They're on the support that runs across in front of and above the radiator.

Tim

 

See my album for some photos of the OEM horns and location. As quickdtoo says, they are just behind the grill but there is not much space in there. I imagine you are asking as you want to replace them with something more intimidating than a flatulent duck.

Getting in there is pretty straightforward. Remove the large plastic shroud by pressing in the center part of the neat clips. Undo a bolt at each end of the metal cross support and jiggle it free. The horns are attached to this.

I went to ACE hardware and picked up a piece of alum angle and drilled this to run from the OEM horn brackets and then drilled this near the center to mount the horns. Used angle as I figured 1/8" flat bar would bounce the entire time and the angle won't. If using snail shell style horn, be sure to angle the mouths down slightly else I am sure rain would get in there as they are partially exposed behind the grill.

The OEM connectors fitted the Wolo Full Blast horns (one hi, one lo tone). Much better than the Toyota ones, but not super loud. Just sounds more like a horn. quickdtoo used some Freeway Blasters(?) - these may be louder, maybe not. Do a search on his other posts for more info.

Including the 20 mins to run to Ace, probably took 90 mins, but I was taking my time.

Hope that helps.

John

 

John is correct on the Fiamm Freeway Blasters, they're rated at 130Db, very loud. I had to dremel part of the horn bell off to make them fit, as John said, there's not much room tween the grill and the A/C condensor. I used the brackets that came with the horns, had to reshape them a bit to make them work. The OEM power connectors worked with no changes.

Tim

 

HORN STUFF

Thanks guys.

A different horn is probably on my rainy day list after I look where you told me and see how bad it is in there.

 

Before you replace your horn, go and stand in front of it and have someone honk the horn. For some reason it sounds really weak inside with the doors and windows closed but quite load outside......more so than normal...

 

I agree. Its aimed to the front and its very loud if your out there..

Before you replace your horn, go and stand in front of it and have someone honk the horn. For some reason it sounds really weak inside with the doors and windows closed but quite load outside......more so than normal...

 

Hummm...
Don't you have to pay attention to the power draw of any new horn you install?? Would think that you would need to understand what the power rating of the Toyota horn relay is before swapping out the OEM horns.

Do most replacement horns come with their own relay??

 

RATINGS

Yes the RAV4 horn is fused at 10 amps. Some of the loud horns are 18 amps so an extenal relay is in order.

And yes the present horn is pretty loud. While lacing up the Wheelskin I have blown it by accident about a million times. :roll:

 

Summer, that concerned me at first, figured if it was a problem, I'd install a secondary relay, but it's been working fine. I gave it a continuous 15 second blast a couple times in a row to test it. The alarm has been triggered a couple times at the shooting range, the horn blasted away intermittently for at least a minute or so until I could unlock and turn it off. Still works fine. :wink:

Tim