Car Horn Replacement Cost [Labor & Parts]
Car ownership comes with responsibilities such as getting the oil changed, tire rotations, seasonal preparation, and parts replacement, like the car horn, as needed. If you have owned a car for a few years, there is a good chance that you have already replaced some part of your car.
The car horn is one of the parts that may require replacement after a few years of ownership. Before you replace that car horn, you should have the research the costs of doing so.
When considering average costs, including parts and labor, the cost of replacing one’s car horn will fall between $108 and $120 depending on where to take your car. Average national labor costs are estimated to be between $40 and $55 and the average cost of a car horn is about $67.
When you want a horn that will last a long time, you want to go for quality and value, not just the lowest-priced car horn.
Remember, these are average, estimated car horn replacement costs. Yours could be slightly more or less.
Here is a brief table of a few car horns and the range of costs as an example.
| Make | Year | Avg. Part Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Cadillac | 2014 | $45.00 |
| Ford | 2014 | $30.00 |
| Volvo | 2014 | $50.00 |
| Isuzu | 2014 | $35.00 |
The above table is an example and may not reflect exact prices in your area. Prices will vary depending on the service provider you choose for the replacement/repair, your make, model, and year of your vehicle, and where you buy your parts.
Overview of Car Horn Repair or Replacement
Most people do not have the time to do their own automobile repairs or parts replacements, they turn to the expert mechanics to do the job right.
The first thing to know is whether or not a fuse could be the problem. Once you find out it is the horn that requires replacement, you will need to have the make and model of your car handy as that is one determining factor of car horn replacement cost.
Another factor includes labor costs when you are taking it to the shop for repair. Since the car horn is often operated from the steering wheel of your vehicle, a mechanic often charges more because of the work involved to replace the horn.
What Happens During a Car Horn Replacement?
You can expect the mechanic to check the voltage through the circuit connected to the horn first. Next, they will check the fuse to ensure that it is transmitting power through the connected circuit.
The fuse for the car horn is under the hood in a fuse box located near the automobile’s battery. If the voltage is stable, they will look at the connectors to see if they are properly connected and to see if they are dirty or have corrosion on them.
From this point, the mechanic will determine whether to replace the connectors or replace the horn. The horn will be disconnected for safety during the replacement or repair.
The actual horn is usually found under the automobile’s hood close to the battery or sometimes between the car’s fenders. Horns are powered via the auto’s electrical system.
The horn honks when you press the horn button on your steering wheel (or wherever your horn button is located) which starts the flow of electricity to the horn. The flow runs through the circuit, the fuse, the horn relay, and finally the horn will sound.
When the non-working horn is removed, the new horn will take its place by being connected by the mechanic. The horn should work if the fuses and electrical wiring are working.
Might There Be Extra Costs?
Not all car horn replacements will be textbook easy. Sometimes other problems arise like faulty wiring, circuit issues, faulty fuse panel, electrical system issues, corrosion, and other such obstacles.
Depending on the obstacles that are encountered in car horn replacement, there may be some extraneous costs incurred.
How to Know When Your Car Horn Is Failing
It is common for a car horn to gradually stop working. Therefore, there are often telltale signs of its failure.
For instance, the horn could start to sound softer or maybe it will start off strong and trail off sounding wonky. Also, if your horn works sometimes, but not all the time, this is a sign that something is wrong with the horn’s system.
In other words, if your car horn sounds different than usual, something horn-related is the problem. It may not be the car horn, but it will be related to the inner workings of your horn.
Whether that is electrical, fuse, or relay related, it is still keeping your horn from working and you will want to have that fixed.
Do Car Horns Need to Be Replaced Often?
Issues with your car horn are rare in newer automobiles. Horns do not operate via moving parts. An older car is more likely to have horn problems. An accident where the front of your car is affected can cause horn failure.
Water and salt from flooding or stormy weather may also affect your car horn. How often your car horn needs replacing may also be determined by how often you use it.
Do You Need a Car Horn?
Car horn failure usually does not affect any operational automobile components. Although, in some places, the car horn is considered a safety feature and is required by law to be in working order.
One of the purposes of your car horn is to signal danger to a pedestrian or another car that you are coming, or you cannot stop. That is why it is a vital automobile component.
If you go into a car inspection with a non-working horn, you may fail the safety inspection.
Can You Replace Your Car Horn?
You can make any repair or replacement on your own vehicle if you choose. However, it is not advisable to do so unless you have a solid working knowledge of your car.
Also, it is time-consuming, and it could cost you more in the long run if you make a mistake. Since part of the car horn replacement process often involves removing the steering wheel, it is probably best if you leave this to the experts.
If you have a good friend or family member who is a mechanic, you may be able to save a few bucks that way.
Here are the basic steps for replacing your own car horn:
- Find the issue with the car horn. It is vital that you know what is wrong before you can fix it.
- Find the fuse box and replace the fuse before buying a part. This may fix the problem without buying a car horn.
- Look for the horn behind the auto’s grille or around the radiator.
- Carefully remove the connecting wire. Press on the lower end of the horn connector to pull out the wiring. Take out the spade lugs and mounting bolt (attached to said wiring). Clean all of these components and reattach them. Try to honk the horn. If it still is not working, move to step 4.
- Find the part number or search your vehicle’s make, model, and year to buy the proper car horn replacement part.
- Replace the car horn following the process of removing it by working backward. Just be sure to remember where everything attaches and connects.
- Check your car horn. If it still is not working, take it to a mechanic.
Can a Louder Horn Replace Your Current Horn?
Every car comes standard with a specific car horn that makes its own distinctive sound. Some may be the same as others, but usually the beep or honk sound is specific to the make of the vehicle.
This is done so that people, whether driving or walking, can more readily know what kind of vehicle is coming their way. For instance, compact cars often have a high-pitched sound over the lower-toned horn sound of an SUV, sedan, or truck.
Some car horns can be adjusted in loudness, while others are simple and not adjustable. You may choose to replace your car horn even if it is not working if you want a louder or novelty horn sound.
Replacing your horn with an upgraded sound, louder horn, or novelty horn sound will cost more than replacing it with a standard horn.
How Can You Save Money?
There are a couple of ways to save money on a car horn replacement. You do not have to buy your car horn part from a retailer. You may find what you need at a salvage yard if there is one near you and this is an option in your area.
Some salvage yard car parts are still in working order and some are not. Salvage car parts yards sometimes have parts they have in inventory.
However, there are those that allow you to go find a car that matches yours and uninstall it yourself.
