Fiamm horn's a dud ?

[VBdiver]

Finally had enough of those Toyota meep meep horns on my Limited.
Picked up a pair of Fiamm horns at local Pep Boy's , clerk said they would have a nice loud sound like a 70's Cadillac .
Did the install at my local storage facility where my tools & motorcycles are (downsized to a condo) had to work quick since this kind of activity is frowned upon . The install went fairly easy except a gremlin must have grabbed one of those retainer buttons that holds the shroud covering the radiator , etc. I think the other 19 or so will keep it in place ?
I was right next to a dumpster and pitched the old horns and packaging in to draw less attention . I did do a quick toot test , even unplugging one at a time to make sure they were both working . Not impressed at this point.
I should have stopped right there , climbed into that dumpster and retrieved what i discarded & gone back to Pep Boys for a refund !
They might be a miniscule louder than factory set but have a ridiculous tone of their own .
After reading many testimonials on this forum about Fiamm horns that they were the bomb , these are a MAJOR disappointment !!!
All I read on here was plug and play , got the same story from Pep Boy Manny .
A coworker said I may need a relay or an adjustment ? Kinda peeved having blown $50 and an hour of my time .
Anyone have a similar experience ?

 

[harper7]

Finally had enough of those Toyota meep meep horns on my Limited.
Picked up a pair of Fiamm horns at local Pep Boy's , clerk said they would have a nice loud sound like a 70's Cadillac .
Did the install at my local storage facility where my tools & motorcycles are (downsized to a condo) had to work quick since this kind of activity is frowned upon . The install went fairly easy except a gremlin must have grabbed one of those retainer buttons that holds the shroud covering the radiator , etc. I think the other 19 or so will keep it in place ?
I was right next to a dumpster and pitched the old horns and packaging in to draw less attention . I did do a quick toot test , even unplugging one at a time to make sure they were both working . Not impressed at this point.
I should have stopped right there , climbed into that dumpster and retrieved what i discarded & gone back to Pep Boys for a refund !
They might be a miniscule louder than factory set but have a ridiculous tone of their own .
After reading many testimonials on this forum about Fiamm horns that they were the bomb , these are a MAJOR disappointment !!!
All I read on here was plug and play , got the same story from Pep Boy Manny .
A coworker said I may need a relay or an adjustment ? Kinda peeved having blown $50 and an hour of my time .
Anyone have a similar experience ?

Congrats on your Limited! Is it new because I thought only the cheesy meep meep ones were only on 2010's.

Fiamm makes all kinds of models of horns from meep meep to big rig horns. What model did you get?
Alot of us got the Fiamm "El Grande" horns and was mentioned in that horn thread. They are pretty loud, not air horn loud,but about like any other domestic vehicle really.

 

[deekoi]

I go the same horns and was very disappointed. Super easy to install but didn't get the results I was looking for. So I went with hella horns. Sound much louder and better! Still a bit on the awkward sound but like Harper says, it's not air horns.

I dare you to stand in front of hella horns and set the alarm! You'll be pleased! You can also look up on youtube. Lots of people get hella horns.

 

[rickwol]

I too have been somewhat disappointed with the Fiamm El Grande's. Based on some of the comparisons I've read, the Hella's seem to be the better choice. They are about the same price and so I think I'm going to swap mine out.

Hella Supertone Dual Tone Horn Kit (003399801)

 

[philsey]

Please report back...

According to each mfgr's specs, the Hella is rated at 118 db, whereas the Fiamm is rated at 130 db, which should mean the Fiamm is louder.

 

[rickwol]

Please report back...

According to each mfgr's specs, the Hella is rated at 118 db, whereas the Fiamm is rated at 130 db, which should mean the Fiamm is louder.

Yey, I see that. I'm using the the stock horn relay with my FIAMMs and am wondering if the rave reviews with the Hella's is because people are using a seperate relay relay and possibly drawing more current. Also, I see that that the frequency ranges differ between the two and so there may be a different audible percepetion.

 

[Okki]

The Hella's on mine are plugged directly into the OEM harness with a grounding wire back to the frame. I like them, but had the initial "they aren't that loud" reaction as well. The thing to keep in mind is that most modern horns are directional. I became more pleased with them after I honked a couple times at some drivers that needed to go back to drivers-ed and definitely got a reaction from them.

My Hella's are also the dual tone kind and rated at 118db.

okki

 

[VBdiver]

Congrats on your Limited! Is it new because I thought only the cheesy meep meep ones were only on 2010's.

yep i'm in the 2010 cheesy horn family

 

[VBdiver]

horn relay ?

i heard that a relay to the battery with give horns more juice ? boost sound ?

hoping someone could shed some light on the subject ?

i really have no interest in something elaborate like airhorns & don't want to monkey around with electronics , warranties , etc...

 

[deekoi]

The Hella's on mine are plugged directly into the OEM harness with a grounding wire back to the frame. I like them, but had the initial "they aren't that loud" reaction as well. The thing to keep in mind is that most modern horns are directional. I became more pleased with them after I honked a couple times at some drivers that needed to go back to drivers-ed and definitely got a reaction from them.

My Hella's are also the dual tone kind and rated at 118db.

okki

Mine is step up the same way. connected to OEM harness

From the driver seat, they don't sound that loud but if you're in the path, then it's a much more satisfactory sound. I set my alarm off when my buddy walked in front of my truck with both El Grande & Hella (both times off guard). Scared the **** out of him with the Hella (he jumped and slammed into the garage and screamed like a girl ). It was a good 10 minutes of laughter :biggrin2:

My el grande are sitting there lonely in the tool cabinet.

 

[jca21]

My el grande are sitting there lonely in the tool cabinet.

rig them up on a separate switch with relay and place them in the rear of the truck aimed backwards. :hungry:

for those, "when you're trying to back out of the stall and some douche bag is walking super slow and taking his sweet sweet time moments." :nerd:

 

[libido]

rig them up on a separate switch with relay and place them in the rear of the truck aimed backwards. :hungry:

for those, "when you're trying to back out of the stall and some douche bag is walking super slow and taking his sweet sweet time moments." :nerd:

Now you're speaking my language!:bravo:

Cheers,
Greg

 

[ladywolf]

Now you're speaking my language!:bravo:

Cheers,
Greg

haha definitely! I wanna put train horns on mine with the significant number of morons running around here. (EXTREMELY annoying when I'm in the go straight lane, and someone is to the left of me in the turn left lane then decides to go straight and almost hits me)

 

[jca21]

Now you're speaking my language!:bravo:

Cheers,
Greg

thanks :trophy:

haha definitely! I wanna put train horns on mine with the significant number of morons running around here. (EXTREMELY annoying when I'm in the go straight lane, and someone is to the left of me in the turn left lane then decides to go straight and almost hits me)

got the idea from a guy with a third or fourth gen who has train horns mounted in the spare tire area and aimed them backwards.

 

[Antman]

Save one to mount under the passenger seat for when the wifey-poo starts yappin at ya. Just give her a look, hit the button and WHAAAAAAAAM!!!

Just be prepared for the forthcoming beating...

 

[ladywolf]

Save one to mount under the passenger seat for when the wifey-poo starts yappin at ya. Just give her a look, hit the button and WHAAAAAAAAM!!!

Just be prepared for the forthcoming beating...

i'm assuming you have prior experience with this.....

 

[deekoi]

Save one to mount under the passenger seat for when the wifey-poo starts yappin at ya. Just give her a look, hit the button and WHAAAAAAAAM!!!

Just be prepared for the forthcoming beating...

hehehe... I like your suggestions. I will do my best to fulfill these!

Any recommendations on how I do this? I have little to no experience in this field.

 

[Antman]

i'm assuming you have prior experience with this.....

...just the part where she beats some sense into me!