Hella horn upgrade.

[JustinHEMI]

I just upgraded my horn to the Hella horns and it's so much better than stock. It was super simple.

First, here's the horns I used. Hella TE26 quick fit. Amazon.com


Next, confirmed that our horns are where just about every other horn on the planet is located, in front of the radiator.

This plastic cover pops off by removing the 8 plastic rivets.

Thus exposing our horns, one on each side.

Remove the 12mm bolts, and unplug, reverse it for the new horn.

For the driver side (US) horn, the cable is a little short. What I did was pop out this cable tie to get more slack, and use a 10mm wrench to adjust the horn hangar a bit, worked perfectly.

For comparison.

Voila! A truck sounding horn!

 

[handy]

Just added these to my cart. So the plug is reversed on the new horn? I am guessing it's self explanatory once I see it myself.

 

[JustinHEMI]

Self explanatory.

 

[LCNorth]

Video for the sound? If you get a minute?

 

[jmeanz]

Video for the sound? If you get a minute?

Click on the product photos on Amazon - there is a video at the end.
There are additional videos from the customer reviews, too.

 

[Nick]

I just upgraded my horn to the Hella horns and it's so much better than stock. It was super simple.

Voila! A truck sounding horn!

Just did mine 15 minutes from start to finish piece of cake. If you have trouble with those little plastic things, I used a small little 90° pick. It worked great after I got two of them up with just a fingernail before I broke my nail.
You shouldn't ruin the plastic pieces but if you should, I know Lowe's always carried them really super cheap.
I love the Hella horns. I put them on three of our Hondas. They were shaped different like just round and colorful like red or yellow or something..
This time I ordered these from eBay and they got here in seven days from Japan.
They are loud!
Also check out the sellers other items. He has lots and lots of parts for LC's.

Genuine Premium HORN Toyota Land Cruiser LC200 J200 LEXUS LX570 * | eBay

 

[handy]

Thanks for the writeup Justin. I got mine this weekend and installed them. Your note about the wiring on the driver side being a little short helped me a lot.

 

[JustinHEMI]

Thanks for the writeup Justin. I got mine this weekend and installed them. Your note about the wiring on the driver side being a little short helped me a lot.

Glad to hear it!

 

[EOD Guy]

Just did mine 15 minutes from start to finish piece of cake. If you have trouble with those little plastic things, I used a small little 90° pick. It worked great after I got two of them up with just a fingernail before I broke my nail.
You shouldn't ruin the plastic pieces but if you should, I know Lowe's always carried them really super cheap.
I love the Hella horns. I put them on three of our Hondas. They were shaped different like just round and colorful like red or yellow or something..
This time I ordered these from eBay and they got here in seven days from Japan.
They are loud!
Also check out the sellers other items. He has lots and lots of parts for LC's.

Genuine Premium HORN Toyota Land Cruiser LC200 J200 LEXUS LX570 * | eBay

To remove the plastic fasteners....... just push the center down. It will disengage the rivet, then you can pull it out (no tools needed).

 

[Nick]

To remove the plastic fasteners....... just push the center down. It will disengage the rivet, then you can pull it out (no tools needed).

You know, I read that the first time you posted that and I forgot to try it that way.
I didn't know you could do it that way, but thanks cause I'll need to remember that for the next time. I've ruined a few of them in the past.

 

[EOD Guy]

You know, I read that the first time you posted that and I forgot to try it that way.
I didn't know you could do it that way, but thanks cause I'll need to remember that for the next time. I've ruined a few of them in the past.

I’ve destroyed many a fastener in my day! I was very impressed with the new style and plan on ordering some for my Taco

 

[Rk1679]

Just installed the Toyota branded horns from eBay. Sounds like a real truck now even though I'm originally from the "polite" South where we seldom use the horn!

 

[chris_in_phx]

Okay you guys convinced me… I ordered the Toyota premium horn.

 

[chris_in_phx]

Question for you guys on the toyota premium horns… the metal hanger that bolts/screws into the metal part of the truck, they arent positioned the same as the factory horns (vertical). One premium horn bracket is sideways and the other is diagonal. I wasnt able to unscrew the brackets to adjust the them to be vertical …seems like thats not possible?

i had to install the right side at an angle and bend the hanger bracket back a bit so the trumpet housing didnt hit the black plastic that is around the hood release latch. Seems a little wonky but i think it works. Not sure if vibration over time will cause it to move or hit other parts of the frame.

 

[Bappy]

Did mine took approximately 12 to 13 minutes

 

[Trailman]

Question for you guys on the toyota premium horns… the metal hanger that bolts/screws into the metal part of the truck, they arent positioned the same as the factory horns (vertical). One premium horn bracket is sideways and the other is diagonal. I wasnt able to unscrew the brackets to adjust the them to be vertical …seems like thats not possible?

i had to install the right side at an angle and bend the hanger bracket back a bit so the trumpet housing didnt hit the black plastic that is around the hood release latch. Seems a little wonky but i think it works. Not sure if vibration over time will cause it to move or hit other parts of the frame.

If you have an impact drill, use a socket to knock it loose. I had the same issue and the impact drill loosened it right away. I have my horns point down.

 

[chris_in_phx]

If you have an impact drill, use a socket to knock it loose. I had the same issue and the impact drill loosened it right away. I have my horns point down.

I’ll try that. You used a socket bit on the hex bolt/washer, not the Philips screw part right?

 

[Bappy]

If you have an impact drill, use a socket to knock it loose. I had the same issue and the impact drill loosened it right away. I have my horns point down.

I am sure if you had some sound meter you may see a difference. But you will never notice the difference with your ear!

 

[Trailman]

I am sure if you had some sound meter you may see a difference. But you will never notice the difference with your ear!

It was to get them to fit properly. The way they shipped, one of them wouldn’t fit on the right side. Once pointed down, they fit. You can see them through the front grill so having them symmetrical was important to me as well.

 

[MileHiM5]

Just completed the swap using the Hella horns and I'm very happy. Three thoughts that may be helpful:

1. After you push in the center of the plastic rivets to release the cover (Justin's pic. #2), it becomes very loose in the hole. If you pull up the plastic shroud to remove fastener as I did, they may pop freely into the air and into the deep recesses of the front end. Be a little careful (ask me how I know!)
2. The Hella horns are mirror images (not identical). If you use the 400HZ horn on the drivers side the horn itself will be on the other side of the mount from the hood latch cover, leaving more room there and eliminating the possibility of it rubbing against the cover (this will be the opposite of the direction in Justin's picture #7)
3. By doing this you can get the horn facing down at about 5 o'clock without putting any stress on the electrical connection, assuming you popped out the wiring clip as JustinHEMI suggested (thanks for that idea)

Great, cheap, fast upgrade!