Horn Upgrade --- DIY

I just love my Cadillac horns. Not only are they super loud, people know the tone and don't expect it from a Prius...they are pretty cheap on eBay, check it out!

 

The high and low Fiamm horns are available as a package for $19.94. I installed these and have been very satisfied with them.

 

Damn, I already ordered the hella ones. I wonder if I can get free return shipping...

 

installed mine today. it was a royal pita to be honest. im a mechanically inclined guy, but there was nothing but problems, including the lengths of the wires which did not reach the new horns very well. i cut the clip on the left side so it would reach, but on the right side i had to make an extension wire. having drcc made it a lot harder that it probably should have. that thing in the way made it difficult to get the front emblem off, but after that it was ok.

One word of advice I'd give to people wanting to try this. IGNORE the dam phillips screw head looking thing on the old horns. They do nothing. You remove them off the brackets using the 14mm socket on that tiny nut around the thread.

The horns sound AWESOME though. I'm glad I did it. The whole process is one of those now that I've done it I could do it faster type of things, but I'll probably never have to do it again unless a friend of mine gets one and wants to switch out the horns.

Thanks again to this thread. I can't wait for someone to cut me off on the highway now lol. I hope I scare the crap out of them

 

I just looked at some of the original pictures at the beginning of the thread, and I have to ask, how come the connectors were pointing down (towards the horn opening) on your horns? On mine they were actually point up (away from the horn opening). It was a major pita to get the cars wire connectors to reach because of this. Do they just come in a random position, or can the canister on the horn be rotated to reposition the connectors? I have the exact same horns (part number and everything)

 

Actually did mine on Friday too. The Hella horns that I got came with a bracket but no bolt to attach them to the car so I had to buy a few from Lows. Installation was a bear, a few times I considered removing the front bumper because of the lack of room to maneuver. Finally got them in though and they sound much better. The sound is similar to my old SUV, which I will take any day over that weak meep meep. Thanks for the write up and the continued comments everyone!

 

Is it easier to install the FIAMM El Grande Twin 74100 vs. the FIAMM 72102 & 72112, together? Or is it a wash?

Thanks!

 

I not "buying" the need for replacing the factory horn. It must meet DOT, manufacturer standards. Almost a cult following?

 

The factory horn is almost inaudible in traffic.

 

Just listen to the horn in the OP's first post. Big difference in sound.

Edit: The OEM horns in my Camry sound identical to the FIAMMS. So I guess the Toyota engineers must've spec'd the Prius meep meep horns for their aerodynamic advantage.

SCH-I535

 

I haven't swapped out my horn as I've refrained from using it at all because you never know how the wackos in L.A. will react. However, I've been tempted to upgrade to brightly colored twin horns just for the look.

 

The ICE (internal combustion engine) in my Plug In in EV mode is "almost inaudible in traffic", and I'm not changing it either.

 

If you like the meep meep of the clown car horn in traffic then save your $30 but if you'd like to be heard if the need comes up I'd do it over and over again. Well worth the $$ and not "a cult following" more of a safety need.

 

Dammit they figured us out

 

I was serious about the need to replace the factory horn. Just kidding about the "cult following".

I thought so...

 

I was told to honk my horn when I got to my destination so that the girl could open the gate for my car to go through. Believe it or not, this is only the second time I ever honked the horn in the 3 years I've owned it. When I got inside, all of the ladies were laughing at the sound of my horn. "Barbie mobile" is exactly how I described it. I gotta do this mod. My man card is at stake.

Mike

 

I think it also would've been Ok if you came out of your car wearing a clown nose, big shoes, and a clown costume.

SCH-I535

 

I would immediately upgrade to this horn