Horn does sometimes works, sometimes not

[fixkick]

i do not have fuse box photos both, cab nor fender top
id have to look.

Thanks. What I did was to remove the two horns to test with 12v battery, all work!!
Then, going look for fuse.

The horns sometimes work sometimes not!  I want to say sometimes I hear the horn and sometimes I hear only the CLICK when press any switch at the steering.

there you go you heard the click good. !!!!
that tells you the button works and the clock spring too good, in the steering head work (a real pain to replace ) see/?

did you make sure the horn bracket is not rusty, every kick i ever saw the horn bracket was rusty,  and is the ground for the horns.  no ground no horn.

the sidekick ground are horrible, for sure this old.

next is new relay, it just plugs in that relay, easy as pie to replace ,unlike steering head problems.

with the horn dead (testing 1,2,3)
run a jumper wire from battery ground lug (minus) even use std, jumper cables (as in road side jumps)
and then put the other end to the horn bracket, metal , horn works now means bingo bad ground.

The horn base love to rust, here,  its in the  rain and all that. it loves to rust  ,
one more fix is this.
make 16AWG jumper wire, with 2 , RING LUG , crimped or soldered to the ends say 1 foot long
then using sheet metal screw and drill mount one lug to horn bracket,  other in  end to frame. of car body horn mounts to. fixed.

also the horns can RUST  at horn bolt to bracket but both bad same time?. no very likely.

horn bracket body to car frame loves to rust.   cleaning that up ,with wire brush is easy fix;.until next time.

The two horns just stops working again! When I press the two buttons at the steering wheel, they just give me the click and click!!

Probably the steering wheel clock spring is the culprit! Anybody has the partnumbers of that wires?? Or where can I order a new one??

No,
The horn is very simple.

why not use a voltmeter to find this true cause.
the relay is first.
it click this relay, because you pushed the horn button, button passes threw the steering head, clock spirng contact and then to the horn relay
the relay then (energizes) the coil and clicks, then the contacts of this relay sends 12vdc to the horn and it honks.
just  4 parts here comprise a horn, pure electrical , no magic at all.  5 counting wires.  
button, >> clockspring>>>relay>>>, horn,   that is al there is here


the time to fix it is when the horn is bad,  no better time exists and that is failed time,
of you measure the horn in with a voltmeter and is 0 volts while honking we check the relay next, it can be bad, easy.
if i see 12vdc to the horn , while person #2 honks the horn is bad or as I told you, the base of horn is not grounded, due to rust, as they all LOVE TO do.

the horn circuit is here,  the schematic, it is clear how it works, if you will not diagnosis it while failed with a voltmeter that only allows guessing
the horn relay can be bad,.  after all it clicks but the contacts can be burned, and bad. so we replace it,for sure 0vdc at the horn lug.

[fixkick]

(button pushed) !!
if relay pins measure. and  12v,12v,0v and 0v on pin 4 the relay bad! (pins 1,2,3,4)
easy to prove. (using any voltmeter) (2 persons)
the whole purpose here is 12vdc,  to pin e17/18 of horns but...
and never 12vdc at e160/e161, if yes, the grounds at horn base are bad. for sure.

if the horn only fails with steering pointed in just one directly, only, the  clock spring is bad, , expense part and hard to replace, steering wheel pulled. (I have a puller so is easy for me)

your relay clicks;  this implies clock spring is ok,  and never assume it is bad first. only last, as IT  is the hard job here, all others are easy fixes HORN but , for sure a new relay.
this video shows how it works be happy you do not have car with radio knobs and other features+ NAV in the steering wheel all wanting to fail and air bags, this car is just 1 wire horn in the clock spring
this even shows the spiral spring wire, wound up inside.  (my jeep just failed this, after the dealer did the recall to it , he broke it 2 times in a row, so I fixed it my self) 

https://youtu.be/862izi6XChI

now you  know not to guess clock spring, see?  (very costly fix) , fuse 12 is here.  if stop lights work the horn power is good. USA SV418

[fixkick]

if you have air bags On the car, never work on car near Airbag devices (see all those yellow cables) that yellow means leave me ALONE
until battery NEG lug is removed, then wait an hour to make all wires in the car to go to 0volts.
the free FSM in Post one  covers that.  air bag defeat methods.
RTM. read the manual first.
here is the PDF manual just on 1 topic. BAG's.


https://fixkick.com/All-Pdfs/TSB/airbag-1-3.pdf

[fixkick]

you have all you need now to fix any SV418 horn. (all it takes is 2 persons and voltmeter)

[fixkick]

it is a fact all old cars do this.
#1 is bad relay, and rust.
rust in horn mount or any of those grounds seen above.
and any connection end to end, there.
that is normal for old cars, and using meter is the only cure , if new relay fails.
try a new relay first, as most folks do.
relays do in fact go intermittent, when old. and there contacts wear and burn.

[rasmeidirt]

#1 is bad relay, and rust.
rust in horn mount or any of those grounds seen above.
and any connection end to end, there.
that is normal for old cars, and using meter is the only cure , if new relay fails.
try a new relay first, as most folks do.
relays do in fact go intermittent, when old. and there contacts wear and burn.

Thanks. Does the steering wheel clock spring really exist?? I checked the two horns and removed them to test with 12v battery. They work!
You say the relay may be bad that is why it goes intermittent! I will try that.

[fixkick]

#1 is bad relay, and rust.
rust in horn mount or any of those grounds seen above.
and any connection end to end, there.
that is normal for old cars, and using meter is the only cure , if new relay fails.
try a new relay first, as most folks do.
relays do in fact go intermittent, when old. and there contacts wear and burn.

Thanks. Does the steering wheel clock spring really exist?? I checked the two horns and removed them to test with 12v battery. They work!
You say the relay may be bad that is why it goes intermittent! I will try that.

you forget the horns must work on the car, on a bench only proved the horn actual are good.

all cars made had a clock spring, even for 1 horn wire, after all when you turn the wheel the wire will break(spun) and now no more horn, all cars made for say 80 years. (except horn button on the dash cars)
i sent the photo of it, did you think that is fake???  hear it is again,

old cars are best described as, dead, or intermittent, wear and rust happy, (entropy)

why not go to a car shop take my schematic point to dead horns and say FIX. (they know this, or would not be in business long)

some cars old had only a electric metal ring under the horn and slider to said ring, this is  crude,1 wire clock spring, as old as horns them selves. (and me)

the relay clicks so why blame this end of the circuit, why do that?,  the problem is relay or wires. period, horn pair is good, but I told you 3 times the grounds to the horn love to fail. (called rust) (a volt meter finds this error easy)
 
you never once told me if you had air bags.  do you ? 2 in front.  called the SIR system , all 1998 cars  here Sidekicks and all have 2 more wires for the clock spring inside the steering head for bags, see yellow below (bingo bags). (this is on all 98s,)  its not bad but here it is .
why fear cheap horn relay, why? if the horn grounds are good, relay is top of list.  bad relays can click need proof can do that too.

[rasmeidirt]

#1 is bad relay, and rust.
rust in horn mount or any of those grounds seen above.
and any connection end to end, there.
that is normal for old cars, and using meter is the only cure , if new relay fails.
try a new relay first, as most folks do.
relays do in fact go intermittent, when old. and there contacts wear and burn.

Thanks. Does the steering wheel clock spring really exist?? I checked the two horns and removed them to test with 12v battery. They work!
You say the relay may be bad that is why it goes intermittent! I will try that.

you forget the horns must work on the car, on a bench only proved the horn actual are good.

all cars made had a clock spring, even for 1 horn wire, after all when you turn the wheel the wire will break(spun) and now no more horn, all cars made for say 80 years. (except horn button on the dash cars)
i sent the photo of it, did you think that is fake???  hear it is again,

old cars are best described as, dead, or intermittent, wear and rust happy, (entropy)

why not go to a car shop take my schematic point to dead horns and say FIX. (they know this, or would not be in business long)

some cars old had only a electric metal ring under the horn and slider to said ring, this is  crude,1 wire clock spring, as old as horns them selves. (and me)

the relay clicks so why blame this end of the circuit, why do that?,  the problem is relay or wires. period, horn pair is good, but I told you 3 times the grounds to the horn love to fail. (called rust) (a volt meter finds this error easy)
 
you never once told me if you had air bags.  do you ? 2 in front.  called the SIR system , all 1998 cars  here Sidekicks and all have 2 more wires for the clock spring inside the steering head for bags, see yellow below (bingo bags). (this is on all 98s,)  its not bad but here it is .
why fear cheap horn relay, why? if the horn grounds are good, relay is top of list.  bad relays can click need proof can do that too.

Two shops has already said come back with the clock spring!! Yes the car has two airbags. Thanks for this.

[rasmeidirt]

#1 is bad relay, and rust.
rust in horn mount or any of those grounds seen above.
and any connection end to end, there.
that is normal for old cars, and using meter is the only cure , if new relay fails.
try a new relay first, as most folks do.
relays do in fact go intermittent, when old. and there contacts wear and burn.

Thanks. Does the steering wheel clock spring really exist?? I checked the two horns and removed them to test with 12v battery. They work!
You say the relay may be bad that is why it goes intermittent! I will try that.

you forget the horns must work on the car, on a bench only proved the horn actual are good.

all cars made had a clock spring, even for 1 horn wire, after all when you turn the wheel the wire will break(spun) and now no more horn, all cars made for say 80 years. (except horn button on the dash cars)
i sent the photo of it, did you think that is fake???  hear it is again,

old cars are best described as, dead, or intermittent, wear and rust happy, (entropy)

why not go to a car shop take my schematic point to dead horns and say FIX. (they know this, or would not be in business long)

some cars old had only a electric metal ring under the horn and slider to said ring, this is  crude,1 wire clock spring, as old as horns them selves. (and me)

the relay clicks so why blame this end of the circuit, why do that?,  the problem is relay or wires. period, horn pair is good, but I told you 3 times the grounds to the horn love to fail. (called rust) (a volt meter finds this error easy)
 
you never once told me if you had air bags.  do you ? 2 in front.  called the SIR system , all 1998 cars  here Sidekicks and all have 2 more wires for the clock spring inside the steering head for bags, see yellow below (bingo bags). (this is on all 98s,)  its not bad but here it is .
why fear cheap horn relay, why? if the horn grounds are good, relay is top of list.  bad relays can click need proof can do that too.

Two shops has already said come back with the clock spring!! Yes the car has two airbags. Thanks for this.

Before going to the shop, I decided to check all the ground points in the engine bay, by unbolting them all, the one for the horns is on the right fender next to the airbox, to clean with a wire brush. After bolting back, I start the car and press the horn buttons to my surprise the horns honk!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for your helps.

[fixkick]

#1 is bad relay, and rust.
rust in horn mount or any of those grounds seen above.
and any connection end to end, there.
that is normal for old cars, and using meter is the only cure , if new relay fails.
try a new relay first, as most folks do.
relays do in fact go intermittent, when old. and there contacts wear and burn.

Thanks. Does the steering wheel clock spring really exist?? I checked the two horns and removed them to test with 12v battery. They work!
You say the relay may be bad that is why it goes intermittent! I will try that.

you forget the horns must work on the car, on a bench only proved the horn actual are good.

all cars made had a clock spring, even for 1 horn wire, after all when you turn the wheel the wire will break(spun) and now no more horn, all cars made for say 80 years. (except horn button on the dash cars)
i sent the photo of it, did you think that is fake???  hear it is again,

old cars are best described as, dead, or intermittent, wear and rust happy, (entropy)

why not go to a car shop take my schematic point to dead horns and say FIX. (they know this, or would not be in business long)

some cars old had only a electric metal ring under the horn and slider to said ring, this is  crude,1 wire clock spring, as old as horns them selves. (and me)

the relay clicks so why blame this end of the circuit, why do that?,  the problem is relay or wires. period, horn pair is good, but I told you 3 times the grounds to the horn love to fail. (called rust) (a volt meter finds this error easy)
 
you never once told me if you had air bags.  do you ? 2 in front.  called the SIR system , all 1998 cars  here Sidekicks and all have 2 more wires for the clock spring inside the steering head for bags, see yellow below (bingo bags). (this is on all 98s,)  its not bad but here it is .
why fear cheap horn relay, why? if the horn grounds are good, relay is top of list.  bad relays can click need proof can do that too.

Two shops has already said come back with the clock spring!! Yes the car has two airbags. Thanks for this.

Before going to the shop, I decided to check all the ground points in the engine bay, by unbolting them all, the one for the horns is on the right fender next to the airbox, to clean with a wire brush. After bolting back, I start the car and press the horn buttons to my surprise the horns honk!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for your helps.

amazing,  my posts told you the top reason for horn failure and gee lots of things on the car are the bad suzuki grounds.
happy honking.