DIY Horn Upgrade Mod - Updated Jan 12

[OrientExpress]

Put the car up on ramps and Pop off the bottom aero panel and then remove and install the horns as by the DIY. One thing I found that makes it easier to install the new horns is to use a longer bolt than the one that holds the single stock horn an bracket.

In addition there is now a dedicated ground lead for the stock horn, so, make 2 pigtails, one for power and one for ground. No relay is necessary as the stock circuit is already controlled by one.

[aqn]

Just did the upgrade on my 2014 Leaf today... DEFINITELY go at it from the bottom!! I was able to get there from the top, but it is much more difficult that the original (very well done) instructions indicate.

It worked though, and I only bled a little...

I have the 2014 Leaf S, and already have the FIAMM el grande horns ordered from amazon. if you go from the bottom does it have the crush panel as indicated in this post?

Sorry, I don't have the answer to that. The front bottom panel only takes a few minutes to remove so it may be best you do that and find the definite answer (and update the wiki page, here ).

http://sfbayleafs.org/technical/diys/leaf-horn-upgrade/

Also, regarding the wiring, it's confusing based on others posts.

I also looked at the instructions included but I think they are for people that can read it properly, [...]/quote]Judging by your writing, I am willing to bet that the problem is not with you!

I can't understand exactly how to put it together and how the stock wires are/are not used.

Have you looked at the wiki page on horn replacement? Is that any clearer?

[RodeTheAlpe]

Just a quick note on this, I installed my new horn today on my 2015 Leaf. Waaaaay easier to go in from the bottom. I installed one in my 2011 Leaf from the top and this took half the time. No ramps needed!
I just removed the front 7 bolts from the bottom cover and was able to easily get the tools and horn in without completely removing the entire cover. About 40 minutes all in. Easy to see all the work you're doing through the small front grill.

fyi
I went with the Wolo Model 320-2T Maxi Sound from Amazon again and love the sound.

[OrientExpress]

yes, on the 13~15 cars going at the horn is best done from underneath.

[aarond12]

I just did my 2015's horns this weekend. It is nearly impossible to access the horn from the top of the engine bay.

Instead, carefully jack the car up or get it on ramps, take out the 10mm bolts and the first four plastic pop-offs, and the undercarriage cover will drop down nicely. Remove the 12mm bolt holding on the stock "horn" and replace it with your own. The pig-tail for power to a dual horn doesn't have to be long at all. The wire from the existing horn is quite long.

[darelldd]

Let's pretend that somebody was really tired, and wired up the horns with reverse polarity... horns worked... until they didn't. :sigh:

The good news is that I installed from the bottom I'll attempt to repair from the top. Then can compare operations on the 2011.

[darelldd]

Well, now I know.

Much faster to go in from the top of the 2011. But WAY less access. It was good to install from below (get the ramps, remove more fasteners... and have huge access. It was good to switch polarity from the top (open hood, remove a few fasteners... and have limited access, but enough to swap the polarity).

New horn fuse, and I'm all set.

[BrockWI]

Darell what did you do

[OrientExpress]

If you replace your stock horn with one(s) that don't use their case as ground, it does not matter which connector on the horn is the + or the - connection.

[darelldd]

Darell what did you do

Hey Brock! 'Sup?

I'm gonna blame old age. Thought for sure that I had the + and - sorted. And... I do now.