BluesImage

Last week I bought my 1st Lexus a 1995 LS400 with 158,200 mi and I really like the car. The next day I tried to use my horn and it did not work (the only thing I forgot to check when I bought it) so I checked the fuse and there was no fuse for the horn. So I put a fuse in it and pressed the horn and it worked! But when I pressed on the left side of the pad it stayed on until I pushed the right side of the pad. When I barely pull back on the steering wheel or touch the pad the horn goes off or when I shut the drivers door it beeps all it takes is a little vibration and it honks. I was not able to drive it like this because any little thing sets it off. The pad springs back in all 4 corners so I am not sure how to fix this problem because I drive a 100 mi a day through downtown Atlanta and I need a horn. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

Probably why the previous owner removed the fuse and sold it. I would first go back to where you bought the car from and threaten to return the car if they don't fix it. Is that an option? Or did you buy from a private seller.

BluesImage

It was a private seller.

Sc0pe

iTrader: (1)

Probably just remove the airbag and take a good look at the area around the physical horn switch. Maybe it's just getting caught on something.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

yes there is probably a short somewhere inside the wheel. take off the airbag and inspect the contact points. the horn "button" is just a ground. sounds like something is grounding the circuit other than the button itself.

Kansas

As I posted on Lexus Owners Club where you also asked the question, the horn pad is not usually repairable. You may end up buying a salvage horn pad / air bag unit from a salvage company like I did but that was a fraction of the cost of new parts.

BluesImage

How do you remove the airbag? Is the horn button underneath the metal pan that holds the airbag? Thanks

Kansas

You will see the airbag module after you pull off the vinyl horn pad off and remove the horn/air bag assembly. You will see how the horn unit is held together by rivets with the top of the assembly sliding on the rivets as the horn is depressed and then rebounding from the pressure of the springs. Even if the rivets could be drilled out to expose the horn contacts I doubt that bolts and nuts could be used to replace them. This is one incredibly precise unit.

If you tackle this yourself, be sure to first disconnect the car battery and wait a few minutes.

dveneman

Interesting. A couple weeks after I bought my car, after picking it up from the tire shop, I was a couple miles away on a busy freeway when the horn suddenly blasted non-stop. This without any input to the pad.
I thought the guy in front of me was going to get out of his car and kick my ***.
I finally hit the pad a couple times and it stopped.
It has never acted up again but I am careful to use the "international salute" (or just mutter) when I am pissed instead of the horn.
I will likely need to make the rapair you describe Kansas.

BluesImage

Hey thanks for the info. Does the vinyl horn pad just pull off or does it have screws & how do you remove the airbag is it bolted in?

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

Whatever you do make sure that you disconnect the negative battery cable and wait a couple of minutes before you start messing with the airbag.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

the air bag is held by torx screws found on the sides of the steering wheel. i have never removed an LS400 air bag but there may be covers hiding the screws. and YES disconnect the battery before working on the airbag. it is after all an explosive!

BluesImage

Thanks for the info. I do not see any access to the sides of the steering wheel where the torx screws might be?

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

not exactly the same but it should be similar.

http://www.supraforums.com/forum/sho...eel-Install&s=

BluesImage

Thanks I will check it out.