
 
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E-carp

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2001 2500
Engine
V10 Magnum
Okiespaniel said:
I wonder if the clockspring is junk...or the CTM (central timer unit) or a horn relay. Sounds like you'd have the CTM.

If you go to the DIY section of the 2nd gen forum and download or open up the factory service manual, the horn has its own section... 8h.

Thanks for the response! I can't seem to find the manual you're speaking of.. I must be missing something. Do you have a link?

Thank you!
 

idahododgeguy

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do the horn relay's on these pickups tend to go bad a lot? my horn isn't working either and I'm thinking of just throwing one of those on and seeing if that fixes it
 

idahododgeguy

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I haven't tried anything yet, but i've read that the horns go bad pretty often so i think i will try some testing on the wires and see what i get.
 
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Okiespaniel

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DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - HORN RELAY
The horn relay (Fig. 2) is located in the Power Distribution
Center (PDC) behind the battery on the
driver side of the engine compartment. If a problem
is encountered with a continuously sounding horn, it
can usually be quickly resolved by removing the horn
relay from the PDC until further diagnosis is completed.
See the fuse and relay layout label affixed to
the inside surface of the PDC cover for horn relay
identification and location. For complete circuit diagrams,
refer to the appropriate wiring information.
The wiring information includes wiring diagrams,
proper wire and connector repair procedures, details
of wire harness routing and retention, connector pinout
information and location views for the various
wire harness connectors, splices and grounds.
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS,
REFER TO ELECTRICAL, RESTRAINTS
BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL,
STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL
COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. FAILURE
TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD
RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT
AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
(1) Remove the horn relay from the PDC. (Refer to
8 - ELECTRICAL/HORN/HORN RELAY -
REMOVAL) for the procedures.
(2) A relay in the de-energized position should
have continuity between terminals 87A and 30, and
no continuity between terminals 87 and 30. If OK, go
to Step 3. If not OK, replace the faulty relay.
(3) Resistance between terminals 85 and 86 (electromagnet)
should be 75 6 5 ohms. If OK, go to Step
4. If not OK, replace the faulty relay.
(4) Connect a battery to terminals 85 and 86.
There should now be continuity between terminals
30 and 87, and no continuity between terminals 87A
and 30. If OK, perform the Relay Circuit Test that
follows. If not OK, replace the faulty relay.
RELAY CIRCUIT TEST
(1) The relay common feed terminal cavity (30) is
connected to battery voltage and should be hot at all
times. If OK, go to Step 2. If not OK, repair the open
circuit to the fuse in the PDC as required.
(2) The relay normally closed terminal (87A) is
connected to terminal 30 in the de-energized position,
but is not used for this application. Go to Step 3.
(3) The relay normally open terminal (87) is connected
to the common feed terminal (30) in the energized
position. This terminal supplies battery voltage
to the horn(s). There should be continuity between
the cavity for relay terminal 87 and the horn relay
output circuit cavity of each horn wire harness connector
at all times. If OK, go to Step 4. If not OK,
repair the open circuit to the horn(s) as required.
(4) The coil battery terminal (86) is connected to
the electromagnet in the relay. It is connected to battery
voltage and should be hot at all times. Check for
battery voltage at the cavity for relay terminal 86. If
OK, go to Step 5. If not OK, repair the open circuit to
the fuse in the PDC as required.
(5) The coil ground terminal (85) is connected to
the electromagnet in the relay. It is grounded
through the horn switch when the horn switch is
depressed. On vehicles equipped with the Vehicle
Theft Security System (VTSS), the horn relay coil
ground terminal can also be grounded by the Central
Timer Module (CTM) in response to certain inputs
related to the VTSS or Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
system. Check for continuity to ground at the cavity
for relay terminal 85. There should be continuity
with the horn switch depressed, and no continuity
with the horn switch released. If not OK, (Refer to 8


TERMINAL LEGEND Horn relay
NUMBER IDENTIFICATION
30 COMMON FEED
85 COIL GROUND
86 COIL BATTERY
87 NORMALLY OPEN
87A NORMALLY CLOSED






- ELECTRICAL/HORN/HORN SWITCH - DIAGNOSIS
AND TESTING).


properly grounded in order for the horn switch to
function properly. The horn switch is only serviced as
a part of the driver side airbag module trim cover. If
the horn switch is damaged or faulty, or if the driver
side airbag is deployed, the driver side airbag module
trim cover and horn switch must be replaced as a
unit.
OPERATION
When the center area of the driver side airbag trim
cover is depressed, the electrically conductive grids
on the facing surfaces of the horn switch membranes
contact each other, closing the switch circuit. The
completed horn switch circuit provides a ground for
the control coil side of the horn relay, which activates
the relay. When the horn switch is released, the
resistive tension of the convex membrane separates
the two electrically conductive grids and opens the
switch circuit.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - HORN SWITCH
For complete circuit diagrams, refer to the appropriate
wiring information. The wiring information
includes wiring diagrams, proper wire and connector
repair procedures, details of wire harness routing
and retention, connector pin-out information and
location views for the various wire harness connectors,
splices and grounds.
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS,
REFER TO ELECTRICAL, RESTRAINTS
BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL,
STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL
COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. FAILURE
TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD
RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT
AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable. Remove the steering column opening cover
from the instrument panel.
(2) Check for continuity between the metal steering
column jacket and a good ground. There should
be continuity. If OK, go to Step 3. If not OK,(Refer to
19 - STEERING/COLUMN - INSTALLATION) for
proper installation of the steering column.
(3) Remove the driver side airbag module from the
steering wheel. Disconnect the horn switch wire harness
connectors from the driver side airbag module.
(4) Remove the horn relay from the Power Distribution
Center (PDC). Check for continuity between
the steering column half of the horn switch feed wire
harness connector and a good ground. There should
be no continuity. If OK, go to Step 5. If not OK,
repair the shorted horn relay control circuit to the
horn relay in the PDC as required.
(5) Check for continuity between the steering column
half of the horn switch feed wire harness connector
and the horn relay control circuit cavity for
the horn relay in the PDC. There should be continuity.
If OK, go to Step 6. If not OK, repair the open
horn relay control circuit to the horn relay in the
PDC as required.
(6) Check for continuity between the horn switch
feed wire and the horn switch ground wire on the
driver side airbag module. There should be no continuity.
If OK, go to Step 7. If not OK, replace the
faulty horn switch.
(7) Depress the center of the driver side airbag
module trim cover and check for continuity between
the horn switch feed wire and the horn switch
ground wire on the driver side airbag module. There
should now be continuity. If not OK, replace the
faulty horn switch.
 
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E-carp

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Ram Year
2001 2500
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V10 Magnum
Awesome! Thanks, ill give that a shot tomorrow.

Horns themselves are good as they sound when I lock the doors with the key fob, and using the extra horn button I rigged up to pass inspection.

I will check relays and fuses and report back tomorrow.
 
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E-carp

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Swapping relay didn't solve the problem , and fuse is good. Still working...
 
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