Expert: Roland Finston - 10/16/2011

Question
Hello. Sory for some reason I was unable to ask you any more question it only came up as rate expert. What could I rate if nothing helped me...
We tried to take out horn relay and start the car without it. Alarm still is screaming. We try to replace horn relay with the one next to it. We tried to turn around all relay box to see if any wire is bad ar so, but couldn't see anything. We also checked if we can see anything in wires under the panel inside. But alarm still don't come off. Only way I can stop alarm is taking disconnecting battery. I also checked the doors open, close... I mean I tried everything I could, but alarm don't come off.
Maybe you can advise me how can I turn off alarm sistem. Or just how can i make it work properly.
Thank you.

Answer
Hi Kristina,
Are you absolutely certain that you removed the horn relay from the rectangular box next to the battery? Have you compared the drawing on the lid of the box with the location from which you pulled out the relay?
If so, and the horn continues to blow with the relay removed from the box, then the only explanation is that there is a short cirucit somewhere along the dark green/orange wire that runs from the relay in the box to the horns, which are located to the right side of the radiator, which is somehow getting a supply of 12v from some other wire. So the only simple solution for that would be to go to the horns and disconnect the plug at each of the horns. Then locate the short circuit.*
As to the alarm system, I am not certain that the alarm system is the problem at all. Even before you disconnect the plugs at the horns, try to start the engine and let me know if it doesn't start. After you unplug the horns, try to start the engine too. Only if the engine starts, runs for 2-3 seconds, and then shuts off would I believe the the alarm system is also a problem.
So it may just be a short circuit of power getting to the horns without the relay being in place. The relay is the switch that normally turns on the horns, so if the horns blow without the relay there has to be a short circuit beyond the relay that is powering the horns.
Roland
*The alarm system cannot activate the horns if the relay is removed from the socket in the box. That relay is the final 'switch' that actually powers the horns, so if you remove it the horns should be inoperative. The alarm system activates the relay, but with no relay the horns can't be activated. This applies to both the U.S. model and the export model which I suspect is what you have, correct?