Trying to wire electric air horns into horn circuit. How to access horns to attach wires

[Pancho258]

2022 Timberline and I’m trying to access the horns so I can attach wires to add electric air horns. Has anyone tried to access the horns through the grill, and if so what requires removal? Or is there the ability to access the horn circuit somewhere else?

 

[Dennis48755]

Maybe you can tie into fuse F15 in the Battery Junction Box (BCMC). This is the fuse box under the hood.

Dennis

 

[Pancho258]

Thanks, this is a big help.

 

[IH2Expedition]

What horns are you using and where are you mounting them?

 

[Tocapet]

2022 Timberline and I’m trying to access the horns so I can attach wires to add electric air horns. Has anyone tried to access the horns through the grill, and if so what requires removal? Or is there the ability to access the horn circuit somewhere else?

You wanna go honk your way through Reynosa. LOL. Anyway, I put Grover air horns on my '09 Expy. You can remove the plastic top in front of the radiator. Then you unbolt the grill from the top and then unhook it from the bottom. You use a screwdriver to push down on the clips holding it in and push BACK on the grill at the bottom. Work from one end. Push toward the radiator. Once you get it out, then you have all kinds of access to mount your horns. After you take your grill out the first time, it will be easier the next time. Putting it back in is easy too. Just set it into place and then pull it towards you at the bottom to hook it back to the clips. Then bolt it back down at the top. I pointed my horns straight down and the sound goes everywhere. Sounds like an 18-wheeler coming. Saludos.

 

[Dennis48755]

Had I been under the impression it was that easy, I would have attempted removing the grill on my 2018 Expedition to install the remote antenna for my radar detector, and to move it to my 2022 Expedition if I ever get it.

However the Ford service manual's (2018 & 2022) describe the process to be much more complicated then you describe. But I don't know for sure as I gave up on the idea, and just installed the antenna working through the small grill openings.

Apparently there are grill lower mounting screws covered by the bumper cover. So the next step after removing the upper air deflector is to remove the bumper cover, according to the manual, looks quite tedious. Many screws, clips/pins and an electrical harnesse.

Dennis

 

[Tocapet]

Had I been under the impression it was that easy, I would have attempted removing the grill on my 2018 Expedition.

Dennis

Well, the 2018 might be way different from my '09.

 

[pauldevz]

@Pancho258 did you get access to the horn circuit?
The only source I have seen is a video on YouTube removing the top covers and prying the grill to access the actually horn screw and access the socket underneath the vehicle. Removing the grill would need removal of the front bumper.
I have a defective horn and planning to change them to a louder one.

 

[Yupster Dog]

Removing the grill would need removal of the front bumper.

There is a member on here who got just the grill off without the bumper and has a thread on it.

 

[m3olsen]

Maybe you can tie into fuse F15 in the Battery Junction Box (BCMC). This is the fuse box under the hood.

Dennis

@Dennis48755 , would you mind telling what manual this diagram came from? Is it a website?

 

[Pancho258]

I’ve installed electric air horns in a 2018 Expedition and our current 22 Expedition Timberline and F150. It is not difficult but it takes time and you have to contort your hands, arm and fingers slightly.

it can be done without removing the grill and getting to everything from the engine bay.

To enable the horns to operate from the steering wheel horn button you’ll need to tap into the wire that runs to the existing horn. That is the one difficult, time consuming chore. Once you get past that all you need to figure out is where you want to mount the horns and the compressors.

if you would like more details I can take some pics of my install on the Timberline. The electrical is a piece of cake as is mounting the compressors. It took me some additional time devising a bracket and mounting the horns behind the grill without completely removing the grill. For those who are not mechanical inclined or want to avoid how I mounted mine there are other simpler locations.

mounting behind the grill you have to be careful to space the horns away from the Radiator louver system so as to not have the louder stick in the closed or open position.

let me know if interested and i can supply details.