Hey everyone in Prius-land... has anyone installed a louder horn. It's not often I honk the horn, but when I do need to, I'd like it to sound like 'beep'. Even my two-wheeled scooter has a louder horn, and frankly, if I sound off this horn behind some monstrous gas guzzling V8 F250 or the like, the driver's just going to swat away the gnat he thinks he heard, if he even hears it over his header pipes and what not.. To those who've modded, what types of horns and how's the install?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriuStorm @ Sep 5 2007, 12:02 PM) [snapback]507336[/snapback]</div> I replaced mine with the Lexus horns from Sigma. Cost $69 before shipping. Nicest thing is they fit well in the space available and plug right in to the existing wiring. They are only a little louder than the original horns, but sound a whole lot nicer. http://sigmaautomotive.com/horns/horns.php - Tom
I never use a horn, so the OEM one works fine for me. Have you considered one of the very loud air horns? Tom
I upgraded to the PIAA Sports horn one is 400Hz and the other is 500 Hz. I highly recommend. Sound is louder and deeper, kinda like a midsize or larger american car. I would not characterize it as extra loud, but it is a meaningful improvement. Install was easy...plug and play as they say. I think I used detailed instructions ....probably from this site.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Sep 5 2007, 01:24 PM) [snapback]507381[/snapback]</div> You mean like this? ;-). Rick #4 2006
Yep, Viking... that's exactly what I was thinking of Well, almost... The PIAA sounds smart if it's that easy to install, and the Sigma too. On my Burgman (scooter) I have a Stebel which is a nice sound, too. Thanks for all the great suggestions.. I will try to find the thread that explains how to install it... that'll be helpful!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriuStorm @ Sep 5 2007, 11:02 AM) [snapback]507336[/snapback]</div> I had the same problem with my Miata. They make a really cool double air horn that is all built in to one piece. The double horn is built around the compressor motor and it easily replaced the one flat horn behind the bumper of the Miata and is VERY loud. I think it shocks people when they hear this commanding sound out of a tiny car. Pretty cheap too: http://www.mmmiata.com/catalogsite/electrical01.php Page down to the "bad boy horn" I will probably put one on my new Prius when it gets here.. John
lay on the horn hard enough and it sounds.. normal instead of being beep beep. If I have to honk, I do it hard, two short blasts.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriuStorm @ Sep 5 2007, 06:34 PM) [snapback]507541[/snapback]</div> One set of instructions is at http://www.vfaq.net/mods/Horns.html I now have the Lexus horns from Sigma. They are true plug and play with exactly the same connectors as the original Prius horns. They are my second set of replacement horns as I first put in a pair of Hella horns. Those needed more fussing with the wiring as the connectors weren't an exact match and you had to run a separate ground wire. I had to replace them after a collision with a deer that left one horn crushed and the second one inoperative (probably the poorly fitting Prius-to-horn connector). - Tom
I find that it's best not to use the horn while driving (if it can be avoided) since there is a good chance of being shot if you do honk at somebody doing something stupid. That being said, there's something to be said for volume. :blink: Maybe something like this could fit in the hatch: [attachmentid=11724] Or for something with a little more gusto: [attachmentid=11725]
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriuStorm @ Sep 5 2007, 11:02 AM) [snapback]507336[/snapback]</div> We have the opposite situation. Sometimes we come close to people and vehicles while in the silent mode. Because of this they may get startled if we use the horn... which is much too loud in most situations. We would like to install a ring, ring bicycle bell under the hood. Anyone have any ideas on how to do that?
I'd like to replace the horns on my Prius but not if I have to rewire and put in a relay. I read that the Prius uses only the horn switch for the horns. Does anyone know if this is true. If there is a relay, is it heavy enough to support a louder horn or would it have to be changed?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hawaiiguide @ Sep 29 2007, 11:24 AM) [snapback]519116[/snapback]</div> I'll bet a doorbell could work off the 12v system.
Have an auto electrician install the horn with a relay if you really want it louder or you will be limited by the capacity of the wiring and switch. Wiring a relay is easier than changing the horns! Just fitting a relay to the original horn would make it louder by boosting the available voltage.
