Ok, this has happened to me twice now, or I would not post about it. I have "smacked" the horn (middle of the steering wheel/air bag cover) and then it would not go off. Both times were after someone pulled out in front of me, and I had to emergency brake to prevent an accident.

Perhaps I am hitting the horn too aggressively. But hey, at 60-70 MPH and a car pulls out in front of you, you have little time to be gentle on the horn. The first time, I was able to tap the horn again and it released and turned off. But yesterday, I had to grab the air bag cover on the sides and pull up to get the damn thing to go off. It was like the cover was pinched down and would not release. I had to drive down the road for about 15 seconds (seemed like an eternity) with the horn blaring in traffic.

I think I may be using too much force, or it may be a defect. All I know is that it has happened to me twice. Has anyone else had the same problem? I guess I will just mention it on the first oil change and let Acura decide if it needs to be addresses.

 

I think you should be able to hit the horn as hard as you want without it getting stuck.

I also think you're brave (or something) for grabbing the air bag cover. Dunno what I woulda done, but not that.

 

. . . . somthing, like stupid, eh?

I thought the same thing, somthing like getting "face raped" with an air bag deployment. I did not know what else to do other than try and slightly pull the cover back towards me. I will have the dealer take look at it on the first oil change.

I also agree that you should be able to hit the horn as hard as needed. I had no problems on my old Accord and it had a similar design rather than using independent horn buttons like the CRV and some Civic's.

 

I'd just leave it going....then everyone will get out of your way, as it should be in a TSX . (Or, since you're in Texas, maybe they'll all take out their guns and shoot at you or something like that )

But seriously...you said it--get the dealer to check it out. Perhaps the cover is weakened or something and it's not flexing back out...or there's a problem with the horn switch.

 

Ive had more times where i'd accidentally hit the horn. When i backed up one day, i had one hand on the side spoke of the steering wheel, and as I was turning, my hand slipped, and *honk*. This one girl thought i was honking at her and gave me the finger :P

 

Happens to me "A hundred times every day."

 

I don't think the airbag cover will trigger the release of the air bag. It's the CO2 cartriges that you have to worry about... Or whatever gas they are using.

 

Airbag inflators:

1. Solid fuelled inflator uses sodium azide pellets to generate a mass quantity of nitrogen gas need to fill the airbag. Temperature around 1200 degrees.

2. Hybrid, usually in passenger side air bags and roof mounted systems. Argon gas (plus a small percentage of Helium) in a 3000psi canister. Sodium Azide is still used in the inflator module.

3. Liquid fueled inflators replace the Sodium Azide with jelled Ethyl Alcohol.

Sodium Azide is rocket fuel and it's poisonous!

 

Tim the Enchanter is wise in the ways of passive restraints!

 

an airbag is in fact inflated by a small explosive just like bob said, very similar to the way a solid rocket engine works.

 

Larch, you're hilarious.

I have accidentally hit it many times too, usually when getting out of the car picking up a knapsack or something. Also trying to write something down on a piece of paper. A bit too sensitive, I think.

 

There was a thread a little while ago about the horn being a little too sensitive. Definitely the case. Even wifey noticed that.

TEIGER

 

I had the same problem with the horn not turning off - twice. It seems to jam at the sides, although I didn't spend much time trouble shooting as I just wanted to turn the bloody thing off, complete the turn, shift, and not hit the guy that cut in front of me.

I took it to the dealer, told them about it, and they say they have fixed it. I have yet to test it as I normally get my best test of the horn on Sunday afternoon on the highway, not so much during rush hour.

As to the sensitivity of the horn, it is almost as embarrassing as the turn signals that are blocked by the steering wheel, so you don't know they are on until you are six kilometres down the highway.