QuestionThe horn on my 96 Plymouth Breeze started honking today without touching it. Why is this happening and how do stop it? Also, I am having a problem that someone told me is more than likely caused by the IAC Motor. How do I find it and how do I replace it?
Thank you.
AnswerThe stumble depending upon a/c or no a/c does sound like an idle speed motor control issue. But check to see if you get a 25 code. The unit is mounted on the side of the throttle body and has four wires:gray/red,brown/gray,violet/gray,yellow/black
You might first remove it and clean its tip and the passageway into which it fits, and also remove the air hose and clean the by-pass air passageway whose opening is being adjusted by the tip of the motor. That may solve the problem. You can test it with an ohmmeter: there should be continuity between the two inner pins, and between the two outer pins, and no continuity between the two sets of wires. If you find one pair to be 'open' (near infinite resistance) or cross-condutivity between an inner and an outer wire that would show the need for a new unit.
Thanks for the generous rating and nomination.
Let me know if you have other questions.
Roland
Hi Shirley,
The reason the horn is sounding is probably that the flexible connection between the steering wheel and the steering column has failed and is thus spontaneously shorting out the wire rather than allowing the horn button to do that task. The flexible connection is called the 'clockspring' because that is how the wires are shaped inside of it. It also has the wires for the air bag, and if those were to break too then that safety feature would not work if needed. Were that the case the air bag warning light on the dash would remain lit at all times.
To stop the horn from sounding until the clockspring can be replaced, you would want to look under the dash toward the left end of that area where you will see a box containing fuses. There should be a fuse that is labeled as being assigned to power the "horn". Pull that fuse and the horn will no longer sound. If the air bag wires have also failed you might be able to get the dealer to replace the unit for free due to it being a necessary safety device. There were some recalls in the latter half of the 90's on some models so you could check that with Daimler-Chrysler of the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminimstration web site.
On the idle air control motor, it is located on the throttle body which is tha device into which the large air intake hose brings the air for the engine to operate. It has a four-wire plug. Before you begin to deal with that though I would suggest that you verify that indeed that is the problem by checking the engine controller memory to see whether it has observed a problem with the IAC. You can do this yourself:
You can readout the engine controller for stored fault codes with your ignition key. Turn it: "On-off-on-off-on and leave it on" (doing this within an elapsed time of 5 seconds or less). The check engine light will remain 'on' but then begin to flash, pause, flash, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause. The last sets of flashes will be five in each. Then repeat to be sure you have the numbers correct. Group the numbers in pairs to form two-digit numbers which are the codes. The last code will be 55 which means end of readout. The code for the IAC is 25.
You can get the meaning of the codes at www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html
The translations aren't specific enough to know exactly what to do, but directs you toward the system in which a fault was found. You can send me a follow up question for more specific advice. If you write back, tell me which size of engine is in your Neon and also exactly what are the symptoms that led your friend to think the problem was the IAC. If I am "maxed out" then use the comments section of the 'Thank and Rate' tab below to reach me.
Roland
