Mazda3 Air Horns (pics and video with sound) [Archive]

goldwing2000

06-20-2004, 10:14 PM

Ok, so this was one of the first mods I made to the car. The stock horn made me giggle every time I used it, so I figured it wasn't doing any real good.

What better to scare the bejesus out of some oblivious soccer mom who dares trespass in my lane than a set of semi-truck/freight train air horns? (rockon)

Here are the horns:
http://home.comcast.net/~goldwing2000/horns.jpg

Here is the air compressor and 130psi storage tank that runs the horns:
http://home.comcast.net/~goldwing2000/comptank.jpg

And here's a short video of how they sound (before and after)

http://home.comcast.net/~goldwing2000/Hornhi.WMV

All the brackets are custom-made (by me) and powder-coated in anthracite. All the wiring is hidden, all the hoses are either hidden or camouflaged and the power is routed through relays mounted directly in the under-hood power distribution center with an arming switch inside the car.

Total installation time, including fabricating the brackets and creating a wiring diagram, was about 25 hours. Total retail cost of all the components and powder-coating would be about $450.00 (that's not what it cost me). That's not including any kind of labor if you had to pay somebody to install it.

The horn kit is manufactured by Hadley Products (http://www.hadley-products.com/horns2.html)

and can be purchased from JC Whitney (http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=10101&langId=-1&productId=167754&mediaCode=ZX&appId=384855).

Now that I have my CAI installed, I think I may move the compressor down to the area where the factory intake resonator was to help clean up the installation and get rid of the vibration resonating through the firewall.

Oh, and I have TWO pairs of the same horns on my Goldwing. (nana)

Loose

06-20-2004, 10:27 PM

That is the shit! My wife is laughing her ass off, not at the 450.00 though. I could have used them once or twice today. Driving back from MA to PA got cut off twice...those babies would have come in quite handy. Was I mistaken or did you say you have them on your bike as well. OMG! That must really get that poor M-F'S attention as he is trying to ignore you as he pulls infront of you. LOL.
Seriously, it looks good dropped but the HP has got to come first (cheaper too) remember, I'm a cheap bastard. So, where did you order the CAI from and the springs too. My wife just went to bed and I'm about to order a CAI in polished. Won't she be suprised. Now where the hell is her credit card......

CGCG04

06-20-2004, 10:31 PM

Haha, that's awesome. I installed a PA in my car so if someone cuts me off i start yelling at them, or maybe just flip on the siren really quick. I was thinkin of going with an airhorn too, but for now the PA gets it done.

mazdaspeedpower

06-20-2004, 10:37 PM

I was actually planning on getting the Train Horn kit from JCwhitney...it's as loud as a train..mwuahahahahaha. I'm serious about it too..not kidding. I plan on enjoying it thoroughly. I'll hook it up so that when I lock it, it honks normal horn though..cause I don't think the 4 blocks around me would enjoy a train horn sounding every now and then. Good some other people have caught on, that the louder the horn, the better. How qucikly did they ship that to you man?

ghost

06-20-2004, 10:39 PM

LOL!!! Super WOOT WOOT!!!

VPower

06-20-2004, 10:44 PM

I like that!!

goldwing2000

06-20-2004, 10:45 PM

Loose: Yes, I have two pairs of those horns on my bike. "Loud pipes save lives", my ass. You have to have the noise going forward!
I got the springs from shox.com but I got the only set they had and they said they won't be getting any more till at least the end of this month. The CAI is used and I got from a member of the Mazda3 Forums who was selling it on eBay. It has a little rash mark on it but it's not visible when installed. There are other people selling them on eBay for about $185 shipped. Or ptuning.com (http://www.ptuning.com/html/discount_code.cfm?clubid=pt************) has them for a decent price.

CGCG04: I don't know if I would be able to keep my temper with a PA. Stupid drivers piss me off to no end. (rant) (pissed)
I sure like the looks on people's faces as they frantically scan their mirrors for the freight train, though. (thumb)

goldwing2000

06-20-2004, 10:55 PM

How qucikly did they ship that to you man?

I actually have had the kit in my garage for a while, just didn't have the right vehicle to install it in. :D

I've always had good service from Whitney, though. No more than a week, usually less.

Don't count on their "train horn" to be as loud as a real train, though. You wouldn't be able to fit an air tank big enough to actually run them anywhere in the car! The two-trumpet "train horn" they have is 115dB. Not bad but not as loud as mine. (lol2) The three-trumpet one is only for vehicles with on-board air systems. (boom07)

newblu3

06-21-2004, 12:08 PM

Careful with the PA. My friend and I were pulled over and ticketed for talking over it while driving. And we were even saying stuff to people we knew. My buddy was driving so he got the ticket. Disturbing the peace or something really stupid. The cop was in an unmarked Grand Prix so we didnt even know there was a cop around until his lights were flashing. Totally sucked.

Astral

06-21-2004, 12:24 PM

mazdaspeedpower

06-21-2004, 12:35 PM

I think we already have this one (http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=48&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&storeId=10101)

(rofl) (rofl) (rofl) (rofl) (rofl)

goldwing2000

06-21-2004, 01:11 PM

Awesome!!

I installed air horns on mine recently, but they are a lot wimpier (better than stock, still!)

Are these really 133db in volume?! Mine are 118db, and I though they were pretty loud.

How about this though (http://www.wolo-mfg.com/truck.htm)--152db! I don't know whether that's possible to install on a Pro/Mz3.

I actually looked at those. :D

Besides the fact that they are so huge that you'd have to mount them on your roof, the air consumption is so high that you'd need a 5-10 gallon air tank and full time compressor with it's own engine to recharge the tank. Those horns are made for vehicles that already have an air supply (trains, semis, etc) and would be next to impossible to adapt to passenger vehicle use. Of course... where there's a will, there's a way. (lol2)

Da 6

06-21-2004, 01:33 PM

I'd love to see people who cut you off swerve out of the way when you lay down on those (spin)

goldwing2000

06-21-2004, 01:49 PM

I'd love to see people who cut you off swerve out of the way when you lay down on those (spin)

It's a thing of beauty. (evil)

TuRbOtEcTicS

07-26-2004, 11:23 PM

this is abit off topic but where is the airhorn located on the mazda3?

goldwing2000

07-27-2004, 12:10 AM

this is abit off topic but where is the airhorn located on the mazda3?

Well, it's not on "the" Mazda3. It's on MY Mazda3. And you can see it behind the bumper in the very first picture.

TuRbOtEcTicS

07-27-2004, 12:45 AM

Well, it's not on "the" Mazda3. It's on MY Mazda3. And you can see it behind the bumper in the very first picture.
i meant the stock air horn. :) hehe

goldwing2000

07-27-2004, 09:22 AM

i meant the stock air horn. :) hehe

No such animal.

The Mazda3 does not have stock air horns, it has an electric horn attached to the frame rail behind the left corner of the front bumper, very close to the intake resonator.

Da 6

07-27-2004, 09:45 AM

is the tone of stock the same as the 6? the stock horn is actuly manly compared to my last vehicle...now the air horns...(laugh) not anywhere near girly man at all!!

do you guys also have 2 of them..I have 2 horns(boom01) !

goldwing2000

07-27-2004, 10:31 AM

Nope. We only have one stock horn and it sounds like you're squeezing a clown nose. Listen to the video I posted. It has the stock one first and then the replacement for comparison.

http://home.comcast.net/~goldwing2000/Hornhi.WMV (http://)

Da 6

07-27-2004, 12:30 PM

AMTRAK!!!! but yeah 6 has 2 electric Manly man horns located behind my newly open mesh grilling that I made even louder by doing so. every time I double tap the keyfob people jump back and yell cause I didn't give them ample warning(laugh)
If I had those I don't think they would even talk to me anymore.

goldwing2000

07-27-2004, 01:03 PM

Da 6

07-27-2004, 02:52 PM

Exactly. With that weenie horn, even I didn't want to talk to me.

I like the freight train sound, though. I've got it tied to key-on power which stays active for about 10 seconds after I shut the car down. Plenty of time to double-tap the lock button. (evil)

I'm thinking about switching it to constant power but if I do that, then if I ever lose air pressure, the compressor will kill the battery in pretty short order (it draws 12 amps). If I'm feeling motivated, I'll switch the actual horn solenoid to constant and leave the compressor with key-on. (shrug) We'll see. All I have to say is you had to be shure about your manhood before blowing the horn at someone in my neon. Horns aren't supose to go "Meeeeep"! how do you have it set up now? it isn't on an aux switch/button setup? leaving it on after turning the car off....guess it would make it easy to find your car in a crouded parkinglot or torment people who walk by.

goldwing2000

07-27-2004, 04:36 PM

I have it wired to work with the regular horn but I have a disconnect switch set up so I can disable it (for what reason, I don't know (evil) )

Tormenting people who walk by is exactly why I would hook it to B+ power. (laugh)

styles_t

07-27-2004, 04:40 PM

the train air horns are loud as hell - one of my friends have train air horns and its scary

bvmazda3

07-27-2004, 07:23 PM

the train air horns are loud as hell - one of my friends have train air horns and its scary

My dad has them hooked up - mind you, he has a 32ft coach bus, which has on-board air... jackass loves to honk 'em when I'm walking by. (boom08)

Nope. We only have one stock horn and it sounds like you're squeezing a clown nose. Listen to the video I posted. It has the stock one first and then the replacement for comparison.

Would it be possible to wire up another electric horn in addition to the stock for a little more oomph? I'm trying to save up for the wife's "needed" bedroom suite, then it's 'Hello Performance Parts'.

Bart

Loose

07-27-2004, 08:35 PM

I'm trying to save up for the wife's "needed" bedroom suite, then it's 'Hello Performance Parts'.

Bart

Just bought a new dryer tonight instead of a Eibach pro-kit and a CAI. Damm priorities.

bvmazda3

07-27-2004, 08:55 PM

Just bought a new dryer tonight instead of a Eibach pro-kit and a CAI. Damm priorities.

I hear ya, buddy - I hear ya. Well we were going on a road-trip to see her in-laws at the end of next week, but we decided instead of racking up the credit cards and spending our meagre savings that we would go on a low-budget camping adventure for 10 days closer to home, and buy most of the bedroom suite.

Her fave phrase lately is, "Once we get that bedroom suite, we'll have the money saved up for the car parts 'in no-time-flat'". I dunno what the hell that means - I've never heard of flat time, but I guess it's a bad thing.

Bart

Edit: At least I don't have to meet the rest of the in-laws! ;)

bvmazda3

07-27-2004, 11:23 PM

Mikey444

07-28-2004, 12:44 AM

That's bloody cool!!!! Me want, ME want!!! seriously I want that soo badly, damn just the other day this soccer mom cut me off at a stop sign, I honk and she just looks at me and goes off like nothing happened.

Da 6

07-28-2004, 01:21 AM

Just bought a new dryer tonight instead of a Eibach pro-kit and a CAI. Damm priorities.You may not have lowered the car but you did lower the center of gravity of your butt.;) in du e time you will have your springs.

Let us know how that horn goes...a few protege guys go to parts dept and get the Mz6 factory ones...If you are ever at a meet...as one of the sixers to blow it(Horn...(no) ) for ya.

goldwing2000

07-28-2004, 09:46 AM

Alright! So i just went to the parts store and asked for the cheapest and loudest horn they had. The gentleman pointed me to the FIAMM Freeway Blaster (low-tone - 130db, 405 Hz) for $20 CAD.

You guys think this will compliment the current MeepMeep sufficiently? Does anyone know (or think they can estimate) the tone frequency and db's of the current horn?

Will it matter if i mount this thing in front of the radiator?

Is our setup a single or dual wire setup? Can I just tap the current power wire of the OEM horn?

Whoo! So many questions! So excited!

Bart

It's got to be better than stock.

No problem mounting in front of the radiator. Just make sure it's not touching.

Factory setup is single-wire, case ground. Should be an easy install. If you have some electrical skillz, you should wire it directly to the horn relay. If you don't feel comfortable with that, you can just tap off the horn wire. You might lose some juice but it will work.

I'll see if I can dig up the dB/freeq numbers somewhere.

bvmazda3

07-28-2004, 02:05 PM

It's got to be better than stock.

No problem mounting in front of the radiator. Just make sure it's not touching.

I put it there, but I think I might play around with final placement (angle of horn, height) to see if it makes a difference in output. Was easy to mount, though!

Factory setup is single-wire, case ground. Should be an easy install. If you have some electrical skillz, you should wire it directly to the horn relay. If you don't feel comfortable with that, you can just tap off the horn wire. You might lose some juice but it will work.

Cool! Now I took a lookee at the relay, but I'm unsure how to find out which of the terminals is outputting power to the horn. The way I see it, there will be at least 2 contacts that are putting out 12V, one into the relay and one out. I dunno how to tell the difference.

I'll see if I can dig up the dB/freeq numbers somewhere.

I tested the horn out with power directly to it briefly, and according to my ear-dyno it is a LOT lower and somewhat louder than stock. I think it's too low and quiet to be used by itself, but the two of them should work out perfectly!

Bart

Edit: Whoops picture had one extra terminal than in reality... corrected.

bvmazda3

08-02-2004, 06:22 PM

Bump ...

Nobody can help? :)

Bart

goldwing2000

08-03-2004, 09:37 AM

Bump ...

Nobody can help? :)

Bart

No offense... but if you can't figure it out then you probably shouldn't be digging around inside the PDC.

Just a thought. (dunno)

bvmazda3

08-03-2004, 06:02 PM

No offense... but if you can't figure it out then you probably shouldn't be digging around inside the PDC.

Just a thought. (dunno)

Well, thanks! That was a great reply! Some of us would like to gain experience, but don't have the resources available (wiring schematics, etc) to be able to find an answer.

Thanks for being so helpful! I think you're right! I'll just stop everything I'm doing, because I'm unsure how and won't EVER learn!

Bart

P.S. I DID in fact try to gain more knowledge about mazda relays. Thanks for the elitist info!

goldwing2000

08-03-2004, 06:42 PM

Ease up, man. I thought about that reply long and hard before I wrote it because I had a feeling you were going to get pissy about it.

I'm not being elitist. Or a smart ass. All I'm saying is that if you don't know how to determine which wires do what on a simple 4-wire relay, then there is a pretty good chance that you're going to hook something up wrong and possibly fry part of your car.

I didn't have any resources available (wiring schematics, etc) when I was hooking anything up in my car. Just the owner's manual, a multi-meter, experience and lots of patience.

You obviously know how a relay works. It shouldn't be a big trick for you to figure out which wire is the switched output. In the time it would take me to go down to my car, disassemble the PDC and figure out which wire I tied into, you could have done the same thing yourself and would have gained that much more knowledge and experience for having done it.

I'm just trying to have people become more independent in their repairs.
Call it a quest. It bugs me when somebody (not saying you) wants to do all kinds of things but doesn't want to learn the how and why of doing it. Theory is just as important as operation.

Since you've gotten so bloody upset about it, I'll give you a hint:
Follow the horn wire up. It will be the same color.

bvmazda3

08-03-2004, 06:50 PM

Fair enough. I just re-read my post, and realised I was being an ass-hat.

I must apologise for being pissy. Having a bad day and taking it out on others is not one of the most admirable things that I could have done.

Thanks,
Bart

goldwing2000

08-03-2004, 08:07 PM

No harm, no foul. Hope your day improves. (hippy)

tunersteve

10-18-2005, 05:40 PM

I also found this site (http://www.hornblasters.com) which carries a train horn setup, and which gave me the idea to put in mine. If i had the space to mount the tank, I might consider it.

goldwing2000

10-19-2005, 08:45 AM

I also found this site (http://www.hornblasters.com) which carries a train horn setup, and which gave me the idea to put in mine. If i had the space to mount the tank, I might consider it.

You'd need a place to mount those huge-ass horns, too. (boom07)

Mike835

10-23-2005, 03:30 PM

This thread is just so terribly interesting. I'm driving an '05-M3Spt Gt and I have said to my wife that many times that the horn is kind of whimpy and suggested we look for what you have done. This is why I have really liked this thread. I believe in making my point "loudly" for effect when necessary and these horns will do that !!! A couple of weeks ago in heavy slow traffic I squeezed into another lane at a clear monent. A car somewhere behind started blowing - rather - really tooting their horn. I couldn't see who it was because it was a Mercedes behind me and no self respecting Mercedes owner would have such a feeble horn - I thought. Sure enough later down the road the Mercedes driven by a crazed young thing must have mistakenly thought I had cut her off - at least judging by the rather nasty things she yeled out at me as the dear passed. Now if she had a decent horn I would have known that someone was a tad annoyed !!!

Go loud or stay home !!!

BC3I

10-23-2005, 09:16 PM

la cooka racha...

goldwing2000

10-24-2005, 10:05 AM

Go loud or stay home !!!

Damn right! (2thumbs)

I'm going to have to make and post a video of the horns on my bike...

tunersteve

10-24-2005, 10:45 AM

Well, you did show those turkeys who was boss on Saturday. One of my personal favorite things abou that day.

goldwing2000

10-24-2005, 10:57 AM

LoL... yeah, they were like "WTF?! I'm outta here!" (hah)

Amemiya

11-22-2005, 10:35 PM

It's good you got that, The stock horn is REDICULOUSLY funny. (rofl)

Da 6

11-23-2005, 01:25 PM

Wow I forgot this thread. might opt for the electric style one

tunersteve

12-13-2006, 04:56 AM

Well, im bringing this back from the dead, but my compressor died on my air horns. Went and bought a new one, and now I'm devising a way of hooking up 4 air horns in the car. I'm hoping that it will effectively make them much louder, but I'm not sure yet. I will keep ya posted.

goldwing2000

12-13-2006, 10:48 AM

Yeah... like those little weenie electric horns are better than my air horns.

Whatever, dude. :rolleyes:

dcomiskey

12-13-2006, 10:57 AM

Here are the horns:
http://home.comcast.net/~goldwing2000/horns.jpg

Holy shit! LOL!!!!!!!! That is awesome!!!! I have the Hella horns that I never installed in my VW that I'll probably (yeah, like I did before) install soon. The stock horn is pretty weak. Can't wait to listen to your clips. (cool)

quiet desperado

12-13-2006, 11:51 AM

Holy shit! LOL!!!!!!!! That is awesome!!!! I have the Hella horns that I never installed in my VW that I'll probably (yeah, like I did before) install soon. The stock horn is pretty weak. Can't wait to listen to your clips. (cool)

This is just too funny. I was just complaining to my wife about little clown horn that comes on my badass MS3. She says: so, what are you gonna put on, a semi horn? And there it is. Fit's nicely but I was thinking more along the lines of the 6's horn.

goldwing2000

12-13-2006, 04:01 PM

Hey Dude? I am not saying that they are better. I am just been helpful. That is why we call this America, freedom of expression. Dude(omg)

You said:

Hella Supertones are the best and easier to install.

So yeah... that means that you think they are better.

And yes, you are free to express yourself (even though you're not even IN America :rolleyes:) but I also have the freedom to think you'll full of crap. :D

goldwing2000

12-14-2006, 12:07 AM

Puerto Rico is not part of the USA, it is a commonwealth of the USA. A self-governing, autonomous political unit voluntarily associated with us. You have a form of citizenship but you can't vote in presidential elections, nor do you pay any federal taxes.

And furthermore, I have not given any description of you, much less added any adjectives. (screwy)

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/adjective

If you're going to claim to be an American, you might want to think about learning proper grammar (not that it seems to be a requirement these days).

And none of that has any bearing on whether everyone is or is not God's children. That's another beauty of the USA... we can chose what God we want to believe in, even if it's no god at all.

You guys do make some seriously good rum, though. I was just down there last May. (thumb)