Horn Question

[Lorna2]

Hi everyone! This is my first time to post here but I have been reading here before out of general interest.

I have a lovely 2008 Yaris TR. It has recently developed a little problem. On 2 separate occasions the horn did not work. The 2 days were both hot days but I had the window open instead of having the air-con on, so the air-con is not the cause. No warning lights appeared on the screen and no other problems. I did not have any headlights/sidelights on, I had no radio on either. Does anyone have any idea what could be the cause? How long would it take to fix such a problem? I would be going to a main dealership. (Its a bit annoying when you want to give some idiot a good blast of the horn). The MOT will be due next year and I have heard a car can be failed if the horn doesn't work on the day. So if I leave it I risk failing MOT next August. I've never taken a car to MOT before, but I'm keeping my Yaris as I love it.

I look forward to hearing from some of you soon!

[Madasafish]

Check the connections to the horn. they are exposed to water and can corrode and fail to make good contact.

Had that on a Mark1.. Cleaned connections with emery cloth and used electrical grease to keep watertight.

[Lorna2]

Hi Michael

Thanks very much for your reply. I've a few questions for you now! How do the connections get exposed to water? What part of the car does the water get in? Obviously somewhere around the front, I know that much. Is it rain that gets in or when I wash it? Would they see that when they service the car? Is it something they look at for the big service at 3 years old? I know you fixed it on your Mark 1 but I wouldn't be doing anything like that,do you have any idea if something like that would cost to fix in the dealership?

[Madasafish]

The water comes through the radiator grille and into the cable connectors which attach the horn to the wiring loom. Solution: disconnect and clean. Time : 5 minutes.

Hope that helps.