Horn replacement.

A forum for the legendary Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4.
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UndeGuy
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So my friend and I both think the horn in the PF sounds a bit wimpy. And I am half suspecting that it's more of maybe one of the two is busted, since he's had a PF too (before the oil crisis).

Last week, I was driving directly behind my friend, honking at him many times, but I just didn't get his attention.

I'm bored, so I decided to order some new horns to replace the stock horns... hey come in a pair of 400 and 500 Hz. Should get them by next weekend, I hope.



So I wonder, how much more attention I'll get with those.

There are youtube videos with people showing off those horns.


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fueler
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no idea but i have a question when you install the horn, is it better to have the actual opening for the horn tucked behind the grill, or at the opening of the grill (where fresh air is hitting it) cause ive worked on my engine bay so much and twisted the horns so many times that i dont remember how they go


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UndeGuy
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hum, I'm trying to remember how it was positioned since I haven't walked out to the PF yet, it's parked a block away.

but from what I remember, both are on a bracket right under the latch for the hood and facing the grille. at least one of them is low enough to be hit by fresh air.

I'll get back to you as soon as I take a closer look later.

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W O T
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Doesnt sound any better or louder than the stocker to me

I just need a compressor and a set of train horns are going in my car lol

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UndeGuy
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haha, I was actually thinking about train horns, but there's NO way to fit that inside (hidden).

but, I'm hoping that the new one is sufficient to get people's attention, at least those that are asleep at a green light.

re: fueler



So the second wasn't on the bracket after all, it was off to the passenger side. but both were (as you can see) subject to debris coming in through the grille.
Modified by UndeGuy at 10:24 PM 7/1/2009

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W O T
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Well yeah Im plan on putting them under the car anyways

I always thought the stock horn sounded pretty wuss to, but I dont use it barely ever, I like the finger and flashers approach lol

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K03sport
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fueler wrote: when you install the horn, is it better to have the actual opening for the horn tucked behind the grill, or at the opening of the grill (where fresh air is hitting it)
With the style of horn pictured above, you want the opening to face down. The reason is to prevent water from getting in and staying inside the diaphram mechanism.

The stock horn is round and has a metal shield that sits in front of the horn cone and the way it is designed, it is mostly protected from the weather and water isn't really an issue.

Also, I've only seen one horn on the PF...upper rad support on the P-side. Where is the second horn?

Also, if you want maximum loudness, I would install a relay. That way, the horn will get maximum voltage when you press the button.

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screwinitupagain
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W O T wrote:I just need a compressor and a set of train horns are going in my car lol
Been on my list of "sh*t-to-do" for a couple of years now...

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UndeGuy
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gah, I lost the little bit i typed... *sigh*
K03sport wrote:Also, I've only seen one horn on the PF...upper rad support on the P-side. Where is the second horn?
(changing the other pic, so when you click on it, it'll skip the imageshack display page and go straight to the full size pic... you can see half of the 2nd horn just to the left of the Nissan emblem and on the bottom half of the "grille").

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K03sport
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UndeGuy wrote:... you can see half of the 2nd horn just to the left of the Nissan emblem and on the bottom half of the "grille").
nope, not there. I'm not sure about other years, but on our '04, I only see one horn when I peer through the grill or down from the top when the hood is up.

I seriously doubt I "lost" it or someone took it. There are no wires leading to that location and nothing is dangling out of place...very very strange.

I guess it is time go on a quest for that second horn.

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Pwnin O'Brien
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Your Pathfinder only has one horn (technically). Nissan switched from a two horn setup (Hi/Low) in 2002. You only have that single horn located in front of your radiator.

You do have a second horn, but it is the antitheft horn which is the one that goes off for the security system.

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KyooX4
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The horns in the videos sound like horns for cars. Are there any available that are a little more beefy sounding?

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UndeGuy
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KyooX4 wrote:The horns in the videos sound like horns for cars. Are there any available that are a little more beefy sounding?
Uh.... you mean this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjR5K_Fb6r4

or...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiWNw0A1Ijg

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KyooX4
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Not quite to that extent.

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UndeGuy
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KyooX4 wrote:Not quite to that extent.
Well, I'm not sure what you were expecting. The PIAA Sports Horns are close to the "beefiest" horns there are for automobiles. The only thing that is noticeably louder are the big rig trucks and train air horns and then boat air horns.

Did you mean you wanted something with a lower frequency tone? More thump, than bump? I don't think there are many loud but low frequency horns out there for automobiles. The lowest after market frequency I saw was 300 kHz... which isn't much different.

speaking of sound...


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fueler
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Pwnin O’Brien wrote:Your Pathfinder only has one horn (technically). Nissan switched from a two horn setup (Hi/Low) in 2002. You only have that single horn located in front of your radiator.

You do have a second horn, but it is the antitheft horn which is the one that goes off for the security system.
my 1999.5 Infiniti QX4 (aka Nissan Terrano Regulus) has two horns in front bumper and a third horn for the anti theft hidden in the engine bay.... i know that technically mines not a pathfinder here in the USA but im just throwing that out there

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KyooX4
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UndeGuy wrote:
Well, I'm not sure what you were expecting. The PIAA Sports Horns are close to the "beefiest" horns there are for automobiles. The only thing that is noticeably louder are the big rig trucks and train air horns and then boat air horns.

Did you mean you wanted something with a lower frequency tone? More thump, than bump? I don't think there are many loud but low frequency horns out there for automobiles. The lowest after market frequency I saw was 300 kHz... which isn't much different.
Yeah, I meant a lower frequency.

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Pwnin O'Brien
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Yeah, all R50's 2001 and before will have three horns (High/Low/Antitheft) and 2002 and on will have two horns (Horn/Antitheft). The antitheft horn is on the passenger side above the front wheel well (near ABS actuator).

With the High and Low Horns (2001 and earlier), do both sound when you honk the horn?

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UndeGuy
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Dang... it took over two months for me to finally install the horns I bought.

I'm not sure if I should be disappointed... from inside the cabin, the PIAA horns sound about the same as the stock horns... from outside, it does sound a little louder.

Ultimately, the proof would be how other people react to my honking. Hopefully, this time, I get their attention.

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slickroger
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so not as good as you thought it would be? i was looking into some horns also but it needs to be loud.

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UndeGuy
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I was inside of a parking garage when I tested it, so everything got amplified by the garage.

From inside the cabin, I can't really tell the difference, but I will have to say that, the cabin is supposed to be shielded from most noises anyway.

Like I said, the real test is when I honk at the idiots doing their idiotic things in front of me. Like people driving in two lanes, especially when one lane goes in the opposite direction. Or people cutting me off by turning on their red, without looking to see that there's a 2 ton truck coming at them at 40 mph.

Sigh.

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NutsPathfinder
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You want something that is gonna get people to move, then you need a set of Hadley Bully blasters. I put them on all my trucks. They definetly scare people. I have the horns mount in the bumper, with the compressor next to it on the frame, and the tank I squeezed in the engine compartmant. I don't think I have pics of them installed. I want I could take some.

This is were I got them.http://www.carparts.com/autopa...961EA

Here is a video I found on you tube. They sound alot better in person. Gives you an idea though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v7ovPxRkxo


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