Applicable to: '99-'05
FIAMM Low Tone Electric Horn, Item #72012. Paid about $13 through Amazon.
I have practically no DIY experience, and most installation jobs on the Miata (I own an NB) are way out of my league. That being said, this swap was pretty easy, once I had my hands on the wrenches I needed for the job. The NB (and maybe the NA) horn is located in front of the radiator, near the top-left corner (looking into the mouth of the car). There is a single nut holding the stock horn onto the bracket; I was able to get to it with a ratchet through the front, while eyeing the target from above with the hood popped. It's not a comfortable work space, but it's totally doable. The terminal wire attached to the horn was a bit tougher to remove- it's a squeeze-release plastic end- but I was eventually able to yank it off. Putting the new horn on was relatively easy; I used the existing bracket and the factory wire. Only a new nut (included, fits the screw on the new horn) and the ground wire (also included, grounds the unused second terminal to the top of the horn) were added to the setup. This horn is a bit bulkier than the stock Knight horn, so I had to bend the bracket a tad so it wasn't rubbing against the radiator.
The end result is a noticeable improvement over the stock sound. Replacing the high pitch with this lower tone is a nice bonus. Definitely worth the money for the peace of mind and the more aggressive sound.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '99-'05
Electric replacement horn.
Just OK. Nothing special. And the Pep Boys store had a negligible stock of Fiamm products. So they serve their interest poorly in using Pep Boys to distribute the product.
I am underwhelmed with this product. It went in quickly and nicely replaces the stock unit, but it is not loud enough. The increase in volume is not worth the effort spent to change-out the standard horn. I wonder if Fiamm has changed / cheapened the design? It appears I am the only naysayer on this, but I will stick by the judgement. I intend to locate some horns from an old 'Murican car and get some racket! This horn does not make the grade.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
AW-80
Excellent
Just purchased the AW-80 for $15 at Pep Boys and removed and installed it during my lunch break. Definitely worth the money. I also purchased the dual air horn online at Harbor Freight, but after reading reviews and the instructions, decided I didn't have 1 or 2 hours to do the install. Probably do it sometime down the road, when I have more time to work on my car. For the money, the Fiamm AW-80 is simple and much improved over the stock horn.
Under 5 minutes to remove
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
The FIAMM El Grande horn is basically a kit with the AM-80 high and low note electric trumpet horns together in one package. They throw in a 'fancy' colored plastic back in red or chrome, and chrome plastic 'grills' on the end of the trumpet (I took em off and threw em out). They also have all the mounting hardware you will need, as well as a relay but I didn't need to use it. The best part however was the whole thing only cost $22.99 at Pep Boys.
Installation was extremely easy on my 2000. I first went to the store and bought a second metric flange nut for the second hole (bring the stock one and match it), about 3 feet of 16 gauge insulated stranded copper wire, a bunch of wire taps, and a bunch of 14-16 gauge blade connectors. I simply removed the stock horn, and unplugged the wire from the connector. I did not need to reuse the stock bracket at all so I just set it to the side. I measured the wire by eye, trimmed it, put a female blade connector on one end, and used a tap to splice into the existing wire on the other end. I attached the mounting strap to each horn, and attached the stock wire connector to the blade of the first horn. I mounted the first horn to the stock-mounting hole with the included mounting strap. I repeated this for the second horn using the hole that is the mirror of the one on the passenger’s side, zip tied the wires down, and I was done. Total time to install, with trip, was less than an h! our.
What a huge difference this mod made! The horns sounds great, and they’re rated at 130 db @4 inches so they’re much louder than the wimpy stock one. The dual tone sound great too. It’s a lower range than any air horn so it sounds more intimidating IMO. You can actually hear the way the ‘El Grande’ sounds here: http://www.fiammamerica.com/media/productsounds/1056789641102003105615El Grande.wav
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to:
Electric horn - very loud. The stock horn is pathetic - if another car has their windows rolled up, they couldn't even hear the old horn (even if neither of us was moving!)
Very easy to install. Use mounting the bolt from the original horn, and the wire from the original honr. The original horn is at the front of the car, (up against the front, close to the radiator), but you can still get to the horn. I ordered the new horn from Harbor Freight - $9.99 + $2.95 shipping + $5.95 "handling". Took 13 days to arrive.
Not as loud as the horn on a semi, and it's not a dual-tone horn, either - but it's as loud as any other single-tone horn on any other car out there! Yay!
Not an installed item
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
A single tone horn to replace the weak OEM horn.
I purchased this product after other Miata.netters recommended it. This is an alternative to the higher priced horns and air horns. The cost is $15 from a local Pep Boys. This was the easiest thing I have installed on my Miata so far. Took about 5 minutes. Used existing wiring (only 1 wire) and existing hole. A non-DIYer can do this easily. The sound is definitely louder than the weak OEM horn. It sounds like the horns from those big-ole cars of yesteryear. Definitely worth the price and a great alternative to the $50 horns.
Under 5 minutes to remove
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
I was looking for a non-air horn that was louder than the stock horn, so based on the review here, I bought an AM-80 (single tone electromagnetic) FIAMM horn from www.harborfreight.com. It was still under $10 - what a deal! You can also buy an almost identical FIAMM horn with a different tone, and install both (they come as a single package, too) for a two-tone sound.
Since the Miata OEM horn grounds to the chassis, I first attached the (supplied) horn ground wire to the mounting screw and bolted the horn to the supplied mounting bracket. Then, I removed the "plasticboard" cover (plastic screws in plastic anchors -- easy to unscrew or put back in) between the radiator and body that covers up the A/C condenser/radiator front/horn area (in my '95). The OEM horn is bolted on near the top -- pretty easy to get at. Once it is unbolted, pull the horn up and out gently, disconnect the power wire, and plug the power wire into the new horn. Put the new horn in place w/horn pointing down and attach using the OEM bolt. I bent the bracket slightly and attached it tilting toward the back of the car, so that the new horn plastic was not rubbing on any of the metal parts surrounding it. The horn sounded great (and loud!) upon testing, the plasticboard went back on after a quick pollen-removal rinsing, and the car will never b! e invisible again!
What a bargain in time, money, and performance. I wish all the parts I wanted to install were so cheap and went on so quickly and easily. Great easy starter project for those without do-it-yourself confidence.
Under 5 minutes to remove
[1/30/2002] Reviewed by: James Brockman - boryjim@hotmail.com
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
This is the FIAMM AM-80 electromagnetic horn.
The AM-80 is a nice, less expensive, easier to install aftermarket horn option. Based on a product review here, I went to Harbor Freight Tools (www.harborfreight.com). The dual air horns are $18 now (as opposed to $40 from Moss), but the AM-80 is only $10. Installation took about five minutes - you can snap the original horn wire right on. Fit was tight, but it wedged in well, with no reaching in-around-under to tighten anything. The sound is pretty good. It doesn't have the discordant sound of the air horns - with one trumpet, the sound is a single note, but is certainly sufficient to jar the cell phone out of the hand of the soccer mom in the SUV that's drifting into your lane.
A couple of years ago, I got the FIAMM dual air horns as a present. After about 18 months, they began to get weaker; by the time I replaced them, they were sounding like a weak goose. I tried various testing to see if it was an air leak, and determined that the compressor simply wasn't up to snuff anymore. When I had installed them the first time, it was a pretty big pain in the butt. I have fairly large hands, and getting into the access holes in front of the radiator scraped up my hands and wrists. Getting the air tubing routed was another problem. I was looking for a replacement, and the AM-80 was less expensive, and much easier to install.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Fiamm Dual Air Horns
I am installing my third set in less than 1 year. I love the sound of the horns, but for some reason, they don't last. I am not on my horn very long, but only after a couple of months one of the horns wares out and needs to be replaced.
Much better sound that stock meep, meep horn and worth the money, even if they are disposable.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
Generic Fiamm two trumpet air horn kit available from numerous sources. Mine came from Harbor Freight Tools for $14.95. This is the same basic kit as sold by others for 2 or 3 times as much money. Installed on my '97 M Edition which has air, cruise, etc, etc, etc.
Took some time to figure out install instructions as I added a switch to select factory or air horns. Rest was a snap. I only had to use one "bracket" and it was nothing more that a flat piece of metal to mount the air pump next to the hood latch on driver's side. Horns mounted to existing holes down & in so not visible & are protected. No brackets needed. Popped a blade type fuse adapter over a 20A fuse and inserted into unused fuse socket. Mounted new relay on firewall. Ground from air pump run to a bolt nearby. Intercepted the grounded horn switch on it's way to the relay (green/yellow stripe wire). Put an "ON/ON" toggle switch on lower dash panel. Ran 3 leads from switch out to relays. Time to figure out and install: 3-4 hrs. FYI, wired existing horn switch to allow for quick de-install if setup quits working.
Aside from horn kit, I used the following materials: 3 - 6mmx20 bolts, 2 - 6mmx20 nut, 2 - 6mm flat washers, 1 - 5" piece of predrilled flat steel, 12 - ft (apprx) 12 ga wire for hot to relay and to air pump, 10 - ft (apprx) 1/4" convulted tubing, 4 - 12 ga fully insulated female quick disconnects, 5 - 14 ga fully insulated female quick disconnects (1 - right angle for fuse box), 2 - 14 ga fully insulated male quick disconnects, 3 - 3' pieces 16 ga wire (from switch to relay, etc), 1 - Blade type fuse adapter, 1 - 3" piece 12 ga wire (for pump ground). Horns and convulted tubing came from Harbor Freight, wire and connectors from Radio Shack and flat metal from my garage from some old project. My guess is I spent $20 plus on parts, but did it right. If you chose to simply replace factory horn, you'll spend less than $10. Email me if you want more details or photos as I am out of room here.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
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