I dunno if this subject is ok in this topic, but thought I would try here first.....

OK, I HATE the Maxima's horn....for a relatively nice, large car, it still has the cheap-sounding beep of my friend's Geo Metro. I hate that. I was wondering if they can be switched out (well, I'm sure it can, but how hard?) Also, I really don't know what other Nissan product has a better-sounding horn to swap it out with. Does it have to be a Nissan horn at all? For instance, I like the sound my bf's Taurus horn makes, nice and deep. I'm sure it would not be hard to find one of those, but is it switchable? Thanks for any ideas and help

 

Just Buy An Aftermarket Horn

 

Assuming nobody comes along and says the horn's attached to the sunroof switch or something weird like that, you should have no problem replacing the horn with anything you'd like.

But I'd really recommend using a relay wired straight to the battery, new horn and existing horn wire and ground to ensure you don't fry something in the electronics. Now THAT would be expensive to fix!

 

Thanks guys for your help, will keep all that in mind

 

hella supertone horns. almost direct replacements. use the stock horn wire as an activation wire to your relay. place the relay in your fuse box in FRONT of the battery. it fits nice and snug. power from battery. 3 grounds (1 from each horn and 1 from the relay) and run 2 wires from the relay to each horn.

difference = huge

loud = yes

many times, not that i did this purposely, but i've seen that when i'm driving and someone isn't looking and they tried to cross the street i've honked, they've jumepd back so scared, guess they thought an 18-wheeler was hounding them

 

How much for the Hella's and where'd you get them?

 

http://www.rallylights.com/hella/horns.asp

http://www.rapidparts.com/Pages/vwc004n.html

can't get much cheaper than that. they had a few group deals on these, but they ended up at $65 shipped. big woop. few bucks.

some people have made them direct swaps. as in they just took each horn wire (1 per horn) and put them respectively. some blew fuses. some didn't. others did that then wired through relay to battery and said that it sounded much louder.

i don't think it's that much harder to do with a relay. the relay fits nice and snug in the fuse box. pics below....the wires, if you know how to wire up a relay, are straight forward. battery to relay, relay to horn via split wires, relay to ground, and relay to stock horn wire (only need 1. the other is left hanging there.) then ground each horn (totals 3 grounds, including relay). i know this was a quick explanation, but i just assume most people know how to wire up a relay.
big note: use waterproof wires and connectors. you may think "ah whatever, i dont' need it" as did i and all my wires and connectors are rusted. they still work, but any day now they'll literally disintegrate. i may replace all the wiring this weekend. wouldn't take me more than i'd sayd 20 minutes for the whole job.

pics of relay in box....

 

Seems like an easy swap... I wonder how the Compact Trumpet kit sounds - has 400 and 500Hz (instead of 300 and 500) horns, same wattage, but has a short & wide range instead of narrow & long... And much cheaper...

 

Does anyone happen to know how many dB the stock Horns are, and how many dB the Hellas are?...

PoLo: nice info!

G

 

Wow, thanks guys, I appreciate all the info and mini-writeup (pics were especially helpful! ), that helps out alot. I hope to get that switched out relatively soon then.

 

That is actually a relay box so it should be a perfect fit.