My 2012 Mazda5 daily driver has been great but lately the horn sounds very wimpy and sad and like a quarter of the volume. Honestly, I’m afraid to honk it because it sounds so wussy, LOL


Is this something I could easily replace on my own? I’m pretty handy. Just never touched a car horn in my life.

Pretty much plug and play. Where it might be located IS the true problem, it might be behind the grill, fender or tucked away out of sight.

ARman

quote:

Originally posted by ARman:

Pretty much plug and play. Where it might be located IS the true problem, it might be behind the grill, fender or tucked away out of sight.

What ARman said. The biggest problem might be just physically getting to it, and maybe mounting the replacement, depending on where it's located under the hood.

Easy enough to find replacement horns online, Amazon and other places. Hella is one good brand, there are a bunch of others.

Easy Peasy

I highly recommend the "04" Buick
LeSabre offering

Look pretty easy once you get the front plastic off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4yqwvL1BxM

Very easy if you have even basic skills. Get on the forum for your vehicle, and see which Hellas mount the easiest. Probably find them cheap on Amazon.

You may also be able to add air horns for about thirty bucks.

It takes a bit of doing to add a Vibratone, but it is a lot more fun.

Neither of these are exceptionally louder, but the sounds remain unexpected.

quote:

Is this something I could easily replace on my own?

Horns are typically fastened by a single bolt (which may also function as its grounding point) and just have one wire connection. You may have dual horns (high and low pitch, one of each). If one is dead, that might explain your volume problem. However, it is very probable that the front bumper fascia would have to be removed.

Stebel Nautilus air horn...self-contained...no compressor needed...

Or, just buy replacements like what you have.

Thanks everyone!

I can’t remember the last time I honked my horn. I fact, our newest car is 7 months old and I’ve never tried it.

 
Depending on how wimpy your current ones are, and how powerful the replacements are, you may need to use a relay for the new ones. Very simple to install.
 
Personally, I like the classic horn sound, one high note, the other low note. Use a pair from a 60's-70's Cadillac or something like that. I am using a pair from a '74 Land Cruiser. Plenty loud enough for safety, pleasing to the ear, and not annoying like air horns or train horns.
 
The older horns do use more amperage, which is why I mentioned using a relay. They may even be wired with a relay on the car you take the horns from.