Where are the alarm horns located?
Hey all
Finally had enough with neighbours calling police out on me at 3am about my ZJ 1996 alarm randomly deciding to trigger. I've tried all number of wire chopping and grounding ideas, but I'm so fed up that for the sake of my neighbours and ever growing police file, I'm simply going to chop the alarm horns off, that way I can take longer to solve the issue without having to unhook the battery system everytime I park up.
Where are the horns located? Its a stock alarm, 4L engine, 96 grand LTD.
Regards
Finally had enough with neighbours calling police out on me at 3am about my ZJ 1996 alarm randomly deciding to trigger. I've tried all number of wire chopping and grounding ideas, but I'm so fed up that for the sake of my neighbours and ever growing police file, I'm simply going to chop the alarm horns off, that way I can take longer to solve the issue without having to unhook the battery system everytime I park up.
Where are the horns located? Its a stock alarm, 4L engine, 96 grand LTD.
Regards
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 740
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
The horns are located behind the passenger's side headlight, behind the fender liner. My horns don't work and I think the previous owner had the same problem. I haven't scoped it out yet. I want to eliminate the security system also, so when you figure it out, let me know what you did! For security on my Chevy truck, I installed a cut-off switch in the fuel pump circuit and tucked it up under the dash.
Works well.
There is a relay for the horns in the PDC under the hood.

Works well.
There is a relay for the horns in the PDC under the hood.
Last edited by dave1123; Jan 13, 2011 at 06:57 AM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 28,068
Likes: 6
From: Tenn. and Mich.
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7L V8
The alarm is activated by the dome lights. I had the same issue with my '97 ZJ. I went around with the doors closed and gave each one a pull/shake with the door handle until I found that the drivers door would activate the dome light without opening the door. I adjusted the striker in the door jamb to tighten it up a little, then retested it. No more problems, and the alarm was still fully functional. It never come on again by itself even in the biggest wind storms.
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Thanks for that, i will drive it tomorrow up to a quiet workspace i have and leave the battery connected, try all the doors and see what happens.
I do remember walking away from the jeep once and noticing that after the dome lights turning off, one rear light (the ones you push in) was on, but wouldnt turn off by pushing it.
Ideally i also want to find out where the alarms horn is (looking at a wire-diagram i see there are 2) so if worst comes to worst i can disconnect them. Also if the horn relay in the PDC will do this. Again, if no one knows then i will experiment tomorrow.
One interesting thing to point out, was that after the alarm sounding, i went out and left the drivers door unlocked, and 20 mins later, and with the door still unlocked, the alarm sounded... hence now why i have had the battery disconnected for a week!
I do remember walking away from the jeep once and noticing that after the dome lights turning off, one rear light (the ones you push in) was on, but wouldnt turn off by pushing it.
Ideally i also want to find out where the alarms horn is (looking at a wire-diagram i see there are 2) so if worst comes to worst i can disconnect them. Also if the horn relay in the PDC will do this. Again, if no one knows then i will experiment tomorrow.
One interesting thing to point out, was that after the alarm sounding, i went out and left the drivers door unlocked, and 20 mins later, and with the door still unlocked, the alarm sounded... hence now why i have had the battery disconnected for a week!
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 740
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L

The alarm is activated by the dome lights. I had the same issue with my '97 ZJ. I went around with the doors closed and gave each one a pull/shake with the door handle until I found that the drivers door would activate the dome light without opening the door. I adjusted the striker in the door jamb to tighten it up a little, then retested it. No more problems, and the alarm was still fully functional. It never come on again by itself even in the biggest wind storms.
I don't know for sure because I haven't checked yet, but I think you have to remove the fender liner to access the horns.
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 28,068
Likes: 6
From: Tenn. and Mich.
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7L V8
To access the horns on '98 and earlier ZJ's remove the lower air deflector from below the radiator, according to the manual.
As far as unhooking the relays:
My '97's Owner's manual shows the following control the horn. Under the hood in the Power Distribution Center, In the rear section of small relays/fuses-Cavity 16 labeled "Horn Relay" is a 20 Amp yellow that feeds the horn relay. It is the third from the front, right side, of the two rows in the rear.
In the front section of larger relays- Cavity L is the Horn Relay, it's the fourth from the front, closest to passenger side fender.
Removing the horn relay will indeed silence the horns.
Hope that helps.
Dan
As far as unhooking the relays:
My '97's Owner's manual shows the following control the horn. Under the hood in the Power Distribution Center, In the rear section of small relays/fuses-Cavity 16 labeled "Horn Relay" is a 20 Amp yellow that feeds the horn relay. It is the third from the front, right side, of the two rows in the rear.
In the front section of larger relays- Cavity L is the Horn Relay, it's the fourth from the front, closest to passenger side fender.
Removing the horn relay will indeed silence the horns.
Hope that helps.
Dan
Last edited by ol"blue; Jan 15, 2011 at 07:14 PM.
Right, removed the relay for the horns, and disconnected both horns found next to the radiator... reconnected the battery and siren sounds immediately!
Its a siren, not a horn, so now the horns are silenced, clearly i have a siren somewhere, at this point all i can ask is does anyone else have this? I'm assuming its the same siren that 'chirps' as you activate/deactivate the alarm, or have i got a different (perhaps UK) set up?
If so, anyone know where the damn siren is? Tried to trace it whilst it was going off but it simply deffens my ears, to the point it sounds multi-directional and i cant trace it
All i need to do is kill the siren! All replies appreciated!
Its a siren, not a horn, so now the horns are silenced, clearly i have a siren somewhere, at this point all i can ask is does anyone else have this? I'm assuming its the same siren that 'chirps' as you activate/deactivate the alarm, or have i got a different (perhaps UK) set up?
If so, anyone know where the damn siren is? Tried to trace it whilst it was going off but it simply deffens my ears, to the point it sounds multi-directional and i cant trace it

All i need to do is kill the siren! All replies appreciated!
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 28,068
Likes: 6
From: Tenn. and Mich.
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7L V8
Unless that's UK only it's an added on theft deterrent system, and not a factory installed one. Every factory system I've seen use the factory horns and flashing lights.
That siren is hidden to prevent a thief from disabling it. They're usually tucked in around the master cylinder over here.
That siren is hidden to prevent a thief from disabling it. They're usually tucked in around the master cylinder over here.
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