GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

need to get a new horn as my stock horn is no longer working. need one to pass inspection in may and thats coming really soon lol. those that have replaced their stock horn, what do you have and would you buy it again?if anyone remembers i used to have a 100watt amplified whelen electric airhorn but am now using the speaker for my siren, so in order to continue using the power supply for the electric airhorn id have to buy another 100 watt speaker and i dont really feel like dropping 100-150 for another speaker to supply the amplifier when i already have a whole siren setup at my command ya know although its very very tempting to get a whelen howler or federal signal rumbler later on down the road...so far ive been looking at these optionsfiamm ultimate blast hornstebel nautilus motorcycle hornhella hornsjunkyard

I have the Hella Horns and I love them. I could post a video with sound if you want to hear them. They are LOUD.

i have a $20 set from harbor freight. i would link but currently their site is under construction, and that's just funny to me. i would buy them again, in fact, i am planning on it so i can try messing around with different tones and things to see what i can get to happen. xDfor the loudness, they are louder than the stock. i'm not sure exactly how much. i haven't really needed to use it yet but the few people i have honked at have jumped pretty high. gotta love freaking friends out. actually. HOB heard mine and so did the others at the last illinois meet, any comments from them?

I installed a set of Highway Blasters. They are loud, claimed 132db ea, easy to get and not expensive, but they do have a more American car sound vs. the Hellas. And as Keithvibe has pointed out, not as impressive to look at. (e.g. not red.)They also draw quite a bit more power (in pairs) than does the OE horn, so you would need to wire in a relay... if installing the pair.

I had my hella horns wired directly to a relay but once I saw KeithVibe hook his directly up to the stock wiring with no issues I took the relay out to unclutter my engine bay. So far after 2 months no issues.

Quote, originally posted by houseofbugs »I had my hella horns wired directly to a relay but once I saw KeithVibe hook his directly up to the stock wiring with no issues I took the relay out to unclutter my engine bay. So far after 2 months no issues. I've been running mine this way now for 4 years with out issue

I more than doubled the current draw when installing the HB's, so I didn't want to take a chance. IIRC, the OE single horn pulls 8 amps, 114db, the pair of HB's pull 22 amps, 132db (ea.) And that peony stock wire lead did not instill me w/a lot of confidence. Again IIRC, it's 18 or 20ga...? 22amps @ 12v is a lot to ask of such a small lead. I installed 12ga... though I know that's overkill.

Same here, hellas with no relay... it's been slightly over a year, no issues

I like this one lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...annel This would be AWESOME and scare the baa-jesus outta someone.. probably get you a fine in most States/ProvincesSorry I had to I reading this thread reminded me of my random youtube adventures awhile back. But I must say the stock horn is not as fun..

Quote, originally posted by SmAshley » I like this one lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...annel This would be AWESOME and scare the baa-jesus outta someone.. probably get you a fine in most States/ProvincesSorry I had to I reading this thread reminded me of my random youtube adventures awhile back. But I must say the stock horn is not as fun.. i've heard of train horns, but my god ferry horns?

Quote, originally posted by keithvibe »i've heard of train horns, but my god ferry horns?That was epic. I need to get one of those.

**DOUBLE POSTING NINJA ALERT!!!**Watch this. I laughed SO hard. It literally sounds like a train coming.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...latedlol and this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...lated

the hair on that lady in the first video is even more hilhairious LOL

Would this horn work in my '09, and is it a good deal and even worth it?http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-...t_960

Quote, originally posted by morbay »Would this horn work in my '09, and is it a good deal and even worth it?http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-...t_960this is what i've got http://www.harborfreight.com/1....html . i say get that and save yourself some money in shipping.

I installed these this weekend: Pics and sound coming soon... Rain was pouring when I finished my install... but it sounds great, a bit like my Grand Prix used to sound but louder. Rated at 130db @ 4".

I have installed the Hellas in both of my Vibes... and if I got another Vibe I'd buy a Hellas for it too... they are load (118db) and work great.

Quote, originally posted by tribalman »this is what i've got http://www.harborfreight.com/1....html . i say get that and save yourself some money in shipping.Thats a pretty good deal, I may have to get one of those.

My vote is FIAMM Riveria... 3 trumpets on Amazon for ~30$I'm biased, i've been using them for over 10yrs now...!!!Like a sore wang, can't beat it... http://www.amazon.com/FIAMM-66...KQ1I0

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind »My vote is FIAMM Riveria... 3 trumpets on Amazon for ~30$ That car looks like it is sporting orange teeth!! Funny stuff.

Quote, originally posted by 06pvibe » That car looks like it is sporting orange teeth!! Funny stuff.It'll bite ya too...!!!

When you guys install your new horns, are you also installing a new horn button? My 04's horn doesn't work at all. Checked the fuse and it looks good and there's a wire from the harness hooked up to the horn. Rather than spend a lot of time and $ trying to figure it out, I just as soon put in a new horn.

I bought the cheap plastic chrome electric horn kit from Harbor Freight for ~$9.00. Ran a #14 from the battery for power. Used the stock horn wire to trigger the included relay.The new set will not make anyone pee in their pants but is waaaaay better than the stock horn.Much much better.

Quote, originally posted by dqami »When you guys install your new horns, are you also installing a new horn button? My 04's horn doesn't work at all. Checked the fuse and it looks good and there's a wire from the harness hooked up to the horn. Rather than spend a lot of time and $ trying to figure it out, I just as soon put in a new horn.i am using all the stock wiring. to see if something is wrong with the wiring or a fuse or something get another person and an multi-meter. have the other person press the horn button while you have one end of the multi-meter connected to the positive lead on the horn and the other lead on the frame that is connected to the horn. this will let you know if something is up. the only thing i had to change for my new horn is connecting the negative lead on the compressor to ground and then changing the stock fuse from 10A to 30A.

Quote, originally posted by tribalman »i am using all the stock wiring. to see if something is wrong with the wiring or a fuse or something get another person and an multi-meter. have the other person press the horn button while you have one end of the multi-meter connected to the positive lead on the horn and the other lead on the frame that is connected to the horn. this will let you know if something is up. the only thing i had to change for my new horn is connecting the negative lead on the compressor to ground and then changing the stock fuse from 10A to 30A.Thanks! I'll try that out.

My choice for aftermarket horn was the Stebel Nautilus Compact. Rated at 115dB at 2 meters, 139 dB at 4 inches. It has that European/Ferrari type sound. Makes sense...they're made in Italy and Stebel once upon a time supplied horns to Ferrari. Hear it:http://www.stebel.it/stebel2009/product ... NEUMATICSA few months back I felt the need for a pointless project so I reinstalled my OEM horn. I hooked up both horns up to a SPDT toggle switch so that each horn would operate from the steering wheel but not simultaneously. Flip the switch up and you get the friendly OEM meeep-meeep. Flip it down and you get the Nautilus.**********Quote, originally posted by dqami »When you guys install your new horns, are you also installing a new horn button? My 04's horn doesn't work at all. Checked the fuse and it looks good and there's a wire from the harness hooked up to the horn. Rather than spend a lot of time and $ trying to figure it out, I just as soon put in a new horn.Another simple test that may help isolate the problem is to listen for a "click-click" from under the hood, specifically from the engine compartment fuse block, when you press and release the horn. If you get the "click-click" then the problem is most likely between the fuse block and the horn itself.A while back when the Nautilus was my only horn it stopped working. I'd press the horn and just get the click-click. As it turned out the horn's ground wire was corroded. I replaced the wire and all was good. Though in the case of a bad ground with the OEM horn, I'm not sure how that would be fixed (other than replacement) since the horn grounds itself on the mounting bolt.**********Quote, originally posted by SmAshley » I like this one lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...annel That guy (airraidsiren) on youtube is my horn hero! He has quite the collection of ship horns. My personal favorite...he honks at a cruise ship and it honks back.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSVgJsQU ... *****Quote, originally posted by houseofbugs »Watch this. I laughed SO hard. It literally sounds like a train coming.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...latedThat is awesome!!! Sherri's hair makes the vid even better.

Quote, originally posted by tribalman »i am using all the stock wiring....then changing the stock fuse from 10A to 30A.

what? the wire is rated to that, same with the stock relay.

Generally, when the bean counters downgrade the circuit to a 10amp fuse, the wiring is also downsized.As to the relay, the contacts may be higher rated but the coil may not.But then, I've been wrong before and my wife reminds me daily, les I forget.

For what it's worth, I agree w/you completely and that's why I wouldn't take the chance. 18 ga wire is 18ga wire no matter what and will only carry so much current at any given voltage. Rated relay current should not be taken as Gospel for what the rest of the circuit will carry.