Air horns

[G M Fude]

Sweet! Thanks mate -- I can't ask for much better than that (well you could come over and install it for me I suppose! )

The MX-5 is the first car I've owned for about 17 years. I never did anything to the company cars myself (hell why would I?) and I think I've forgotten most of what I ever knew when I was fiddling around with my Datsuns and Alfas and such. I never even pull the dipstick to check the oil in company vehicles (Seized? Okay, organise a tow; not my problem).

[Alf]

Andrew, where did you take the power from for the horns? I'm still finding may way around under the bonnet of an MX-5.

Don't have Andrew's phot skills, but I took mine from the original electrical horn wiring (as recommended by Thompson in their MX-5 kit (which cost way more than $55 but included a bit of bent metal). This meant replacing the existing (15A, I think) fuse with a 20A one. No new wiring had to be done. Everything works as expected. The original horn circuit already has a relay.

Cheers,
Alf

[G M Fude]

Okay, that's interesting. I can't say the gauge of the standard wire fills me with confidence though -- the Nautilus air horns draw 18 amps. Might give it a try.

I still have to figure out which bolts get the front bumper off to mount the horns. There is no way I can figure to replace the standard horns without doing so; underneath they are just barely visible through the grill, only the bottom parts. From the top, can't see 'em at all, with that aluminium cover which links the front bumper and the radiator in the way. I'd need fingers like E-T the extraterrestrial, and X-ray vision, to accomplish the task otherwise.

Yes I could bolt them in the engine bay; but there should be space behind the bumper and if that's where the originals are then that's where this one goes. Can't see where the wire plugs into the originals anyway...

[Andrew]

Okay, that's interesting. I can't say the gauge of the standard wire fills me with confidence though -- the Nautilus air horns draw 18 amps. Might give it a try.

I didnt want to risk blowing the one fuse that has the horn and brake lights on the same circuit (i think) so i installed the relay.

I still have to figure out which bolts get the front bumper off to mount the horns.

Don't think there's a need to remove the front bumper, the thought didnt cross my mind when installing mine.

There is no way I can figure to replace the standard horns without doing so; underneath they are just barely visible through the grill, only the bottom parts. From the top, can't see 'em at all, with that aluminium cover which links the front bumper and the radiator in the way. I'd need fingers like E-T the extraterrestrial, and X-ray vision, to accomplish the task otherwise.

My horn is mounted in the OEM position, you can see this in the third pic on the previous page. You can also see a pit more of my custom bracked in this image. If you want i could remove the horn and snap another pic of the complete assembly for you.

Yes I could bolt them in the engine bay;

Been there done that - link

but there should be space behind the bumper and if that's where the originals are then that's where this one goes. Can't see where the wire plugs into the originals anyway...

Yes, i know there is space for the 'compact' not to sure about the standed Nautilus though.

Where abouts in Melbourne are you located

[G M Fude]

Malvern. I work in Hallam, when I get home tonight (if I remember that far ahead!) I'll take a couple of pics of how impossible the installation with bumper in place would be. Yours is an '03, right, Andrew? Mine's an early '02; I can't see why they'd be much different. Access from the top is totally prevented by a metal plate, which I presume is there to direct air through the radiator. I've heard that some MX-5s overheat but I've been stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on a 42 degree day and all was okay.

[Andrew]

Mines a 98 and yes i installed mine with plate and bumper attached.

[G M Fude]

Okay, here we go, proof positive that I'm not Ansell Adams.

This photo is looking straight down on the front of the car. The pressed aluminium plate is clearly visible, the two pentagonal holes at each end are not only a wee bit small to reach through, but there's some sort of metal cross member directly underneath it. Can't even see the horns from here. The rivets at the front of the pressed aluminium plate are what hold it to the bumper.






The second photo is taken low, looking up into the grill mouth. I stuck my hand in there to give a bit of scale to the shot, and I'm pointing to the driver's side horn; the passenger's side one is that small dark arc behind the black bumper support post. The radiator you'll know is a long way back from the front of the car, so I'm really reachin' right in there just to touch the horn with the tip of my finger.






I can't see how it could be done with bumper in place; either our vehicles are way different, or... well, I don't know of an 'or' unless I'm a complete idiot.

[Andrew]

ok here goes, the two circled bits in the following pix hold the OEM horns in place -




i'll take my horn off tonight and show you the bracked that i bent up for the Nautlius.

[Andrew]

Ok here we go again

OEM bracket -



My custom fabricated bracket attached to the Nautilus and OEM in the background -



...same as above but reverse angle -



installing through the mouth -



...continued -



..positioning for bolting to the car -



..doing up the bolt, bolt also acts as an earth for the horn -



final position of bracket and horn -

[G M Fude]

Hmmm, I see. That's good info about those circled bits in the first pic being the upper parts of the horn brackets. This may be doable after all. Thanks very much for the hints and tips.

Roll on, weekend...

[Andrew]

Hmmm, I see. That's good info about those circled bits in the first pic being the upper parts of the horn brackets. This may be doable after all. Thanks very much for the hints and tips.

Roll on, weekend...

Cool, lets know how you get on

[Andrew]

Hmmm, I see. That's good info about those circled bits in the first pic being the upper parts of the horn brackets. This may be doable after all. Thanks very much for the hints and tips.

Roll on, weekend...

Did you have any luck with the install

[G M Fude]

Did you have any luck with the install

Thanks for asking, but haven't touched the MX-5 for a week and a half. Been too busy to even back it out of the garage. I guess if I haven't been driving it I don't need the air horns! Long weekend in two days so the plan is to tackle it then.

[Juffa]

Just picked up a Nautilus compact horn of E-bay for $44. Is is being sold by a local business (East Coast Spares) so I can pick it up and cut out the postage costs.

J