Is it just me, or does the horn for the 90 4runner sound a bit like a duck, rather than a horn? Mine is very faint, and doesn't really catch the attention of anyone...in the event I really needed it, I doubt it would serve its purpose.

Its rather embarrassing, actually.

So, does anyone know where the horn is located at? I was thinking about replacing it with one from O'Reilly's, but I'm not entirely sure how to do so...

 

Yep it does sound a little 'non-horn' like. I replaced mine with an after-market low tone one. The horn is located right beside your rad on the left side if you are looking at it from the front. Very easy to remove/replace.

 

just behind the grill held in place by a 12mm headed bolt. and yeah a duck with a sore throat.

 

lol yup, it's not only you. If you hit it right it sounds like the roadrunner. I got a set of horns in mine from an e34 BMW. $2 well spent at a junk yard.

 

I was once told (or maybe I read it some where) that the best or loudest horn to get, is off a cadillac. Is that true? Not wanting to put a transport type horn in my 4Runner.

 

I double-tap the horn just because it sounds like the roadrunner.

 

I read somewhere that the horn isn't grounded until you press on the steering wheel, and then it becomes grounded? Is this true?
If so, will that affect what I have to do to replace it?

I was planning on getting this horn...what do you think?

Any alternate suggestions?

P.S. Loving the roadrunner allusion. I just realized that's what it sounded like! lol

 

The original yota horn is weak at best and if you ask me, not very safe.

I junkyarded a dual tone horn off an old lincoln town car. And for the record, the old lincoln and old caddy used the same dual horn.

My problem was I couldnt mount it behind the grill because they were too wide. I mounted mine behind the rad support almost below the battery. If I ever get a chance to build a front bumper I will find a way to get it inside there.

 

Just need to make sure the horn has two wires for connection, one for power and one for ground. Some horns are set up to be grounded via their base screwed to the body sheet metal. That won't work on Toyota as they use a floating ground on the horn, then the steering wheel button, when pressed, supplies the ground to the make the horn work.

 

I put a siren from an old alarm on my truck to replace my horn it gets people to pay attention quick

 

Ran all new wires to a set of caddy horns. The mounting bracket for the horn is the ground. Just run a 12V hot to the spade terminal and mount the horn to like the inner fender or the rad support. I used a push button switch because I have a different steering wheel and don't have the proper ring for under it. If you can trace the wires from the steering wheel button, use those.

 

I really appreciate all the input!
However, I feel that I must add:

I am a complete amateur. I have no background experience with basically anything mechanical, and while I've been told this is easy enough...I still have no idea what I'm doing. lol.

I'm working my way up to the bigger things, but for right now, this is kind of my project. I don't suppose anyone would be willing to offer a step-by-step approach? I feel extremely dumb for having to ask...

 

Try filling in on your profile where you live, somebody might be close enough to come by and help.

 

The horn IIRC is only two wires, on mine I just spliced mine into the original wiring. Now the newer model truck might be different. The horn you want to get does mention 1 or 2 wire hookup so it will work. It doesn't appear that it's too large to fit so you should be good there as well.

You will have to most likely remove the grill to get to it. The procedure for it might actually be listed in the FSM as well if I am not mistaken. http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1993/1993.zip

 

Its a simple circuit. The horn is bolted to the car. This is also the ground circuit. A single wire plugs into the horn. This wire is dead until you hit the horn on the steering wheel. This will allow 12volts on the single wire attached to the horn.

Go find you a caddy or towncar horn. Find a place to mount it, remove your old and run the single wire to the replacement horn.

It is that simple.

 

At least in my '85, the horn is floating and has two wires, one for power (supplied from the Horn/Haz fuse) and the other wire is for the ground that is supplied via the horn switch on the steering wheel. Not sure if the 2nd gens are wired the same or not, but best to check, if the factory horn has 2 wires, then it needs power and ground.

Many domestic vehicles will have a simple one-wire horn.

 

my 87 has the two wires as well, but if yours only has one that doesn't mean you can't use it, you just make one wire the ground wire and ground the wire to the frame or core support or what ever as long as it's not plastic.