2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2001 Dodge 3500 Horn randomly blows

[KeithK]

I have a 2001 Dodge 3500 with 275k miles which I purchased new. About 6 weeks ago, the truck was sitting in the driveway and the horn started blowing. I unlocked the truck, turned the wheel and pushed the horn button and it quite. This happened twice more over the next week. I replaced the horn relay and the truck has been sitting in the driveway and not driven. Last night at midnight, the horn started blowing again. I unlocked the truck and pushed the horn button and it quit. I pulled the horn relay to keep from waking up the neighborhood. Is it possible the horn ring or horn wire is chaffed and grounding out. I am at a loss since this happens when the truck is sitting with nobody is around it when the horn starts blowing.

 

[Ozymandias]

More then likely your horn button is bad.
Problem - it isn't available anymore.

 

[KeithK]

More then likely your horn button is bad.
Problem - it isn't available anymore.

Thank you. I wonder if this is a problem all users are going to start facing and if Geno's might need to take a look. I will pull mine apart to verify that the horn button is the issue.

 

[Ozymandias]

You can try, it is a stupid built system.
The one from my buddy had the opposite problem, one has to hit the button like a gorilla to make the horn sound, not possible to use it gently.

I'd try by disconnecting the button itself and see if it still horns.
That's easy to do and free before we start throwing parts at it.

 

[petersonj]

Or, possibly a central timer issue.

- John

 

[brucejohnson]

Or, possibly a central timer issue.

- John

View attachment 142407

My old 2002 was habitually setting off the "alarm" (pulsing) horn when I would unlock the truck. Kinda embarrassing when trying to get something out of the truck at 2:00 AM in the campgrounds. The CTM was supposedly the cause. I think I got the last one in RAM's stock years ago. It started up again a few months shortly after the change and there were none to be found. I think there were a couple versions, base and SLT+. I had the SLT+. The CTM has its tentacles in a lot of circuits.
If the horn is constantly blaring (no pulsing) it may be the switches in the steering wheel since "activating", or moving the contacts in the switch causes it to turn off. I believe it is part of the air bag assembly. It's the "out of the blue" energizing that is interesting.

 

[brucejohnson]

I have a 2001 Dodge 3500 with 275k miles which I purchased new. About 6 weeks ago, the truck was sitting in the driveway and the horn started blowing. I unlocked the truck, turned the wheel and pushed the horn button and it quite. This happened twice more over the next week. I replaced the horn relay and the truck has been sitting in the driveway and not driven. Last night at midnight, the horn started blowing again. I unlocked the truck and pushed the horn button and it quit. I pulled the horn relay to keep from waking up the neighborhood. Is it possible the horn ring or horn wire is chaffed and grounding out. I am at a loss since this happens when the truck is sitting with nobody is around it when the horn starts blowing.

Quick questions...Is the horn blowing in a solid tone (beeeeeeeep), or is it pulsing (beep-beep-beep...)? also, when touching the horn button to deactivate the beep, are you touching the same spot each time on the horn pad, or any other spot that could energize the horn?

 

[Shelby Griggs]

My old 2002 was habitually setting off the "alarm" (pulsing) horn when I would unlock the truck. Kinda embarrassing when trying to get something out of the truck at 2:00 AM in the campgrounds. The CTM was supposedly the cause. I think I got the last one in RAM's stock years ago. It started up again a few months shortly after the change and there were none to be found. I think there were a couple versions, base and SLT+. I had the SLT+. The CTM has its tentacles in a lot of circuits.
If the horn is constantly blaring (no pulsing) it may be the switches in the steering wheel since "activating", or moving the contacts in the switch causes it to turn off. I believe it is part of the air bag assembly. It's the "out of the blue" energizing that is interesting.

Same on my 2001, very intermittent. I believe it has to do with stray RF getting into the CTM, I just live with it. Sometimes every unlock, sometimes can go days.

I think one of the things that used to be mentioned was wrapping the CTM in tinfoil, never messed with it myself to see if it helps.