Mitsubishi Montero Gen 2.5 Horn Repair or Bypass

[jlocster]

The Gen 2/2.5/3 horn button consists of a membrane switch in the steering wheel that commonly fails by getting stuck in the closed position. This ultimately leads to the horn being stuck on. When this happens the only way to turn the horn off is to pull the horn fuse in the fusebox or disconnect the electrical connectors to the horns under the hood.

The membrane switch is technically a non-servicable part as it is integrated into the airbag module. Because Mitsubishi doesn't wan't to incur any liability from people messing with the airbags, the only factory sanctioned way to fix the switch is to buy a new airbag module from the dealer for big money. Let's call that OPTION A.

Luckily, there are two other options...

OPTION B

As this video shows, you can VERY CAREFULLY open the airbag module and fix the switch.

OPTION C

Last, you can tap the horn circuit and wire up a new switch.That process goes like this:

Remove the lower steering column trim by loosening these 5 screws.

Once the lower trim is removed, the upper trim can be removed as well.

Find this connector to the right of the steering column.

The green/red striped wire is the horn circuit.

Tap into it however you like...

...and wire up a new horn switch wherever you like.

Now, you can honk to your heart's content!

 

[dieseltechJay]

Great video, but any DIY work with or around airbags should be taken with extreme caution. Also keep in mind that power comes from the positive cable here in the US while elsewhere in the world they use the negative (as shown in the video). Thanks for the info.

 

[Fergie]

So, I have this same issue now. I moved to a much hotter climate, and the expansion of the copper switch makes the horn go off at random times. I've got the wires disconnected from the horns proper, but would like to have a functioning horn in this metropolis.

Does the bypass of the factory horn switch have any effect on airbag function, or are the two mutually exclusive? Does the horn malfunction have anything to do with the airbag itself?

Before spending thousands on a replacement airbag module, I'd rather rewire the horn if safety features and function of the airbag is not compromised.

Thanks.
G

 

[dieseltechJay]

So, I have this same issue now. I moved to a much hotter climate, and the expansion of the copper switch makes the horn go off at random times. I've got the wires disconnected from the horns proper, but would like to have a functioning horn in this metropolis.

Does the bypass of the factory horn switch have any effect on airbag function, or are the two mutually exclusive? Does the horn malfunction have anything to do with the airbag itself?

Before spending thousands on a replacement airbag module, I'd rather rewire the horn if safety features and function of the airbag is not compromised.

Thanks.
G

They are mutually exclusive, so as long as a horn failure isn't within the cable reel you're fine and one does not affect the other.

 

[Fergie]

They are mutually exclusive, so as long as a horn failure isn't within the cable reel you're fine and one does not affect the other.

Good to hear, that just saved me a chunk of change.

Thanks!