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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: djlantis57 on May 24, 2011, 10:20:59 AM

Title: Louder horn
Post by: djlantis57 on May 24, 2011, 10:20:59 AM
The anemic horn has driven me crazy since I bought the Tracker.  I began mounting my triple-bell horn last night and realized it was worthless...it's going to get hung up on something and torn off the first time it's on the trail.  
I have NO room to add an air tank and compressor anywhere on the Tracker.  I don't wish to hook up an engine-driven compressor, it draws power and isn't worth the hassle, plus I already have A/C, so there's not a lot of room for that either.  For airing up tires I plan on always having my big nitrogen bottle with me either in the Tracker (have to figure out a mount still) or locked up in the tow rig.
So I just want to add a louder horn.
My neighbor has an old 80s ??? cadillac horn on his FJ40 and it kicks ass.  Sure gets attention.  Does anyone know the specific make and model of the cadi's that came with those great horns?
Or can you recommend any other cheap-and-easy junkyard-find horn that sounds great?  Something loud with deep tone.

Thanks,
DJ
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: Jonny Rash on May 24, 2011, 11:46:46 AM
Just get a 6-volt horn for a VW Beetle.  It will be plenty loud.
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: Capt on May 24, 2011, 04:51:32 PM
Junk Yard Safari any 60's full size "Boats" (Caddy, Olds, Lincoln,etc)
or look at any big trucks, (All still had to have an electric horn, even if equipped with Air)

Also install a horn relay (available at any parts house) as they draw plenty on 12V juice!!

CAPT
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: Jonny Rash on May 26, 2011, 06:09:45 AM
Will the relay work as is?  I seem to recall tha that Suzuki has the positive on all the time and the switches are simply connecting the ground to the circuit.  Kind of the opposite of how most vehicles work.
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: Capt on May 26, 2011, 06:42:31 AM
On horn circuits, it has always been the horn button contacts the ground.

Make sure to get a "Horn Relay"
A horn relay is different than a "Light Relay" and it works when you "Ground" the relay
to make it work.
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: djlantis57 on May 27, 2011, 10:04:04 AM
As for the relay, I was going to keep the original wiring and everything and just hook up a new horn in place of the old one to use the relay that's already there.
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: AJMBLAZER on May 27, 2011, 10:23:29 AM
All I've ever done is remove the original horn and put a replacement parts store horn in.  Worked great.  Not train horn loud but still louder than the OEM horn.
Even on the 99+ Track/Vits with dual horns this worked fine.  On both occasions I kept one original high pitched horn and put an aftermarket "low tone" horn in.

Now, if you want to put in one of those airhorns then something else will need to be done.  Also, a lot of factory horns have their own built in relays in the harness so that must be dealt with.  I wanted to put an a horn into my '96 from a 90's Chevy truck but after fiddling with it a bit decided it wasn't worth it and just bolted in and plugged in the aftermarket horn I had.
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: Jluck on May 31, 2011, 07:49:12 AM
Hella makes very compact air horns that have there own air pump, I had them on a couple of my landcruisers. loved 'em and made people move.
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: bentparts on May 31, 2011, 06:41:24 PM
If you dont plan on useing your horn too much, you could run an air horn off your nitrogen tank, no? Oh yeah, use a relay. 
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: bentparts on May 31, 2011, 06:44:22 PM
Junk Yard Safari any 60's full size "Boats" (Caddy, Olds, Lincoln,etc)
or look at any big trucks, (All still had to have an electric horn, even if equipped with Air)

Also install a horn relay (available at any parts house) as they draw plenty on 12V juice!!

CAPT

I haven't seen a sixties anything in a hellova long time in any you-pullit I can get to. Theres a couple of speciality yards I've been to that may actually have salvageable parts, but the'll cost ya more than a good aftermarket one. Cheap Chinese knockoffs not withstanding. 
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: Capt on May 31, 2011, 07:28:15 PM
What do you mean? You are from "South Jersey",
There's gotta be a bunch of "Hoopties" still slowing down
traffic on the turnpike yet!!
There is a reason the shoulder is called the "Breakdown Lane"

Yeah, the good old junk yards (any that even still let you walk around out back) are
a thing of the past. We have some still here, and there are the "Private Collections"
you know, the ones where they let all the neighbors "Know" the Misses got a new
washing machine because the old one is parked in the middle of the front yard!!

CAPT
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: Trackerprts on May 31, 2011, 09:25:11 PM
Get a ford truck horn, they are made by Fram.  They say fram on the back of them.
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: AJMBLAZER on June 01, 2011, 05:17:03 AM
Sure that's not Fiamm?
http://www.fiamm.com/fiamm.php?s=683 (http://www.fiamm.com/fiamm.php?s=683)

Pretty sure FRAM, as in the company that makes crappy oil filters, doesn't make horns.
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: djlantis57 on June 01, 2011, 04:32:38 PM
Seems like a lot of the auto parts store horns sound cheap.  Looking for a good loud horn.  Heck, my old '79 K5 Blazer had a really good horn.  I'm just looking for suggestions on what others to look for that sound similar.
So, does the factory horn operate off a relay already?
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: AJMBLAZER on June 01, 2011, 06:02:51 PM
Yeah but it's in the cab under the dash somewhere I think.
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: AJMBLAZER on June 01, 2011, 06:03:48 PM
I hear ya on the honk though.  My '89 K5 has way more presence when it honks than the Suzukis do.
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: jaysonbarn on June 01, 2011, 09:57:59 PM
Hey friend why don't you try searching for a louder horn in this forum itself. Here is the link where a guy is selling out the parts from a used Samurai..

http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/classified-ads/parting-out-2-samurais-need-a-part-let-me-know (http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/classified-ads/parting-out-2-samurais-need-a-part-let-me-know)!!/
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: Jonny Rash on June 02, 2011, 07:43:46 AM
On horn circuits, it has always been the horn button contacts the ground.

Make sure to get a "Horn Relay"
A horn relay is different than a "Light Relay" and it works when you "Ground" the relay
to make it work.

You are correct.  I was just thinking of light relays and didn't even think about a horn relay.

About 20 yrs ago, I had a fairly large 6volt, VW Beetle horn on my Samurai.  It was loud and it sounded like a dying duck.  I definitely overused it.  >:D it lasted a long time before it went out. :(
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: bentparts on June 02, 2011, 03:34:26 PM
Or you can just get one of those bumper stickers that say " Horn broke, watch for finger."
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: djlantis57 on June 06, 2011, 11:40:52 PM
Or you can just get one of those bumper stickers that say " Horn broke, watch for finger."
They work well too, just not for the people in front of you.  Only behind you.
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: Capt on June 07, 2011, 08:57:21 AM
When all else fails,
Most of you are from the west coast,
Just reach into the glove box and get your Nickel Plate .38 Spl out, wave it around........
Everybody Gets Out of Your WAY!!

CAPT
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: Breeze-O-Top on June 07, 2011, 12:14:20 PM
Try this link. Harbor freight has a horn that may work for you. It turns heads when I need it!  >:D

I have one similar in my 88 Sami and there is room to fit it in. Not much but it fits. It is plenty loud for me. Sounds kind of Euro Fancy.

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-super-loud-air-horn-40134.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-super-loud-air-horn-40134.html)
Title: Re: Louder horn
Post by: djlantis57 on June 15, 2011, 11:21:22 AM
I put one of those in my old chevy truck once.  It sounds like a bread van :laugh: