[Delbassman]

96 RAV4 2dr FWD
Intermittent ... I'll be sitting at a a stop light & all of a sudden a quick beep. Then again. If I pound on the large horn pad in the steering wheel it'll stop ... for a while. Could happen anytime and some times it doesn't for while. But happening more frequently now. I would like to know what I'm doing before I start taking apart the steering wheel. Thanks!

 

[Elle_Rav4]

For the electrical schematic of the horn system, see pdf page 143 (document page 145) of the attachment. I would say it is either a failing horn relay; failing horn switch; failing clockspring; or an intermittent ground of the green/red wire shown in the drawing, perhaps because of chafing or similar.

To inspect the horn switch, clockspring and wiring: Disconnect the battery for at least 90 seconds so the airbag does not go off. Use a torx 30 driver to remove the two screws holding the airbag in place. This video's first four minutes or so will show you how to remove the airbag:

The horn relay is the engine bay relay box. Check the inside cover of the relay box for the labels identifying what is in the relay box. Or in the attachment, see pdf page 24 (document page 25). A new horn relay sells for under $25 on the internet. Autozone has Duralast horn relay 20117 for $16 where I am.

Because this happens intermittently, this may be a little tricky to diagnose. Next time it happens, maybe pull over, remove the 15 amp haz-horn fuse in the engine bay fuse box, return home, put the fuse back in, see if the horn is still sounding, and pull the 15 amp haz-horn fuse in the engine bay box again. Use a multimeter to start checking for a bad relay and then grounds via a bad horn switch, bad clockspring, or, say, a chafed green/red wire.