I woke up this morning at 5 a.m. to the sound of the horn going off on my Rav4. It was honking constantly, for no obvious reason. I don't have an alarm system. I had to run outside in my pyjamas, in the dark, and unhook the battery to make it stop. I could have pulled the fuse, but at that moment the battery seemed to be the easiest sollution. I haven't hooked it back up yet, i'm first trying to figure out why the horn would suddenly start blasting... The only cause i can possibly think of is the weather- It is winter here, but we had rain yesterday. I drove through some big puddles last evening on my way home, and the temperature dropped below freezing last night. Is it possible that water could have infiltrated somewhere, froze, and shorted out some wires? Any ideas would be appreciated! Also, i just remembered- my ABS light came on yesterday also- could this be a related problem?
safman
Carefully inspect the wiring harness bundles for signs of a rodent chewing on the wiring. I have heard of some recent stories of mice/rats chewing up the wiring and shorting out things. I hope that is not the case because it can get expensive, but someone I know had this happen and the $2000 damage (new wiring harness) was covered by their comprehensive insurance.
Mice and rats are always looking for a warm place this time of year. If you live in a rural or suburban area, this can be a real problem.
Mice and rats are always looking for a warm place this time of year. If you live in a rural or suburban area, this can be a real problem.
Re: Horn constantly honking by itelf at 5 a.m.
This may be an easy fix, or not. If it is the horn relay, that would be an easy fix. If the relay is good, then there would be a short before or after the relay. That could be easy or tricky to find and fix.
I had some info posted that was not applicable to the 4.1 RAV4s about finding the horn relay and fuse.
Pull the horn fuse fuse, and then reconnect your battery. It may be a 10A fuse, but maybe not. Your horn will not sound if you got the right fuse. Somebody may know the location for the relay and fuse on your car.
If you are going to troubleshoot this yourself, you will need to do some research. Otherwise, take your vehicle to your mechanic with the fuse out.
Are you saying this honking at 5 AM happened once? If so, I suggest you change the subject to "Re: Horn honked constantly by itself at 5 a.m."safman said:
This may be an easy fix, or not. If it is the horn relay, that would be an easy fix. If the relay is good, then there would be a short before or after the relay. That could be easy or tricky to find and fix.
I had some info posted that was not applicable to the 4.1 RAV4s about finding the horn relay and fuse.
Pull the horn fuse fuse, and then reconnect your battery. It may be a 10A fuse, but maybe not. Your horn will not sound if you got the right fuse. Somebody may know the location for the relay and fuse on your car.
If you are going to troubleshoot this yourself, you will need to do some research. Otherwise, take your vehicle to your mechanic with the fuse out.
I'm guessing that your Rav was just getting really cold and wanted to be let in. It is winter. :lol:
Sorry, couldn't resist. :lol:
Sorry, couldn't resist. :lol:
Re: Horn constantly honking by itelf at 5 a.m.
To clarify things, when i said that the horn was honking by itself at 5 a.m., i mean it was constantly going- not meep-meep-meep-meep..., but meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... you get the idea. And it kept going until i unhooked the battery. The next day, since i needed to drive the vehicle, i removed the 15A fuse for the horn, and that temporarily fixed the problem. I can drive the vehicle, but the horn and hazard lights do not function. Today, i put the fuse back in, and a funny thing happened. When i pushed the fuse back in, the horn started constantly going again, but as soon as i inserted my key and turned it to the 'ON' position, the horn immediately stopped! And when i turned the key back OFF, it started again. I am very confused about this... I checked the horn relay, i opened it up and it is good. When it is removed, the horn stops blowing, and when i put it back it, it makes a little 'click', and the horn goes again. I do have a remote starter, with doorlock function, but i never use the remote start. I checked the battery in the remote, and it is fine, and the remote functions fine to unlock the doors. --------- I'll add another detail, it may or may not be related, but yesterday while i was driving the vehicle (with the fuse removed), i pushed on the 4-way flasher button, and i heard a little 'sizzle' sound, and there was slight burning smell for a moment...
To clarify things, when i said that the horn was honking by itself at 5 a.m., i mean it was constantly going- not meep-meep-meep-meep..., but meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... you get the idea. And it kept going until i unhooked the battery. The next day, since i needed to drive the vehicle, i removed the 15A fuse for the horn, and that temporarily fixed the problem. I can drive the vehicle, but the horn and hazard lights do not function. Today, i put the fuse back in, and a funny thing happened. When i pushed the fuse back in, the horn started constantly going again, but as soon as i inserted my key and turned it to the 'ON' position, the horn immediately stopped! And when i turned the key back OFF, it started again. I am very confused about this... I checked the horn relay, i opened it up and it is good. When it is removed, the horn stops blowing, and when i put it back it, it makes a little 'click', and the horn goes again. I do have a remote starter, with doorlock function, but i never use the remote start. I checked the battery in the remote, and it is fine, and the remote functions fine to unlock the doors. --------- I'll add another detail, it may or may not be related, but yesterday while i was driving the vehicle (with the fuse removed), i pushed on the 4-way flasher button, and i heard a little 'sizzle' sound, and there was slight burning smell for a moment...
Re: Horn constantly honking by itelf at 5 a.m.
Do you have a separate fuse for both horn and hazards? (I think you should)
-The horn fuse (10amp located under the driverside finish panel (by your knee/shin when sitting down).
-The Hazard fuse is in the engine compartment (10amp on driverside strut tower box)
The hazard and horn are completely different circuits (at least for 98+ ravs) All the info I have is for 98+ but from what I understand they are wired very similar.
Does the cover/fuse block label the horn as a 15A fuse?safman said:
Do you have a separate fuse for both horn and hazards? (I think you should)
-The horn fuse (10amp located under the driverside finish panel (by your knee/shin when sitting down).
-The Hazard fuse is in the engine compartment (10amp on driverside strut tower box)
The hazard and horn are completely different circuits (at least for 98+ ravs) All the info I have is for 98+ but from what I understand they are wired very similar.
Re: Horn constantly honking by itelf at 5 a.m.
Is the ABS light still on?
If you only have one fuse for both the horn and hazards, this is not good. There should have been no power in that circuit to cause any sizzle or smoking. Your horn/hazard might be getting power from another circuit through wires that have shorted out (rubbed, worn, chewed etc.).safman said:
Is the ABS light still on?
Re: Horn constantly honking by itelf at 5 a.m.
Yes, the ABS light is still on... It came on shortly after driving through a huge puddle. This is not the first time the ABS light has come on. Last summer, also after driving through a water hole, it came on. I took the vehicle to a Toyota garage, and they said the ABS fault code was for the deceleration sensor. The ABS light eventually went off by itself after a couple of weeks.
Yes, the ABS light is still on... It came on shortly after driving through a huge puddle. This is not the first time the ABS light has come on. Last summer, also after driving through a water hole, it came on. I took the vehicle to a Toyota garage, and they said the ABS fault code was for the deceleration sensor. The ABS light eventually went off by itself after a couple of weeks.
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