Horn suddenly sensitive to touch

[dbrat]

Good day,
my TJ horn suddenly is sensitive. if I just brush my hand over it it honks.
Any clues as to why this is happening?
I use to have to push on the horn pretty hard, so this is confusing me as to what happened, to make the horn sensitive.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
dbrat

 

[The Real Lxxtsy]

The only thing I can think of is the clock spring in the steering wheel might be going bad.

 

[dbrat]

Ixxtsy, thank you for your reply. Any way to know for sure the clock spring is going bad?

 

[The Real Lxxtsy]

When my clock spring went out the horn, radio and cruise control stopped working. When I was replacing my steering box my buddy decided to turn my steering wheel thinking it would stop by ended up destroying the clock spring ribbon.

Maybe someone else can chime in on why it’s so sensitive all of a sudden

 

[dbrat]

Ixxtsy,
thanks again for your reply. one more question.
If it is my clock spring, can I still drive my jeep or is that a hazard.

 

[The Real Lxxtsy]

I drove mine for a while until I replaced it. Clocksprings w/cruise have 3 wires; 1-cruise 2-horn 3-airbag. What made me nervous was the airbag portion since the whole cable was cut in half.

Not sure if you have cruise or not, but there a big price difference between the two.

 

[Kiwi TJ]

A quick troll through google and most people have this issue and not with just Jeep... @lxxtsy hit the nail (or horn) on the head. Replace the spring and you should be sorted.
The other thing is not to play with it too much as it will get more sensitive

 

[Chris]

Yes, I can confirm this is the result of a failing clock spring.

I had the same horn issue on my Cherokee XJ, and it turned out to be my clock spring.

 

[dbrat]

I drove mine for a while until I replaced it. Clocksprings w/cruise have 3 wires; 1-cruise 2-horn 3-airbag. What made me nervous was the airbag portion since the whole cable was cut in half.

Not sure if you have cruise or not, but there a big price difference between the two.

Thank you again, no cruise control. And no radio installed. I let my grand kid drive it and thought no radio was a good ideal. Any way guess I am off to the mechanic for a clock spring. Thanks for your valuable info.

 

[dbrat]

A quick troll through google and most people have this issue and not with just Jeep... @lxxtsy hit the nail (or horn) on the head. Replace the spring and you should be sorted.
The other thing is not to play with it too much as it will get more sensitive

All my Google searches only showed results for a horn that did not work. Mine works, it has just gotten really sensitive. I do not have cruise control or a radio. Thank you for your reply. It is appreciated.

 

[dbrat]

Yes, I can confirm this is the result of a failing clock spring.

Chris, thank you for your response. Now I am off to find a clock spring and mechanic. All my Google searches showed results for non working horn, wish that was my case. If I barely touch it in the middle it is really loud. Going to have to replace it, do not want people thinking I am honking at them.

 

[Chris]

Chris, thank you for your response. Now I am off to find a clock spring and mechanic. All my Google searches showed results for non working horn, wish that was my case. If I barely touch it in the middle it is really loud. Going to have to replace it, do not want people thinking I am honking at them.

Make certain that if you do get a clock spring, it's one from a vehicle that wasn't wrecked (or a new one). It it's from a vehicle that had the airbag deployed, it won't work!

 

[The Real Lxxtsy]

Nothing to it if you take your time and go slowly.

Pull the battery cables off. Wait at least 10 minutes. Make sure the steering wheel and tires are straight.

2 screws/bolts hold the horn/ air bag on, disconnect the horn and airbag connection. Gingerly sit it aside where it won't get bumped.

Remove the lower dash panel. and both column covers. All phillips screws.

Now the fun. Break loose the big old nut on the steering wheel.

Reinstall the nut loosely on shaft.

Install a puller and pop off the wheel.

There's your coil. It latches top and bottom to the column, little screw driver in the latches and it pops right out. Do the top first, then the bottom.

Toss it. Grab the new one, it may or may not have a lock pin in it. This prevents the two halves from turning. Pull the pin and install the new coil into the latches.
WHAT EVER YOU DO, DO NOT TURN THE TWO HALVES OF THE COIL WHEN INSTALLING IT.

Ok, it's in. feed the wires up through the steering wheel, install the nut and crank it down. Reinstall the column covers, and lower panel.

Take the airbag, make your connections, and install the bag.

Reinstall the battery cables.

 

[dbrat]

Make certain that if you do get a clock spring, it's one from a vehicle that wasn't wrecked (or a new one). It it's from a vehicle that had the airbag deployed, it won't work!

ok,
I will buy it new, thank you

 

[dbrat]

Nothing to it if you take your time and go slowly.

Pull the battery cables off. Wait at least 10 minutes. Make sure the steering wheel and tires are straight.

2 screws/bolts hold the horn/ air bag on, disconnect the horn and airbag connection. Gingerly sit it aside where it won't get bumped.

Remove the lower dash panel. and both column covers. All phillips screws.

Now the fun. Break loose the big old nut on the steering wheel.

Reinstall the nut loosely on shaft.

Install a puller and pop off the wheel.

There's your coil. It latches top and bottom to the column, little screw driver in the latches and it pops right out. Do the top first, then the bottom.

Toss it. Grab the new one, it may or may not have a lock pin in it. This prevents the two halves from turning. Pull the pin and install the new coil into the latches.
WHAT EVER YOU DO, DO NOT TURN THE TWO HALVES OF THE COIL WHEN INSTALLING IT.

Ok, it's in. feed the wires up through the steering wheel, install the nut and crank it down. Reinstall the column covers, and lower panel.

Take the airbag, make your connections, and install the bag.

Reinstall the battery cables.[

 

[dbrat]

I am sure I can fix it, the air bag is what I am Leary of. Thank you for the instructions. I will most likely take it to a mechanic. I appreciate your time

 

[The Real Lxxtsy]

I am sure I can fix it, the air bag is what I am Leary of. Thank you for the instructions. I will most likely take it to a mechanic. I appreciate your time

I was nervous with the airbag also, but waiting 10 minutes and taking my time it was a breeze.

Welcome and good luck :beer-toast1:

 

[dbrat]

I found this $121.00 Crown Automotive 56047103AB Clockspring for 01-02 Jeep Wrangler TJ without Cruise Control. or Mopar brand for 200. Just curios because it is a huge price difference. Any thoughts on which one would be better?

 

[The Real Lxxtsy]

I bought mine off amazon, Dorman brand and its been almost a year now and no issues.

 

[The Real Lxxtsy]

Crown Automotive 56047103AB Clock Spring https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R92O8KU/?tag=wranglerorg-20