this post was submitted on 09 Jun 2026
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[–] Noel_Skum@sh.itjust.works 2 points 15 hours ago

In the UK it’s illegal to have a car horn that operates at more than a single pitch/tone, but there didn’t seem to be a limit on volume… laws be wild.

[–] josephc@lemmy.ml 1 points 16 hours ago

You could probably wire up an airbag to the horn relay. It would be very loud for you once.

[–] escapedgoat@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Don't do a train horn. As someone with ptsd and a heart condition, those things are an absolute menace.

[–] village604@adultswim.fan 6 points 1 day ago

And likely illegal

[–] baggachipz@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 day ago

Find one that plays “La Cucaracha”!

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 26 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Find one that goes like

AWOOOGA!

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I think those are called klaxon.

Edit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adD5oC2asXI

Yes, a klaxon.

[–] wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

I want a horn here, here, and here. You can never find a horn when you're mad.

[–] blargh513@sh.itjust.works 53 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

Not to be a bummer, but the loudness of the horn will be limited by the max amperage of the relays. If the horn relay maxes out at 15 amps for 12 volts, you get about 180 watts of energy to the horn. Most horns are just a coil that vibrates at a set frequency to move the rubber or vinyl diaphragm inside the horn. That's the noise.

Short version, you can put really any horn in there, but the total amount of watts will be the limiting factor. A more efficient horn (aka a new one) will make more sound for equal input wattage.

The other option is to make an array of junkyard horns and set them up with more relays to lift the limit. You'd need to have multiple fused connections unless you just want to be a hillbilly and run them right off the battery with a giant ass relay.

You might start a fire but it will be loud as shit for a few minutes before it burns down.

[–] fubo@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago (2 children)

giant ass relay

It's a bunch of really tall dudes all having butt sex, but that's not important right now.

[–] blargh513@sh.itjust.works 1 points 20 hours ago

This might be THE most important thing right now.

[–] Postmortal_Pop@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Here I was hoping it was a normal race but Everyone's sporting an absolute dump truck.

[–] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 23 points 1 day ago

Not to be a bummer, ...

You might start a fire but it will be loud as shit for a few minutes before it burns down.

Nice.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

We're not looking for absolute max volume, just a good loud horn from any common junker...

[–] adarza@piefed.ca 12 points 1 day ago

and older american made full size sedan or pickup, perhaps. those had 'real' horns and not little 'beep beep' like my old datsun and toyota had.

[–] Canopyflyer@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

The cars that I've owned with loud horns in order of loudest:

1970 Chevrolet Impala / 1969 Chevelle. I think any late 60's to 70's GM car will have a loud horn.

2003 Acura TL. This car's horn actually surprised me. It was very nearly as loud as Chevys'.

2019 Toyota Camry XLE Hybrid: My current car and it has a surprisingly effective horn. It's a lot louder than my previous car which was a 2014 Camry LE.

[–] KittenBiscuits@lemmy.today 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Ask at the desk if they have any train horns.

The next person that cuts you off is gonna pee their pants.

[–] wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Deaf drivers: 😎

[–] Triumph@fedia.io 5 points 1 day ago

Look for a large luxury car or a full size truck. Crown Vic/Grand Marquis. F150. As mentioned elsewhere, decibels are limited by power, so look for something with a lower pitch. Lower pitch carries farther, so it will sound louder even if it isn't louder, if that makes any sense. Low pitch also means "big vehicle" so there's that mental effect at play.

Take both horns, the semi-dissonance will also help.

[–] WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today 12 points 1 day ago

Amateur. Install an air tank system so you can sound like a big rig, scare the shit outta people, get them looking around frantically for the source, and ultimately cause accidents. That's where the fun's at!

[–] newton@feddit.online 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

For $3?

Sure, I'll meet you behind the Waffle House...

[–] newton@feddit.online 4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Nah, its 6000 miles from here

[–] LordMayor@piefed.social 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I hear you can just get teleported to Waffle Houses now.

[–] newton@feddit.online 3 points 1 day ago

OK,Scotty two to beam up !

[–] wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

piano intro

Making my way downtown, walking fast, faces pass and I'm homebound

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

I've seen a hidden camera clip where they installed first a truck horn, and later a large train's horn on the underside of a very small car, something like Mercedes A class or Smart.

Two innocent looking Japanese ladies drove that car, creeped up behind a car stopping at a traffic light, and HOOOOOOONK!!! all while looking completely unconcerned.

[–] OwOarchist@pawb.social 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If you can find one from the same make and model, (or even just the same make and a similar year) that would make the wiring much easier, though.

It would save a lot of trouble to just be able to plug it right in to the OEM connector, rather than needing to splice it into the wiring manually ... likely in a cramped location with poor access.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

That's the thing, the wiring absolutely doesn't matter. Every typical horn uses 12~14 battery voltage. This truck currently doesn't have a horn, so I'm open to options..

Edit: Aw shit, you think this thing has OEM connectors? 😂🤣

[–] OwOarchist@pawb.social 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Aw shit, you think this thing has OEM connectors?

I mean ... most cars do. And I don't know anything about yours.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Our truck used to belong to a meth head, numerous wires have been cut, bodged, rigged up, etc, including the wires that originally went to the horn. Its a clusterfuck that I'm still reverse engineering to get things wired back up the way they're supposed to be, or at least as close as I can get it.

Whatever horn I end up getting, I'm cutting that part of the wire harness from the donor vehicle too so I can have proper wires and a plug to splice into our truck.

[–] Steve@startrek.website 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

They all about the same, but I like your energy.

[–] thlibos@thelemmy.club 1 points 1 day ago
[–] NegentropicBoy@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago