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95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Air Horn Problems

Old 04-06-2004, 08:41 PM
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Air Horn Problems

Howdy guys,

Its good to finally have some free time to mod again after being super busy for the past month. Ok, so over spring break I bought a set of FRAIM Air horns for cheap at Harbor Fright ($13.00). Today I installed them. I set out to make it so I have a switch in the cab to select/unselect the air horns so I didn't kill some old lady if she doesn't see the light turn green. I drew out my diagrams and started working. I made it so the horn button on the stearing wheel controls the air horns (when they are selected with the second switch in the cab). That all works, but when I de-select the air horns, my stock horn won't work. :pat:

I can hear the relay clicking when I push the horn button on the wheel but I ain't got no sound!

What do you guys think? How can the relay be engauging, but the stock horn not tooting?

I will post a diagram of what I did.

Thanks guys,

Erich
Old 04-06-2004, 08:50 PM
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Here is the diagram, hope its not too small

Erich
Attached Thumbnails Air Horn Problems-horn-troubles.jpg  

Last edited by Erich_870; 04-06-2004 at 08:57 PM.
Old 04-06-2004, 09:05 PM
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It sounds like something may be reversed.

Here is my install write-up on my horns:

http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/jnburtman/AirHorns.html
Old 04-06-2004, 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Jason B
It sounds like something may be reversed.

Here is my install write-up on my horns:

http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/jnburtman/AirHorns.html
Its possible , but I don't know where to start testing. Does anyone know how to tell if it matters which wire I have the relay spliced into on the stock horn? There are two plugs that connect to the horn. I took my volt meter, and found the one with a positive signal and pluged a male connector and wire into the stock female. Ran that wire to the relay, then a wire back to the stock horn and connected it with a female connector to the horn. I figured it would work great

Erich
Old 04-07-2004, 01:46 PM
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I think I figured out the problem. The Air Horn system is ment to replace the stock horn, so just putting the relay infront of the stock horn produces to much resistance so the stock horn doens't get enought juice. I'm going to switch the system around a little and use a SPDT relay and it should all work out. Now I have to order it, RadioCrap doesn't carry one.

Shout out if I you want to see the changes I have made if you're interested.

Erich
Old 04-07-2004, 02:28 PM
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If you wire the relay in parallel with the horn switch in the steering wheel, you'll be okay. Right now you have the coil of the relay in series with the load, and in fact "downwind" of the primary load and as you've guessed, I'll bet you're not getting enough current through the circuit to fire both the relay and the horn.


Have fun!
Old 04-26-2004, 02:57 PM
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Well I got the horns working! I ended up going with a SPDT relay and running the always hot (+) wire from the stock horn to the shared pole on the relay then the NC tab went to the air horn, while the NO tab went to the stock horn. I stood there scratching my head for a second to why my air horn would go off when I touched it to ground until I remembered that the horn switch on the steering wheel is on the neg wire, so I ran the ground for the relay and the air horns back down the negative wire at the stock horn and it all works! This whole project finally gave me a reason to put together a dedicated wiring tool box too! I'd be happy to share more info if anyone cares. Just let me know.

Erich
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