Horn Shuts down engine ONLY

[Deadboltdon]

Here's a good one for you guys..
I have had our 2011 journey FWD Crew for about a month now.  Other than the drivers side heated seat not staying on.  (Turns on for about a minute when starting vehicle then shuts off by itself.  Turning the heated seat on with the touch screen and it will turn on then off)
I will deal with that soon.  
BUT today while waiting for the person in front on me to move I finally gave a quick honk on the horn.  Once they finally moved up I tried to go and found the engine had stalled.  I was in drive and foot on the brake NOT MOVING. 
Had to put in neutral or park to start and started right up.  
Drove down the side street at about 30-40KM/h and honked a few times and everything was fine. 
Got to the parking lot and again in drive and not moving the horn shut the engine down every time regardless if it was in drive, reverse, park.  Took it for a drive around the block and while accelerating horn didn't shut down engine.  As I was coming to a stop I tryied the horn a few times.  
Seems to only happen when the revs are in the 800-1000 rpm area.  I say this because IF I rev the engine to around 1100-1200 rpm and honk horn it doesn't shut down the engine.  
Called the dodge dealer here and he says that is a new one.  MIN diagnose fee is $200 and that is just to try and find the gremlin that is hiding in my journey.    And We all know that a diagnose fee isn't always what is quoted.  Also if they can't find the problem then I am still out the cost to diagnose.  

Any help before I drive this thing into a wall to give it a reason to act up would be very helpfull .

[OhareFred]

I can honestly say I have never heard of anything like this! I wouldn’t even venture a guess, but would love to hear about it...

[2late4u]

really have no idea and never heard this one before ,might be related to the clock spring,,if you dont want to pay for the dealership diagnostic fee, then your only recourse is not to use the horn i guess, not trying to bee funny or rude.

[John/Horace]

Very weird problem. I wonder if it’s tied into cruise control some how, it’s wiring is in the steering column.

 

Maybe pull fuse or relay for cruise control and see if horn still shuts car down.

How many miles  on car, which engine ? Any stored codes, check even if mil light not on.

 

Cars shutting off without notice can be CPS sensor. Doesn’t always store a code. A wear part and not expensive. 
At $200 for an  estimate,  you could try a few educated guesses first. 

[Deadboltdon]

It gets even better....   So before I left work yesterday I tried the horn and it didn't shut down the motor.  On the way home I drove by a situation I had been in the day prior.  I had a fire truck coming up from behind and we were all stopped at a red light.  I had honked to let the guy in front know to move over so the truck could get by.  Once he moved  I had to start the car again but due to the rushing I had forgotten what actually happened until yesterday. 
I got home and honked while stopped and it didn't shut down, until I tried again.  It did shut down a few times (but not every time) while pressing the horn in different spots didn't seem like it had "one spot" that was bad.

What I did notice was one time I pressed the horn and it didn't stall, but it did cut the ignition ever so slightly, I could see the tach blip just slightly but I guess the engine had enough rotation still it was able to "catch a spark" just enough to stay running.  
I also noticed the same thing once while revving around 1800rpm but that was very quick hiccup and it was done.    

So It isn't just under 1000 rpm but stalls out because low rpm looses the rotational momentum to keep running.   

I also tried all the above with the cruise control on and off.  Turning the wheel while using horn.  All accessories off like the radio & heating.  None of this seems to make any difference.  I will have more time on the weekend to actually dig into it.   I will need to locate a ignition wiring schematic and the horn wiring as well to see how connected they are in reality.   
If I had to guess I feel the horn and the security system my be at fault but this is a completely random guess.  But the thinking here is the horn is connected to the security system that is connected to the ignition for command start and stuff?   Without looking at schematics it is hard to say.
If all else fails I will disconnect horn and see if it still persists, at least I would piss off neighbors sounding horn over and over to find issue. 

[John/Horace]

Horn and ignition wiring not connected, stalling probably co-incidence. Scan for codes and probably replace $30 CPS sensor.

Unhook horn wiring plug and car will still stall anyway.  

 

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/dodge,2011,journey,2.4l+l4,1447563,ignition,crankshaft+position+sensor,7196

 

Edited April 29, 2021 by John/Horace

[Deadboltdon]

Thanks John, and everyone else.  
I have located a CPS Locally for $24  I may just change it anyway.  Is it fairly easy to get at and is there a relearn procedure for this repair?  
NO codes are being set.  

I believe disconnecting the horn probably won't fix the issue, but if it does:   Well then lets remember a horn is simply a "energized coil"  I have seen things like aftermarket poor quality relays causing weird issues when tapped into the wrong circuits on other vehicles.

At least the neighbors  will have some peace and quiet while I test it (except my cursing) 

I did try the command start and then used the arm button to make the horn honk.  Didn't shut down the first time but has every time I tried since.   

So not only is this gremlin a odd one it also only happens sometimes....   Ya I don't think the dealer will be looking for this one.   Stop me if you heard this one...   "we couldn't reproduce the problem"  But pay us for our time anyway. 
 

[John/Horace]

I would try to get oem if you can, pretty important sensor. Should be plug and play normally.There is a manual procedure to teach it if necessary.

 

Haven’t changed one on a dodge yet, several on other vehicles that were plug and play.

 

Daughter in laws 2.4 had a random stalling issue from CPS . 

 

 

[John/Horace]

What’s the verdict????

[Dory blue]

Hello 

I’m experiencing the Exact same issue with my 2012 Dodge Journey. I noticed this maybe about 2weeks ago when I went to pick my someone and I honked to let them know I was there. I didn’t think much of it at first but then the following week I went over again to pick up the same person and when I honk my truck stalled again. I thought wait this has happen before after honking. Few days later I was waiting in a parking lot and decided to see what would happen if I honked again and sure enough it stalled. But similar to you it doesn’t happen EVERY time. Did you ever find a solution for this? I will be reporting to DODGE as I feel that since we are both experiencing the exact same issue im sure there is others as well this is no coincidence. I’m thankful I was able to find your posting. 

[John/Horace]

Scan for codes first.  Unplug horn and confirm random stalling still occurs.  If cps crank position sensor is original change it.

CPS doesn’t always set a mil code. Report back if it fixed it so car forums are useful.