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Usagi · 12-30-2012, 06:42 AM

Just got back from a fabulous trip across country...really do love our Sprinter Van. But, during our trip, we had a need to use our horn. What can I say...the road is full of crazies. I had one person turn left in front of me causing me to slam on my brakes....and come to a complete stop...just barely. And another occassion, an 18 wheeler decided to come into our lane with out signal while we were passing....both times our little horn was...disappointing, to say the least.

Has anyone replaced the horn, and if so, any recommendations, cautions, etc.

SteveH · 12-30-2012, 07:26 AM

You can buy replacement horns at most any auto parts store. If you want louder, and less expensive, go to a junk yard and buy a pair of horns off a big American car.

wayneskid · 12-30-2012, 07:32 AM

You might want to check out this thread on the Sprinter-Source Forum: Replacing Horn - Sprinter-Forum

Teamaron · 03-10-2013, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Usagi

Has anyone replaced the horn, and if so, any recommendations, cautions, etc.

Replaced ours and even left factory one in place. Just cut wires and hook to this one. Excellent European sound!

http://www.wolo-mfg.com/air.htm

Teamaron · 03-10-2013, 07:33 PM

We used the 'Bad Boy' one

Teamaron · 03-10-2013, 07:35 PM

http://www.harborfreight.com/bad-boy...orn-94117.html

73shark · 03-10-2013, 11:23 PM

Since it apparently is a fairly high current device, did you use the relay to supply a separate 12V source?

barts · 03-11-2013, 12:52 AM

I have a set of Hella Supertone horns on my motorcycle; these are pretty loud and have stopped quite a few bonehead drivers. The stock horn on our 1996 F250 is plenty loud, and I'd bet are cheap from the pick & pull.

- Bart

Teamaron · 03-11-2013, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73shark

Since it apparently is a fairly high current device, did you use the relay to supply a separate 12V source?

I hooks directly up to existing 12v source with no modifications.

vswingfield · 03-11-2013, 08:03 AM

One thing to consider, when I lived in Texas back in the 1980s I installed a set of air horns on my 1977 Dodge van TV. I left the original horn hooked up in parallel. When I had the van inspected I was told that the air horns didn't qualify by themselves, but since the electric horn was still working it was OK.

Besides, it adds more sound even is it is weak.

The best horn I ever had was a 1957 Ford that had the two original horns and two more from a later model vehicle that a PO had installed. Made a lovely, loud sound.

switz · 03-11-2013, 08:12 AM

There are some small compact form factor motorcycle air horns that tend to get more attention than the feeble "eeep" sound many cars and vans have stock.

One I have used is an Italian Nautilus Compact "trombe Stebel" that generates a 139 db sound. The form factor is similar to a really large grapefruit. They use a relay (included) as it draws 18 amps when the button is pushed. I have a spare one in a package from several years ago and the price was around $40. The part number below the bar code is 8 007850 002033. Here is a link to their website for a picture:

http://www.stebel.it/stebel2012/prod...CTROPNEUMATICS

I had a person merge into my lane from the right that never looked in their mirror as the front of the truck was even with the driver door. Fortunately, there was a break down lane for me to get into as I hit both the stock horn and brakes.

Maybe a super loud PA system with the sound of a machine gun going off would wake some of these numb skulls up from their texting/sleeping/whatever mode.

russ240 · 03-11-2013, 10:34 AM

I bought a set of the old school 4-tone cadillac horns. ACD and F notes IIRC. Sounds like a chord from a pipe organ when you sound them. Pretty loud, I've heard louder but these get the job done and I love to hear them! I see the seller I got them from on Ebay a couple of years ago is still selling them. Cadillac DeVille Buick 4 Note Horn Set A C D F 120 DB Loud Impressive | eBay

Protagonist · 03-11-2013, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switz

I had a person merge into my lane from the right that never looked in their mirror as the front of the truck was even with the driver door. Fortunately, there was a break down lane for me to get into as I hit both the stock horn and brakes.

Maybe a super loud PA system with the sound of a machine gun going off would wake some of these numb skulls up from their texting/sleeping/whatever mode.

Depends. In the great third-world country that is New Orleans, they'd just shoot back, with real bullets.

But your tale does point out something I find strange. How is it that a vehicle as large as a Sprinter van is so invisible to other drivers on the highway? I've noticed that myself, on several occasions, usually at highway on-ramps, where they pull up exactly alongside, and then try to merge directly into my sliding side door.

Skater · 03-11-2013, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Protagonist

But your tale does point out something I find strange. How is it that a vehicle as large as a Sprinter van is so invisible to other drivers on the highway? I've noticed that myself, on several occasions, usually at highway on-ramps, where they pull up exactly alongside, and then try to merge directly into my sliding side door.

It doesn't matter what vehicle you're driving. I had someone do something very similar in broad daylight last week while I was driving our gray car, and a few months ago someone else nearly hit me in my red car the same way. My conclusion: They don't look.

altnbndr · 03-11-2013, 12:56 PM

My apprentice installed a "Hornblaster" air horn on his little Toyota pick-up. This has got to be the loudest horn ever. Living in Sacramento, we have what has got to be the worst and rudest drivers of anywhere. He said the little beep beep horn he had wasn't cutting it so he found this horn. I like to give him a hard time for spending so much money on a horn ( around $300) ,but I have to admit "IT'S REALLY COOL". There are you tube videos showing what this horn can do just Google Hornblaster to see.

Phoenix · 03-11-2013, 02:32 PM

FYI: Motorcycle Web sites indicate that the Wolo Bad Boy and Stebel horns are identical. One person said that they removed the Wolo label and Stebel logo was underneath.

We left the old horn in place and wired the Wolo Bad Boy in parallel. If you just tap the horn, all you hear is the original one (Wolo air compressor doesn't build up enough pressure to blow the air horn). If you lay on the horn, both come on.

73shark · 03-11-2013, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teamaron

I hooks directly up to existing 12v source with no modifications.

So the current for both horns is running thru the horn switch or did you use the relay?

switz · 03-13-2013, 07:48 AM

The air horn air compressor draws enough current (in the Stebel case it is 14 amps) to fry the regular switch. So the horn switch would energize the air horn relay as well as the original horn, if still installed.

73shark · 03-13-2013, 09:46 AM

That's what I thought which is why I asked.

Teamaron · 03-13-2013, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73shark

So the current for both horns is running thru the horn switch or did you use the relay?

All I did was cut the wires from the factory horn and connect them to new horn. Also I'm not running both horns at the same time.

I'm not an electrical engineer by any means so I'm not sure what other methods of connections there's are, i.e. relays?

The bad boy horn I hooked up uses the same 12v connections.

Hope this helps.