Horn Upgrade --- DIY

very nice! thanks for posting

 

I have had a pair of the Fiamm Freeway Blasters on my 2012 Prius III for about two years. I did not use a relay in the installation and the low-tone horn has recently failed. Could the failure be blamed on the absence of a relay? I intend to replace the horn but I need to know if I should include a relay in the circuit.

 

You should, but the horn failure doesn't have anything to do with the lack of it.

 

Just installed the FIAMM's and wow what a difference they make!! I have large hands so I also remove the 2 bolts and the plastic clips that hold the front facia on, so I could pull it forward. Much easier for me that way. I also removed the stock brackets holding the OEM horns and used the brackets supplied by FRAMM. I assembled the horns to the bracket out in the open, then just had to thread the one bolt holding the bracket back in and hook up the one wire. Took me about 30 mins.

 

To relay or not? Some of you installed a relay most did not. I guess my question to this mod is why do I need to install a relay? Or better question why is there not a relay already part of the original circuit if it something thats needed?

 

I did my horn this weekend and went through the top after taking a bunch of clips out under the top bezel. What a difference that makes!

 

Thanks EVPV!.. Horns are coming in this week from Amazon..

 

You'll enjoy the "big boy" sound of the new horns. No more meep meep.

 

Horns went without too much trouble, though that space was so tight it was pretty hard for my hands and they are not that big.
TIPS FOR THE NEWBIES: Make sure you have metric wrenches on hand as I did not, used a socket set and that really wasn't the right tool, but I managed. Horns sound great and I even got all the neighborhood dogs and my own barking! Also note the power cord connected fine but I was a bit puzzled as to how to use the Toyota connector to the Fiamm 2 post connectors. For anyone doing this who is as mentally challenged as I am, it just slips on to one of the posts and the supplied washer-wire with connector slips on the other. Doesn't matter which connector you use as the horn is not polarity sensitive, if that makes sense. And Xliderider, you were right I am enjoying the big boy sound.. Thanks for the step by step EVPV

 

- I am wondering the same thing; easier to do the 74100 package or the 72102&72112?

- and is the 74100 package just as loud?

- Also when I look at 72102 on Amazon there seems to be high version and a low version which makes me wonder.

- Plus, I have a 2013 and amazon is stating to me (I guess since I somewhere entered that I have a 2013 Prius) that the 72112 doesn't fit my 2013 Prius. I see this thread was started prior to 2013 but I am assuming the more recent posts here are with 2013 or later models, right?

 

I just installed the Fiamm El Grande 74100 instead of the 72101/72112 Freeway Blaster described in post #1. Reasons are (1) it's $12 cheaper, and (2) they're slightly smaller so they're a little easier to install. Note however that the El Grande is 128 dB while the Freeway Blaster is 130 dB.

Anyway, for the 2014 PIP there are a few differences from the procedure described in post #1 but otherwise the same:

1) You need to remove the fasteners that secure the top portion of the bumper cover to provide additional room. It doesn't matter if you have small hands, because...

2) You need to remove the speaker that warns pedestrians when you're at low speed. Only way to do that is at the bracket mount, which you can't get to unless you loosen the top of the bumper cover. If you don't do this, there's no way you're going to get to the right horn.

3) Because you have to do 1 and 2, I found it easier to remove the nut holding the bracket and horn, then remove them though the emblem hole, and then remove the horn from the bracket.

My opinion is that it's plenty good and plenty loud for just $20.

 

What kind of air horn did you use? I have been wanting to put a air horn or a semi horn on my second gen, I almost got hit the other day because people didn't see me so a more commanding horn would help a ton.

 

I verified this info as well. I also removed the pedestrian warning speaker in the process. Thanks.

 

So 4 years later, your info is still helping people. THANKS!!!

I just followed your directions exactly and changed my horns. I never bothered before because I rarely drove the car. 2010 only has 28k miles.

Worked great. Thanks again!!

CTP

 

Tried to install these earlier and ran out of natural light due to overcast. Spent too long removing the emblem only to find out it might be easier for me to just loosen the bumper and come from the top.

Anyway, I'm a little thrown off because I got the El Grande twin pack and see the ground prongs in the bag, but don't see any wiring connected. Am I missing something or do I not need to ground them?

 

Ues the ground wire that came with the horns & attach it to the bolt that the horn mounts to. Then OEM wire goes to the other terminal on the horn.

VS980 4G ?

 

Thanks Sean. I think I'm missing the ground wire then since i didn't find any in the packaging.