[carboy]

My Swift is around 2.5 years old - 30000 kms done.
Today I parked my car outside a shop for a short time. Then I started the car & drove around 250 metres or so & I had to honk - the honk sounded very weak. I tried this 3-4 times & it sounded very weak. After driving around 250 metres more, it automagically became OK & didn't face the problem again for the rest of the 5-6 kms ride.

I am wondering what could be the cause? Could it be something with the battery - should I get the battery checked - I got my car serviced roughly 1000 kms back. If I need to check the battery, I assume this could be done any any battery shop?

[vigsom]

Your car must be having a low tone and hi tone horn combination (two horns);the Padmini make horn that Maruti provides is no good;the hi tone begins to pack up after a couple of years.Probably what you experienced is the hi tone temporarily packing up and then again coming back to life

There is no solution to thsi except to replace the horn with a better one(eg.Roots)

[.anshuman]

The easiest solution to this problem is to remove the horn from its location, there is a adjustment screw on the backside of the horn most probably covered by a rubber cover, just adjust the screw by 1/2 round a time and try it. Best done with the help of some road side mechanic if you are not into DIY stuff.

Other solution is to walk into Maruti service center and report the issue, most probably the horn will be replaced without any try to make the existing horn work, Ill call this a waste of money but can save you half an hour.

[vigsom]

if it is the Padmini hi tone horn,the adjustment screw does precious little to make the horn sound 100% normal;it works but the horn combination does not sound normal;worth a try nevertheless.

[Trust_In_Thrust]

Please check the earth connections of the horns .Rewire it at a solid ground point.Will solve your problem.And i have Padmini (Now acquired by Hella) horns in our M800 and i use it in Delhi 150km drive everyday for past 6-7 years and never had any problems (I have been using them with a Zen radiator relay ).

[lazybrain]

Hi Guys

I have the same problem with my horns (horns becoming weak with time). I got my Wagon R's horn replaced at least 4 times since the day i bought. I started believing that Maruti installs poor quality horns hence last time (around 6 months back) i got hella horns installed outside of M.A.S.S. the installer told me that not only Maruti provides poor quality horns but the problem occurred because my horns were directly connected and not via 'relay'. He charged me around 750 bucks including the relay installation and told me that this time it will last long. But now after 6 months again the same problem has occurred.

Any suggestions please from gurus? I will be happy to follow your suggestions. I am now fed up of replacing my horns every 6 months due to same problem

[shyamhegde]

Check the mount of the horn, like the bracket, nuts etc. and if horn body touches somwhere in the bonnet. Check wiring on the horn circuit (like testing with direct connection to battery for a moment).

DO NOT try to 'tune' the horn using the screw provided in the back side of the horn, unless it is the only thing which is left, and no other options seem to exist.

Once you change the tuning, it is quite tough to get the best out of a horn. You will not like it actually, even if it works up to some extent.

[lazybrain]

Thanks shyam for the valuable inputs!!! By the way I am very poor at 'DIY' stuff. I will ask some local mechanic to follow the steps above. I will keep you guys posted!! In the meanwhile, any other suggestions from anyone else are most welcome

[DWind]

As queer as it may sound. I also faced the same issue. Only the low tone horn was working. I faced this issue while taking my car out for going to restaurant on Sunday for dinner. After dinner, when I started the car the horn was back to normal. Planning to get a service done tomorrow. Will check it out.

[lazybrain]

My issue is resolved. I just wanted to update you guys with the problem specifically i faced. Local auto electrician checked the issue and it was confirmed that this happened due to improper power output to the 'relay'. He rectified the problem by replacing the wire which connects car battery to relay and now my horn works like a charm. I spent only Rs. 75 for this repair

I would also suggest you guys to always show your horn problem to the local auto electrician if you are not good at DIY stuff. but showing it to authorized center/local accessories retailer is surely not recommended since they are too lazy to check the problem and immediately conclude that horn is faulty and ask you to replace with new ones.

[shyamhegde]

Originally Posted by lazybrain

My issue is resolved. I just wanted to update you guys with the problem specifically i faced. Local auto electrician checked the issue and it was confirmed that this happened due to improper power output to the 'relay'. He rectified the problem by replacing the wire which connects car battery to relay and now my horn works like a charm. I spent only Rs. 75 for this repair

I would also suggest you guys to always show your horn problem to the local auto electrician if you are not good at DIY stuff. but showing it to authorized center/local accessories retailer is surely not recommended since they are too lazy to check the problem and immediately conclude that horn is faulty and ask you to replace with new ones.

Good to hear you got it rectified and did not have to visit the horn thread to chose a new set!
If you visit the local electrician guys, get the work done in-front-of-your-eyes. They are used to jugaad works and might do some shortcut to solve the issue but causing some other issue, later. Also do not let them 'tune' the horn with the screw in the back, as without checking much, this is what they try first, spoiling the horn setting, if it was good.

[libranof1987]

My Corsa's horn has been acting up of late.

During early morning, the horn sounds weak in the beginning and then returns to it's usual tone. This happens each time I press it. Since this was happening during the early mornings, I thought it could be the dew and did not pay much attention.

But now the horn is weak each time the a/c is switched on. And the tone remains weak.

Any pointers?

[mukundmenon]

As mentioned above check all wirings/relays/ground points.This could also indicate a problem with the battery/alternator.Check from workshop if alternator is giving out right amperage while running with A/C or headlamps on.If the amperage is low [below 10-12 amps]- get the alternator serviced and also check/recharge the battery to be sure.Do this only if all else fails.cheers !

[Durango Dude]

This can happen either because of a loose wire or moisture. Have you by any chance waded through water, recently; if so allow it to dry out and it will start working.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by mukundmenon

As mentioned above check all wirings/relays/ground points.This could also indicate a problem with the battery/alternator.Check from workshop if alternator is giving out right amperage while running with A/C or headlamps on.If the amperage is low [below 10-12 amps]- get the alternator serviced and also check/recharge the battery to be sure.Do this only if all else fails.cheers !

At times, the horn sounds weak even without a/c. When I press, it first starts out as if there's cloth on it and after a fraction of a second, it comes to it's regular tone.

Any of the check you mentioned DIY? Else I'll have it checked with a local mechanic.

Originally Posted by Durango Dude

This can happen either because of a loose wire or moisture. Have you by any chance waded through water, recently; if so allow it to dry out and it will start working.

Unlikely. I'm facing this problem since a month now and at time in the middle of the way. Also, there has been no rain and the car washer uses as little water as possible.