All,

I have a 1999 996 Cab and a while back the horn pad(airbag) became very sensitive and would sound at teh slightest touch. Then it got to the point where the horn would sound non-stop until i pulled the fuse. I tried changed the mounting bracket between teh airbag and steering sheel in case the rubber mounts had worn but this did not work.

I had a friend tell me that sometimes on cars the airbags and horn switch within the airbag becomes faulty and you need to replace the whole airbag piece. Anyone run into this?

Thanks!

 

EDIT - oops didn't read you already changed the mounting bracket to fix the rubber bushing issue... I have read that you can tighten down that bracket too much... you might only need to loosen it. You need to hear the click when pressing the airbag for the horn.

 

Your friend's advice sounds sketchy to me - there isn't a switch in the normal sense, so I don't understand how the airbag module could possibly be the problem.

Your original post doesn't say that you replaced the bushings, which is almost always the root cause of the horn issue with the 996. If you haven't replaced the bushings, it's way too premature to start thinking about buying an airbag.

Read one of the many posts you can find on Google about worn 996 horn bushings - like http://www.rennsportkc.com/porsche-9...t-kansas-city/ - and go from there.

 

Wow, a little love from the San Diego crowd for my mechanic! Porsche Doc rules! Plus he's a Rennlister.

 

I had replaced the bracket/bushings but may have overtightened it. I'll try loosening it.

 

The spring/bushings/bracket ARE the switch for the horn.

I don't know if the horn leads run through the clockspring like the airbag leads - if so, I suppose it's conceivable that the clockspring is damaged - but my money is still on the bushings.

Can you make the horn stop by manually lifting either side of the airbag cartridge?

Don't blow yourself up with the airbag. That would suck.

 

I have a 4-spoke steering wheel with airbag on eBay (and in our for sale forums) and the OP was actually messaging me about buying my airbag to fix this...

The problem was solved by loosening his horn bracket - it was just installed too tight!

 

Nice - and extra credit for helping him rather than just selling him an airbag he didn't need.

 

thanks guys! I had tightened the 2 screws behind the steering wheel too much when i replaced the new rubber bushing plate. Should've asked 6 months ago...

working as designed now.

 

Awesome. For clarification, those are the two bolts that hold the airbag cartridge in the wheel, right?