Removing OEM Horns

[Hugh]

I just purchased the new PIAA horns and want to install them in the stock locations. The passenger horn seems easy enough to get to but the driver's side horn's mounting bolt is way down there by the washer reservoir. I searched the FAQ and the owner's manual but I didn't find any specifics.

Is there a trick to get at the horn mounts or (God forbid) does the front bumber have to come off.

If I missed any pertinent links with instructions would someone be so kind as to post them.

Thanks,
Hugh

 

[spyderman33]

Hey Hugh

It's Julian from Sat get together at Bahama Breeze... I was the guy that sat in your car and checked out your stereo at the end.. I was in the un modded black T (except for the exhaust)...

I have the Hella air horns and I left the OEM horns in place... I just unplugged them and covered the plugs up so they are protected from water.. This way the mod is fully reversible..

I installed the horns in the front hood area where the spare tire used to be.. Let me know if you want to see pics and I'll post..

I connected the compressor to the third horn inside the front compartment..

sounds amazing and looks professionally installed...

good luck..

julian

 

[Hugh]

Hey Julian,
Of course I remember you.
The PIAA horns are electric, not air and would fit perfectly in the OEM location if I could only reach it! Your idea makes sense and I'll poke around for an alternative mounting area. Any reason why you removed the spare? Do you keep a can of tire inflator stuff in your trunk just in case?

Cya,
Hugh

 

[spyderman33]

I haven't heard the electric PIAA horn yet but I love the sound of the air horns.. kind of sounds like the Ferrari/Lambo horn..

It is also pretty loud and wakes people up when they are cutting you off..

I removed the spare because of the weight savings.. I have AAA so if I have a flat, I'll just call them for a tow no big deal.. remember that this is not my daily car so it works for me at least for now.. it kind of doesn't make sense now but it did when I removed it.. no worries, it can always go back in..

 

[Hugh]

I was just under the car thinking that if I drop the black plastic panel behind the bumper I could get at the horns. Not as easy as it sounds, the panel curves around inside the car and is not as easy to remove as I thought. I think I have to drop the lower part of the front bumper. I'm too lazy to do it now so I'll attack it again this weekend. Bleh!

Maybe I'll throw the PIAAs in the Range Rover and go air horn under the hood for the X. It was easier putting FIAMMs in the Busa!

 

[Hugh]

What a royal pain in the ass! You need to be a midget contortionist to get at that driver's side front horn. Needless to say, after a lot of determination and the right tools, the OEM horns are out and the PIAA horns are in. They sound great and are much louder than the stock horns. The OEM horns have 110db stamped on them and the PIAAs are 115db. For you non-audiophile types out there, every 3db increase is a doubling of volume so you get the idea. I'll post pics tomorrow.

 

[spyderman33]

how's the actual sound?


does it sound like the OEM horn.. my main issue was that the OEM horns are the same ones that they put on Accords and Civics.. Sounds like the road runner..

 

[Hugh]

It's a deeper, fuller tone very similar to electric FIAMM ( who probably make the horns for PIAA) One horn is labeled 400Hz and the other 500Hz. They definitely don't have that "Roadrunner" sound.

 

[jagtiger]

Hey Hugh,

I'm planning to replace mine soon. Can you please post a simple do it yourself instruction - when you get a chance? Also, is the PIAA horn plug and play? (I mean u just replace the oem horn without modifications) I appreciate your help...Thanks

Henry

 

[Hugh]

It's almost plug and play. The OEM horns have a molded connector on them which mates to a connector attached to the horn wires from the car. I simply cut off the connector from the car's harness and soldered the wires together and insulated them with heat shrink tubing. The horn on the passenger side is easy to get at but the driver's side horn is a bitch. To remove the bolt I used a swivel 10MM hex nut with an extension going to my ratchet. The PIAAs bolt right into the factory mounts but getting that bolt back on the driver's side is a pain in the ass I'm hopefully not going to have to repeat soon. The only way I was able to get it back in was by hand and feeling my way blind. All you need is to get the bolt seated a couple of turns and finish it off with the ratchet drive. I hope you have smaller hands than me!