While waiting to self diagnose my 85 300d trans issue, I put the 95 back on the road. The horn stays on all the time unless you unplug thm up front. I heard there is a relay, there is not a relay? Can anyone set this straight or give advise? On another forum someone said to get Jackie Gleason to kick the front fender but alas, he is no longer with us.

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82 240d 4 speed manual. stripped parts car-PM me for requests
85 300d daily driver. Nice reliable beater always a work in progress unknown miles-odom works when it wants
95 E300d. daily driver or trip taker 220k
97 F250 4x4 7.3 turbo ext cab, 8'bed
78 Pontiac Bonneville-my 1st car bought new by parents, my high school graduation present in 1988-sits in garage. needs to come out of mothball

I think and I may well be wrong and be corrected but the horns are wired with a constant live and steering wheel completes the earth connection to them.

The circuit for the horn is switched hot -> horn -> button -> ground.

The older 124s ran the horn button contact through the combination switch connector and had graphite brushes and slip rings for the air bag.

Newer 124s switched that up and run the horn and air bag through a clock spring.

You may have a short in the clock spring assembly.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Hmm, so pull the cluster and look in that? Any idea what to even look for?

__________________
82 240d 4 speed manual. stripped parts car-PM me for requests
85 300d daily driver. Nice reliable beater always a work in progress unknown miles-odom works when it wants
95 E300d. daily driver or trip taker 220k
97 F250 4x4 7.3 turbo ext cab, 8'bed
78 Pontiac Bonneville-my 1st car bought new by parents, my high school graduation present in 1988-sits in garage. needs to come out of mothball

The clock spring is behind the air bag in the steering wheel hub. It is a flexible cable on a reel that carries the horn signal and the airbag trigger wires.

I would remove the lower cover under the drivers side and look for the clock spring connector and then test for ground there.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

ok thanks! So basically I am looking for a pinch or bare wire in that area making contact to ground which sounds the horn, correct? The ground completes the circuit, right?

__________________
82 240d 4 speed manual. stripped parts car-PM me for requests
85 300d daily driver. Nice reliable beater always a work in progress unknown miles-odom works when it wants
95 E300d. daily driver or trip taker 220k
97 F250 4x4 7.3 turbo ext cab, 8'bed
78 Pontiac Bonneville-my 1st car bought new by parents, my high school graduation present in 1988-sits in garage. needs to come out of mothball