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Horn problem on a ZJ...

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Old 02-12-2019, 09:02 PM
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Default Horn problem on a ZJ...

Hello, Hi there!!
I just like to know where is located the horn (sounding element) under the hood of a ZJ 1998 5.9 Grand Cherokee Limited.
Case is: When you press the center of the steering wheel the horn sounds, but like "a drowning goose"
and I just like to see what is happening in there and try to fix it...

Thank you in advance for any help!!!
Old 02-13-2019, 07:17 AM
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Welcome to the forum.

Please be aware that we don't tolerate animal abuse on this forum, including but not limited to harming geese.

The ZJ horn is behind the front bumper cover, on the right corner.


Old 02-13-2019, 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by wingless
Welcome to the forum.

Please be aware that we don't tolerate animal abuse on this forum, including but not limited to harming geese.

The ZJ horn is behind the front bumper cover, on the right corner.


Very nice sense of humor Mr. wingless, i'm not harming any animal... These goose is drowning himself... Ha, ha, ha, ha!!!!!

Thanks for your kind answer Sr. In this rigth moment i'm going to look for the horn.
Someone say to me that I have to check the relay too, is it true?
Old 02-13-2019, 04:08 PM
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Chances are that the relay is good if the horn is making noise.

If the “goose” had its bills duck taped shut, so it was silent, then the relay could be suspect.
Old 02-13-2019, 04:40 PM
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Thank You again Sir! Looks like thise goose is dead...
I must adapt a new pair of horns, because look like this ones are not been produced anymore...
Thanks for your kind responses and valuable help, Mr. Wingless.
Good evening to you!!!
Old 02-13-2019, 06:00 PM
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Good the problem has been identified.

There are hundreds of replacement options on eBay.

The local pick and pull yard will also have an identical replacement part. Knocking on wood, my original horn is still going strong.

Glad to help.
Old 02-14-2019, 07:38 PM
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On my 95 ZJ Limited if I press in the middle of the steering wheel I get nothing, no sound, no horn.

I'm first going to try to trouble shoot using the information from FSM. Diagnostics should be similar for all ZJ horns?

The FSM describes a couple of horn switches in the steering wheel? I have yet to inspect switches, relay and the horns. To determine if the horns are good. Possibly could be a horn switch or relay? Relay on my 95 is installed behind the glove compartment near the flasher relay. May be a different location for other years ZJ.

If your horn(s) sounds like a goose possibly one or both horns are not getting enough current or voltage? due to a bad switch, ground, relay or wire? If not done already, completely disconnect both horns, then with a direct connection to your battery, test the horns to see if they still sound like a goose. If so, likely the problem is with the one or both horns.

HORN SWITCH
Two horn switches are installed in the steering wheel, one on each side of the center-mounted driver’s airbag module. When either switch is depressed it completes a circuit to ground for the coil side of the horn relay. The steering wheel and steering column must be properly grounded for the horn switches to function. The horn switches are only serviced as a set
with their wiring. If either switch should fail, both switches must be replaced.

HORN RELAY
The horn relay is a mini-relay installed in the relay center, which is under a cover inside the glove box.

One side of the horn relay electromagnetic coil receives battery voltage at all times. When a horn switch is depressed, the other side of the relay coil is grounded. The energized relay coil causes the normally open relay contacts to close, providing battery voltage to the horn.

From FSM




Last edited by Muddz; 02-14-2019 at 08:06 PM.
Old 02-14-2019, 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Muddz
On my 95 ZJ Limited if I press in the middle of the steering wheel I get nothing, no sound, no horn.

...

HORN SWITCH
Two horn switches are installed in the steering wheel, one on each side of the center-mounted driver’s airbag module. When either switch is depressed it completes a circuit to ground for the coil side of the horn relay.
Correct, no horn sound happens when pressing the airbag.

The horn should only sound when pressing either of the horn buttons, on either side of the airbag.
Old 02-15-2019, 03:12 AM
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Originally Posted by wingless
Correct, no horn sound happens when pressing the airbag.

The horn should only sound when pressing either of the horn buttons, on either side of the airbag.
Ok, thanks I recently purchased the ZJ and wasn't familiar with all it's features.

Yes, now I see there's two horn buttons on either side of the middle steering wheel pad, when either are press, sounds the dual horn.

I'm still familiarizing myself with it's idiocracies. I had to replace a starter and currently working to fix the right turn signal that's blinking faster than the left. The VIC also quit working so I'm thinking of replacing it with a power switch panel with cig. sockets.

Last edited by Muddz; 02-15-2019 at 03:24 AM.
Old 02-15-2019, 04:39 AM
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Originally Posted by wingless
Correct, no horn sound happens when pressing the airbag.

The horn should only sound when pressing either of the horn buttons, on either side of the airbag.
My 5.9 ZJ from 1998 have a diferent kind of contact at the center of the sterring weel.



I already make a test on the old horns and the result was only: A bad horn... Afortunatly the problem is about to be
solved with new pair of Flösser horns which are about the same size and shape of the old ones.

Thanks for all the information you had provided me, Mr. Muddz!!!
Old 02-16-2019, 06:28 AM
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After looking around it appears the steering wheel with location of the horn and cruise control was changed in 96 ... for the ZJ, and XJ. Apparently along with some other changes to the dash layout.

My 98 XJ steering wheel is nearly the same as the 98 ZJ.

1996 ZJ



Last edited by Muddz; 02-16-2019 at 06:44 AM.
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