Cadillac Repair: 1974 Cadillac Horn, cadillac eldorado, leetz

Question
Bill:

I'm restoring a '74 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible.  The Eldo has the peculiar development of automatic "horn-honking" for no apparent reason.  This seems to happen intermittently, and not on a predictable basis.  I cannot find any anti-theft device present, nor does the "honking" seem to be of any "short" or loose-wire type phenomenon - the honking is too neatly intervaled.  I was wondering if this might be some type of low battery or system warning talisman, as programmed by Cadillac.  In the past, it seems that the 70's era Cadillacs that I have owned would trip interior lights if a headlight was burned out or some similar problem, thus a precursor to the computorized system warning messages that cars now possess.  Any idea?

Tom Leetz
tleetz@oconnor-leetz.com
(847) 741-1400  

Answer
Hi Tom, Sometimes extreme heat or cold can cause the horn pad to warp and then the horn will sound by itself. If possable remove the horn pad and disconnect the wire. Then if the horn is silent the horn pad is at fault. If it still sounds then look to the relay for an intermittant. Hope that helps. Bill