Horn Upgrade

19012 Views 69 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Dammit, 2 mo ago

j2bhrv

Discussion Starter · Sep 15, 2017 (Edited)

Did a few searches but did not find anything on this subject so I thought I would start a thread to see if anyone has upgraded the OEM chipmunk fart horns. The OEM horns have a odd one pin waterproof connector and the only plug and play solution I found is the aftermarket "sport" horn kit sold by College Hills Honda, they have the correct connectors built in and are only $15 on their website, but I wanted something louder. They also sell a wiring adapter kit that allows use of aftermarket horns with the more common spade connectors. The real limitation is in the stock wiring is that it is very thin gauge and the 10 amp horn circuit capacity. Most twin horn kits draw more than the stock circuit can handle and require a relay and higher amperage fused circuit from the battery. You can access the drivers side (left) horn from above but the passenger side (right) horn is mounted low and may require removal of the inner wheel well. I decided to use the wiring adapter lead that plugs into the OEM connector to trigger a relay for new 20 amp horn circuit using 12 gauge wire and 20A fuse holder directly to the battery. I used the accessible left side horn wire for the relay trigger and installed a Stebel Nautilus compact air horn at the left horn location. The right side horn was not touched because it was too hard to get to, and on my LX it is the horn that "chirps" when I double press my keyfob lock button. The results? Well, distracted half awake commuters will no longer ignore the polite "meep" from the stock horns as they drift into my lane, this thing will get anyone's attention, even with windows up and radio on! The pic below shows the main components but not the 12 gauge connecting wire.

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j2bhrv

Discussion Starter · #2 · Sep 15, 2017 (Edited)

Here a link to the Collegehills wiring adapter kit I used (page 3) and the horn kit (page 1) for anyone interested in a plug and play set up.

http://www.collegehillshonda.com/category/2016-2018-honda-hrv-accessories-aftermarket.html

And the Stebel air horn, they make a compact truck air hon too

but it was too big to fit in the HRV's left horn location.

https://www.amazon.com/Stebel-11690019-Nautilus-Compact-Black/dp/B00CMX20H4

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Dammit

· #3 · Sep 15, 2017

There have been a few discussions regarding upgrading the horn. Einz, for one I think did this. If you search on just horn in the search bar in the upper right section of this page you'll find quite a few hits. One involves removal of the front bumper (not needed unless you're going to move the horn to a new location). But yes, many have issues with the minimal sound coming from the factory horn.

Gizmogal

· #4 · Sep 15, 2017

I wish I lived where you live, j2bhrv.

NYC drivers ignore all horns, persistent, annoying and loud ones, too. If you blow your horn at a NY driver, they just use their horn to tell you they heard yours. Pedestrians are likely to just make a hand gesture. No one who drives in NY is at all impressed if yours is "bigger" (in decibels). So I gave up on aftermarket horn upgrades.

Come visit and share your big horn someday. New Yorkers will share right back. Maybe not louder, but you'll know how much they appreciate hearing from you.

j2bhrv

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 15, 2017

Dammit said:
There have been a few discussions regarding upgrading the horn. Einz, for one I think did this. If you search on just horn in the search bar in the upper right section of this page you'll find quite a few hits. One involves removal of the front bumper (not needed unless you're going to move the horn to a new location). But yes, many have issues with the minimal sound coming from the factory horn.

Did the search you suggested but did not find any forum threads on the subject except for a ad from Collegehills about their horn kit. I do remember reading of others interested in replacing the stock horns but no details on if they did. Hopefully others will add the products and methods they used for their upgrades and have a good source of info for others looking to do this mod.

j2bhrv

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 15, 2017

Gizmogal said:
I wish I lived where you live, j2bhrv.

NYC drivers ignore all horns, persistent, annoying and loud ones, too. If you blow your horn at a NY driver, they just use their horn to tell you they heard yours. Pedestrians are likely to just make a hand gesture. No one who drives in NY is at all impressed if yours is "bigger" (in decibels). So I gave up on aftermarket horn upgrades.

Come visit and share your big horn someday. New Yorkers will share right back. Maybe not louder, but you'll know how much they appreciate hearing from you.

Maybe so, but watching them spill their latte's and drop their iphones is worth getting the finger. I live in lower Fairfield County, not far from NYC, same type of divers here too but the BMW's and Mercs have less scratches and dings.

DONINAUSTIN

· #7 · Sep 15, 2017

I put the horns from College Hills Honda on my car. They are plenty loud for me. I want to be heard, not rude to everyone around me.

Don in Austin

Fearturtle44

· #8 · Sep 15, 2017

With driverless cars, going to be strange to be honked at. ?

Phalkon30

· #9 · Sep 16, 2017

I put the college hills horns in without removing the front clip, wasn't hard just Awkward. Nobody can hear the horns though, have literally honked at friends going down the freeway and they say they never heard a thing. Oh well, they were cheap

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Dammit

· #10 · Sep 17, 2017

j2bhrv said:
Did the search you suggested but did not find any forum threads on the subject except for a ad from Collegehills about their horn kit. I do remember reading of others interested in replacing the stock horns but no details on if they did. Hopefully others will add the products and methods they used for their upgrades and have a good source of info for others looking to do this mod.

http://www.hrvforum.com/forum/385-hrv-exterior/33314-front-bumper-removal.html

oetbyg

· #11 · Sep 25, 2019

Has anyone done this on a 2019?

College Hills Honda said their upgrade horns would fit the 2019 although they haven't changed the description to show that.

I ordered horns for both our 2017 CR-V and 2019 HR-V. CR-V was easy, then I read up on the HR-V install which looks more challenging. However, all the posts I found here were done on years prior to 2019.

Thanks...

Ein

· #12 · Sep 25, 2019 (Edited)

Dont know if some of you can reach the old thread?

www.hrvforum.com

Honda HR-V Forum

www.hrvforum.com

www.hrvforum.com

There is not need to remove the bumper. Watch the video for locations of the horns. They can be changed from the top fro driver side and bottom for the passenger side. Other than cosmetics and electronics, not much have changed for the 2019 models

Phalkon30

· #13 · Sep 25, 2019

I upgraded my 2016 by sticking my arms over or under, at most had to take out some of those little plastic clips. I wouldn't think the 2019 is much different, definitely try without removing the bumper!

My arms were a little cut up, would recommend long sleeves. Should be like a 30 minute job though, and the parts are cheap enough just go for it and let us know

oetbyg

· #14 · Sep 27, 2019

Interim report. The driver's side was pretty easy, one handed, from the top with a ratcheting 12mm socket to unbolt.

Auto part Engine Fuel line Automotive engine part Vehicle

That was the low freq. horn as Honda installed it. From the plug orientation on the replacement, I put the high freq. horn there, assuming I could finish the other side. Ha.
That has not been easy, and awaits next week when I can get back to it.
So for now, the car is a soprano.
From others' reports, I think the underbody splash panels may have changed, and it is pretty low to get under it.
Did you jack it up or use ramps? It seems the best access without removing the bumper, is from the bottom.

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Ein

· #15 · Sep 27, 2019

You have a FWD?

It is a bit tight, but did not need to jack it up.

Phalkon30

· #16 · Sep 27, 2019

Mine is fwd, I had to remove one corner of the panel underneath for passenger side

oetbyg

· #17 · Sep 29, 2019

Einz said:
You have a FWD?

It is a bit tight, but did not need to jack it up.

AWD

oetbyg

· #18 · Oct 2, 2019 (Edited by Moderator)

2

Finished the job. Drivers side done as noted in post #14.
I ended up jacking up the passenger side a bit to give me more clearance. I'm not as flexible as I used to be, and it helped getting both hands into the area where the horn was.
I opened the bottom of the compartment noted in the manual for changing the fog light and wrestled the flap down and out of the way. Then I could see clearly where things were.

Auto part Vehicle Car

I twisted the electrical connection 90 degrees so it pointed up while the horn pointed down.

It's a little tricky doing this stuff with limited access and bad sighting.

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CalgaryHRV

· #19 · Nov 16, 2019 (Edited)

Mostly my wife drives our HRV but I ran an errand in it the other day and I needed the horn...

siiiighhh...

I was working on our Acura TSX and noticed the horns on it. Took one off and plugged it into the HRV with a ground jumper wire.
The connector is identical, the horn is just much larger and much louder.
A quick cross-reference of Honda p/ns and found that the 2006 TSX horns are also used in the 2000-07 Honda Accords.

Off to a self-serve auto-wrecker, tons of Accords, picked up 2 horns off an '07 Accord, pass and drivers side, high and low frequency.
They look identical to the pics in this thread.

Back home, tested both horns with a 12V test power supply, took about an hour to install both in the HRV, plug and play.
Broke all 3 plastic pin retainers on the passenger side underbody front access panel.
The pin retainers are different than the other underbody pins.
I have tons of various Honda pins, clips, etc. You always need those on hand when working on a Honda.
Replaced those pins and installed both horns. Low frequency on the drivers side and high freq on the pass side.
It likely doesn't matter which side is which anyway.
And now our HRV has real horns for a total of CDN$5/ US$3.75 and a couple hours of quality time in the garage!

Thanks to everyone for the info in this thread...

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Goobers

· #20 · Nov 16, 2019 (Edited)

I did the swap using PIAA sports horns a few weeks ago... I bought the same horns I bought previously for a Nissan Patherfinder, but later moved to split between a Honda Fit and Honda Ruckus. Sure, I could've taken the horns off the Fit and Ruckus... but I still intend to use the Fit and Ruckus, plus I cut the splash "shield" from the horn when I installed it on the Ruckus.

It came with ground wires which were quite lengthy, so I just twirled it around the back where the bracket mounts. I also ordered some adapter wires from Amazon... you can find the same thing from College Hills Honda (both adapter plus ground wires)...

The driver side was a bit of narrow reach, but easier than the passenger side. I took out one pin and one screw along the fender, then two more pins holding the fender to the underside. At that point, I pulled the fender away and reached in through there. Now that was a tight squeeze since I didn't jack it up and only turned the front wheels to the other side... and annoying as hell trying to ratchet the old one out and then new one in.

I guess my time blindly doing PC parts repair influenced this... I mean literally, there are times I had to plug in things in the PC where I couldn't see a thing and had to rely on "this thing feels about right." >.<

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