Key On pops horn fuse

[SnTnDan]

Title says it all, i replaced the fuse for my horn after it stopped working and it works fantastic with the key off. The second i turn the key to fire up it pops the fuse, anyone have an idea here?

[iceman510]

Short in the horn relay?  Check your stop light switch for failure/shorting.  Or a shorted rear stop lamp bulb or wiring.  That same circuit uses the horn fuse.

[datzenmike]

Horn has power at all times. Not a short in the horn relay or would blow immediately the fuse is plugged in.

 

It will be one of these two things...

 

1/ There is a switch on the ignition switch that connects when the key is inserted. It powers the warning chime if the driver's door is opened to tell the driver he forgot the key. My guess is the ignition may have been taken out or disturbed in some way and one of the wires is pinched and touching the the ignition lock, grounding it. As the horn and the chime are the only things on that blown fuse it's got power at all times. As soon as the key is inserted it has a short path to ground and blows.

 

You'll have to unscrew the two part plastic clam shell covering the steering column but you should be able to see the Green and the Green/Black stripe wires for this switch. I think it's close to where the key goes into the switch. The Green one is obviously ok but the Green/Black (after the switch) is somehow damaged or pinched. If you don't care about this useless chime just pull the Green/Black wire of the ignition switch... done

 

If nothing found...

 

2/ Find the warning chime for the 'key left in the ignition when the driver's door is opened'. It's above the fuse box higher up and behind the dash on the upper kick pad. The seat belt timer is right beside it. Try unplugging the chime. If no luck then the Green/Black wire is pinched somewhere back towards the ignition switch. If that works then the chime is the problem, leave it unplugged or replace it.