My 2001 9-3 failed the MOT due to the horn not working! I have checked the contacts on the steering wheel, fuses etc, all OK. There must be a relay somewhere, which I suspect is the problem, but I can't find it. It does not appear to be in the engine bay relay box, or amongst the relays under the drivers side footwell.
Anyone know where it is located?
All advice gratefully received!

The horn on this car works in a roundabout fashion. The horn switch is connected to the SID (same connection as the steering wheel controls). When that pin is grounded entirely, the SID will ground the horn relay (number 68 behind the interior fuse panel) through pin 17. This then fires the horns. If your steering wheel controls work fine, then the relay is most likely suspect. Also check the connections to the horns themselves.

Definitely check connections to horns themselves! Was told one of my horns wasn't working, before purchasing a new one, I checked and, hey ho, one of the connections was lose, refitted, worked fine :)

The horn on this car works in a roundabout fashion. The horn switch is connected to the SID (same connection as the steering wheel controls). When that pin is grounded entirely, the SID will ground the horn relay (number 68 behind the interior fuse panel) through pin 17. This then fires the horns. If your steering wheel controls work fine, then the relay is most likely suspect. Also check the connections to the horns themselves.[/b]

Thanks dbrown! I found the horn relay. I was mistaken in thinking that the horn switch on the steering wheel is a simple make/break contact connecting to the relay via the 2 pin connector under the steering wheel. In fact these two wires also operate the audio controls presumably by some electronic trickery cconnected to the SID. The horn does work by grounding the appropriate pin on the relay coil, so it looks like the fault is with the SID itself. I have never come across a horn which relies on the on board computer to operate. Cars are so complicated these days! Looks like a new SID

Do your audio controls work properly? Check to make sure pin 3 and pin 18 of the SID connector measure 0 Ohms when the horn is pressed. If not, the steering wheel will need to be disassembled to inspect the wiring. If it does, then you're correct in your diagnosis and the SID is faulty.

Just incurred the same problem on my wifes 98' 9-3. airbag light came on a couple of weeks ago, now horn and steering wheel audio controls do not work.

MOT due in 3 weeks...typical!

All I need to know is, can I fix this myself, or is it something best trusted to a saab specialist?- and if anyone has had a similar problem, roughly how much did it cost to repair?

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

I bought my wifes 93 2.0T '01 some weeks ago, and now I am suffering the same issue.
Airbag light on. Everything started after a visit to the saab dealer to reprogram an additional key..

They insist this has nothing to do and say it is due to a non working airbag"ring" which is behind the steering wheel. It might be a missconnection, so I dissassembled the steering wheel, put some Contact Cleaner, and assembled once again.
Now the horn is not working...

I fear, it is the said airbag ring, which I would have to buy at the dealer for 130€..

I will let you know about the final solution

Rgds

Hi everyone,
In my case, every electrical device on the steering wheel stopped working: audio controls (less relevant), horn, airbag light came on. Then it started making some noises. They occured only when turning the steering wheel. It sounded like relays working on and on. Then I removed the SID (due to bad pixels) and the noise was gone. Not long afterward, another noise occured, when turning the steering wheel, but this time sounded like plastic.
Getting to the point, in my case the clockspring ( http://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/PartDetail.php?partCode=5331202 ) was damaged. The wires from the airbag + audio controls pass to the other side of the steering wheel through this clockspring. Mine was completely destroyed and pieces started falling out.

I found a replacement (used one, I assume it is not damaged but I have no guarantees), managed to install it and the only things that changed are (i) the plastic noise, of course, and the audio controls which now work, although that was not at all my concern. I still need to check the fuses because the horn and airbag still don't work.

Hi everyone,
In my case, every electrical device on the steering wheel stopped working: audio controls (less relevant), horn, airbag light came on. Then it started making some noises. They occured only when turning the steering wheel. It sounded like relays working on and on. Then I removed the SID (due to bad pixels) and the noise was gone. Not long afterward, another noise occured, when turning the steering wheel, but this time sounded like plastic.
Getting to the point, in my case the clockspring ( http://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/PartDetail.php?partCode=5331202 ) was damaged. The wires from the airbag + audio controls pass to the other side of the steering wheel through this clockspring. Mine was completely destroyed and pieces started falling out.

I found a replacement (used one, I assume it is not damaged but I have no guarantees), managed to install it and the only things that changed are (i) the plastic noise, of course, and the audio controls which now work, although that was not at all my concern. I still need to check the fuses because the horn and airbag still don't work.

Hi,
Here's an update on my previous message.

After a few miles, the airbag light switched off and stayed that way. Of course, it lights up along with all the other indicators when starting the engine, but nothing more.

I finally found the time to check the horn. Since it didn't work, and I didn't have a multimeter to test the signal, I went ahead and bought replacement ones (it comes as a pair). It turned out to be just that. Once replaced, it started working just fine.