1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Car horn is beeping

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by uncool, Jan 20, 2008.

  1. uncool

    uncool New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2007
    14
    0
    0
    My 2007 Prius' horn honks ever so lightly but steadily over the last few weeks. Not loud enough for other cars to hear but I hear it. Anyone know what is going on with it?
     
    #1 uncool, Jan 20, 2008
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,930
    16,151
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Have you driven it?

    I don't know but when my 12V battery was dying, my Prius started honking very softly hoping to get my attention. I eventually went outside to see what the commotion was and found out it was my Prius! :eek:. Barely had enough juice to start it (phew!)
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Jan 20, 2008
  3. uncool

    uncool New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2007
    14
    0
    0
    it has been doing this for weeks. everything is up and charged. It just randomly gets my attention all the time.
     
    #3 uncool, Jan 20, 2008
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,930
    16,151
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Hmm... I have no idea then. If the panic/alarm went off, it'll be a full-on honk on the horn, not a soft one.
    ​
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Jan 20, 2008
  5. uncool

    uncool New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2007
    14
    0
    0
    Its very cold here in Chicago and I started using the EBH Wayne installed (thanks again Wayne), and thats the only thing different in my daily driving.
     
    #5 uncool, Jan 20, 2008
  6. priusincc

    priusincc Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2007
    332
    16
    0
    Location:
    NV
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Are you positive its the horn? There is a noise that sounds like a horn beep (or barking), caused by the brake actuator valve. It's more pronounced in cold weather, and occurs when pressing the brake petal. There are other threads on this. Mine has been doing it for some weeks; I thought it was the coolant transfer pump at first. Will have it checked out at next dealer visit; I try to minimize those.
     
    #6 priusincc, Jan 22, 2008
  7. absinto

    absinto New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2008
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    I have the same problem with my horn; I was hoping that it was more widespread so that there would be a documented solution. The soft honking noise is continual but unpredictable, so naturally the dealership is telling me they can't find anything wrong. I'll explore the other threads regarding the brake actuator valve, but it's hard to imagine the noise is something other than the horn itself.
     
    #7 absinto, Jul 9, 2008
  8. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,472
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Hmm, perhaps the place to start would be to remove the large black plastic cover over the radiator. To remove the plastic fasteners, use a screwdriver to rotate each fastener CCW while exerting upwards pressure on the cover near the fastener. This will allow the fastener to pop out.

    Once the cover is removed, you can access the two horns. Disconnect the wires leading to the horns, to prove whether the sound is coming from the horns - or not.
     
    #8 Patrick Wong, Jul 9, 2008
  9. southjerseycraig

    southjerseycraig Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2009
    438
    107
    0
    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My car horn started beeping loudly this evening with the car sitting in the driveway, the fobs far away, and not a person in sight. I ran outside and hit the 'unlock" key and the beeping stopped.

    What could possibly be causing this? The last thing I need is for this to happen when I can't hear the horn; I suppose that the 12V battery would deplete.
     
    #9 southjerseycraig, Sep 7, 2009
  10. Emeralds79

    Emeralds79 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2021
    3
    1
    0
    Location:
    Millsboro Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius c
    Model:
    Base
    What was that horn noise from the actuator? Mine is doing that and I thought it was the brakes so I had them cleaned and lubed today and they said nothing is wrong with the brakes. By then I took it home and drive alittle and the horn noise is back and not sure what to say to the dealer if I go back? I have a Prius c 2016 with 35,600 miles on it. I can not stand the noise.
     
    #10 Emeralds79, Jan 30, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 31, 2021
  11. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,648
    3,859
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    There is no guarantee that what causes a particular noise in a Prius c relates in any way to what causes a particular noise in a Gen 2 Prius. Maybe make a post in the relevant Prius c forum.
     
    #11 dolj, Feb 1, 2021
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)