Horn Connections

fyrgrrl · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:43 pm Post subject: Horn Connections

I have horns on my 1985 and 1987 Vanagons that sound like emasculated goats. I have looked at the horns and see two wires with rubber boots covering the connections. Do these just pull off? The rubber seems brittle and I don't want to break more than I have to...but I do want to get the poor goats replaced.
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1987 Vanagon Westfalia (manual) - "Van Hildegaard"
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (auto)
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (auto) - "Blau Frau"
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (manual) - "Braunkuh"
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback (auto)
2003 Subaru Legacy L wagon (auto)

VW_T25_BOB · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject:

Yeah the rubber boots and wires just pull off.
Mine were crusty, so I slid the boots down the wire and then pulled the wire off the horn terminal. A good spray of electrical contact cleaner helps get rid of the grime.

I replaced my stock horn with a Hella twin air horn kit. Mounted the compressor to the stock horn bracket after I bent it up to tuck the compressor up out of the elements. Used the original wires and just plugged it in. Mounted the horns facing the rear (to keep water out) to an existing hole in the body next to the spare tire holder.
It sounds cool and really gets other drivers attention when needed.
The stock horn kinda just says "HI!"

fyrgrrl · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:45 pm Post subject:

Cool...thanks. I have a two horn set that I put in my Ford F-150 a long time ago. It's a Hella (I think) and has both the hi and low freq....but it's not an air horn. Still should be plenty loud.

I'll give it the ol' one, two three tomorrow!
_________________
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (manual) - "Van Hildegaard"
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (auto)
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (auto) - "Blau Frau"
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (manual) - "Braunkuh"
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback (auto)
2003 Subaru Legacy L wagon (auto)

fyrgrrl · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:06 pm Post subject:

Well...that was easy.

But...my Fiamma horn (not a Hella) only had one terminal connection, so I am guessing the ground was to the chassis. So...when I turned the key to test the horn, the horn started honking without me pressing the horn button on the steering wheel. Shocked

What's up with that?
_________________
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (manual) - "Van Hildegaard"
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (auto)
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (auto) - "Blau Frau"
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (manual) - "Braunkuh"
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback (auto)
2003 Subaru Legacy L wagon (auto)

Christopher Schimke · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:38 pm Post subject:

The ground wire for the horn is the one coming from the horn button. The other wire is hot constantly. When you hit the horn button, the wire grounds, making a complete circuit. I'm not familiar with the Fiamma brand so I can't really say how they intend for it to be be wired. Is there more than one threaded stud on the body of the horn? I'm thinking that maybe one is isolated from the circuit and the other one is intended for the ground hook-up? Just a thought.
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fyrgrrl · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 4:51 pm Post subject:

That about explains what I thought was the problem. I guess I'll just get a two terminal Hella aftermarket 113db horn.

Thanks Loogy!

Heather
_________________
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (manual) - "Van Hildegaard"
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (auto)
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (auto) - "Blau Frau"
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (manual) - "Braunkuh"
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback (auto)
2003 Subaru Legacy L wagon (auto)

mr_vanagon · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:54 pm Post subject:

I added a pair of grover air horns under the front end and a viair compressor with a 1/2 gallon tank on the frame rail (where a propane tank would be on a westy). The control box is tucked under the dash and held in with some super strong magnets. I figure that the fire engines and ambulances that use these horns stock are usually heard so I shouldn't have any trouble. If anybody is interested I'll post some pics or maybe a video so you can hear the joyful noise. It always gets me a wave from the guys who drive the big rigs around me on the interstate and the middle finger from an occasional a-hole tells me I'm using it right!
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'68 Autostick Bug Mom bought new
'89 Tintop Vanagon Dad bought new

dragonfire709 · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:42 am Post subject:

I fitted a set of Colonel Bogey/Dukes of Hazzerd musical horns. Now they get peoples attention! Laughing

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My name is Roy


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