Technical Horn Upgrade anyone?

[rocker man]

Hi all. Have lived with the horn on my Pop for 4 months. The rest of the car is cracking - but the horn is pitiful. Town use gets laughs from pedestrians. This from a nation renowned from using car horns for no reason whatsoever. Odd.

I've bought the Stebel Nautilus from Halfords.

But the instructions are (1) waaaay too small to read and (2) from what I can make out - pathetically vague.

So. Two choices. Go back to Halfords and get them to fit it (assuming they will?). Or see if anyone on the Forum has already gone down this road and has successfully fitted the thing.

Can anyone help?

 

[PlopHole]

So. Two choices. Go back to Halfords and get them to fit it (assuming they will?). Or see if anyone on the Forum has already gone down this road and has successfully fitted the thing.

Just went on the Halfords site and searched for the Stebel Nautilus, and the Q&A section and it says they don't offer a fitting service.

 

[rocker man]

Ah.

So that be (1) visit Halfords and try to get my money back or (2) hope someone on the Forum can help.

Any thoughts people?

 

[PlopHole]

Can't help any further myself, I don't understand how the instruction text can be too small though?

 

[Zakt]

Hi all. Have lived with the horn on my Pop for 4 months. The rest of the car is cracking - but the horn is pitiful. Town use gets laughs from pedestrians. This from a nation renowned from using car horns for no reason whatsoever. Odd.

I've bought the Stebel Nautilus from Halfords.

But the instructions are (1) waaaay too small to read and (2) from what I can make out - pathetically vague.

So. Two choices. Go back to Halfords and get them to fit it (assuming they will?). Or see if anyone on the Forum has already gone down this road and has successfully fitted the thing.

Can anyone help?

I've got that model of horn on another of my cars. It's very loud, but it consumes quite a bit of power, so you'll be needing to use a relay and direct positive feed from the battery (fused, of course), with a positive input feed from the original 500 horn to activate it
I had a quick poke about under the bonnet of my 500 during the summer, to see whether it's worthwhile, but in the end decided not to bother. The original horn's not the most accessible in the world, and the wiring plug fitted means you'd either have to tap into it's positive feed with a scotch lock (not the best idea) or skin and burn your hands trying to solder in a feed wire.
I guess it could be done if you had the time though

 

[Super Uwe]

I had a wee chuckle to myself when I read this...

Funnily enough I actually used the horn for the first time today ever (it's taken a month!). We have a 1.2 Pop as well.

And I thought it was actually quite reasonable!! Maybe it's just me...

I remember the old man used to have a Proton and that had the worst horn ever - it was laughably bad in fact. You wouldn't have flinched even if you were stood in front of the bonnet!

 

[rocker man]

Thanks guys.

I think I'll be making the return trip to Halfords for a refund/credit note or whatever.

But seriously - the instructions are printed in the smallest type size since William Caxton had a good idea. And I wouldn't trust myself breaking into the car's electrics armed with minute diagrams and vague text. It has fire hazard written all over it. In very small letters.

 

[Zakt]

I had a wee chuckle to myself when I read this...

Funnily enough I actually used the horn for the first time today ever (it's taken a month!). We have a 1.2 Pop as well.

And I thought it was actually quite reasonable!! Maybe it's just me...

I remember the old man used to have a Proton and that had the worst horn ever - it was laughably bad in fact. You wouldn't have flinched even if you were stood in front of the bonnet!

To be honest I was only thinking of upgrading it as I find other drivers often fail to see smaller cars - the reason why I fitted one to a small sports car I own. But you're right, it's not used very often - I think that I've only used it in the 500 to clear birds and the odd rogue child

 

[Lloyd71]

I want a train horn in mine to scare the bejesus out of any SUV drivers who cut me up.

 

[calie]

I like the horn it sounds like the first 500

 

[Super Uwe]

To be honest I was only thinking of upgrading it as I find other drivers often fail to see smaller cars - the reason why I fitted one to a small sports car I own. But you're right, it's not used very often - I think that I've only used it in the 500 to clear birds and the odd rogue child

Haha! Yeah, that sounds about right.

Know what you mean, small cars do tend to get ignored. We were out last weekend and were queuing behind a Ford Galaxy waiting to park in a shopping centre

The Galaxy decided to reverse so that they could choose a different space - but clearly didn't see us!

For some reason though I never used the horn then - if I had they would of course have been terrified - don't mess with a 500

 

[Zakt]

I want a train horn in mine to scare the bejesus out of any SUV drivers who cut me up.

Here you go:

http://www.hornblasters.com/products/category.php?c=train-horns-and-air-horns

I once did a bit of research into truck horns too, but they all run on compressed air - you'd need an enormous compressor in your boot to get any sound out of them

Would be funny though

 

[Lloyd71]

Here you go:

http://www.hornblasters.com/products/category.php?c=train-horns-and-air-horns

I once did a bit of research into truck horns too, but they all run on compressed air - you'd need an enormous compressor in your boot to get any sound out of them

Would be funny though

That's where I got the idea from, that and the guy who has a ship horn in the back of his little Scion (I think it's a Scion)

 

[nottsfiat07]

I like the horn it sounds like the first 500

I seem to recall reading somewhere that the 500 has a retro sounding horn on purpose, so this is probably why! I've never blown my horn in the car...

 

[grimwau]

so this is probably why! I've never blown my horn in the car...

So that's why my house didn't move then!

 

[nottsfiat07]

So that's why my house didn't move then!

Tried my level best!

 

[306maxi]

Here's a couple of links that may help

Firstly a fitting guide from the GP

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/118218-fitting-stebel-nautilus-air-horn-gp.html

And probably more helpful, a Panda thread
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/116017-after-market-horn-panda-100hp.html

 

[Zakt]

Here's a couple of links that may help

Firstly a fitting guide from the GP

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/118218-fitting-stebel-nautilus-air-horn-gp.html

And probably more helpful, a Panda thread
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/116017-after-market-horn-panda-100hp.html

Some useful info there, although I'm concerned that not everybody sees fit to use an extra relay. I cannot stress how important this is with the Nautilus horn - it consumes a hell of a lot of power. While the existing wiring may be ok for a quick parp (pardon my french), for long term reliability and peace of mind a relay really is essential. Its easy and cheap to add one in any case, so there's no excuse for not using one.

 

[Bianchiboy]

I want a train horn in mine to scare the bejesus out of any SUV drivers who cut me up.

Train horns are fantastic! When I'm not stopping at a station and going through at 125mph a quick blast at anyone pratting about the wrong side of the yellow line sorts them out. And sometimes they are so shocked they do a funny little dance as well - usually the ones on their mobile phones who don't realise they're walking around in little patterns like a bee.
Only downside is you need 7 bar of air pressure to run one.

 

[nottsfiat07]

Train horns are fantastic! When I'm not stopping at a station and going through at 125mph a quick blast at anyone pratting about the wrong side of the yellow line sorts them out. And sometimes they are so shocked they do a funny little dance as well - usually the ones on their mobile phones who don't realise they're walking around in little patterns like a bee.
Only downside is you need 7 bar of air pressure to run one.

I never noticed that about the mobile phone/bee dance thing but you're right! I do that! How spooky!