Hey Y'all,

I bought my samurai a couple weeks ago up in TN.  Drove it 150 miles before the transmission went out, 10 miles from home.  Finally got the new one put in and went to go register it.  I was given a legal TN title when I bought it.  Well, it turns out that TN doesn't have as stringent requirements as GA does when rebuilding a salvaged vehicle, and this one has a GA salvage title.  So, I have to get an inspection soon to get a "salvage rebuilt" title to register with.  One of the things on the inspection is the horn, and mine doesn't work.

Popped the hood yesterday and noticed one of the wires to the horn was disconnected.  "Great, easy fix" I thought.  I touch the missing wire to the terminal and the horn sounds, nonstop.  I took off the steering wheel cover/horn button and removed the 3 metal pieces that make the switch in the horn.  No effect.  Pressing the horn button doesn't stop the horn either, its just always on if the wires are disconnected.

My first thought is that the horn relay is bad.  Does that sound right?  I mean the horn is getting power regardless of the position of the horn switch/button, so what else could it be? Any ideas will be appreciated, and I'll probably be back with a few more minor questions assuming there are more issues I need to correct before getting it inspected.

That's a reasonable assumption - IF it has a horn relay - they don't usually.  You most likely have a short to ground somewhere in the wiring.

Samurais have horn relays.  It is to the left side of the steering wheel, in behind the front of the dash.  It is a small black relay and will probably have "omron" written on it.

I was sufficiently puzzled by this to go digging - early Samurais (85~88) don't have horn relays, 88.5~95 do - what year is yours?

Isn't the Samurai horn wired with an open NEG leg at the steering wheel until you close the circuit by grounding the horn contacts?

Depends on the year - early ones are.