Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I have a plus two 3 130 in bits. I have a maserati air horn system
It is a 3 horn system:
3 horns and 3 air lines coming out of the compressor.
Heres the problem none of the electrical connections are marked.
the compressor has 2 spade conectors on top and 2 ring (ie post) connectors on the body. A friend of mine who knows electronics thinks that there is probably a solenoid in the compressor that is why there are 2 sets of connectors one for the power from batt and one set for the actual switch on and off. But that is as far as he can help me, he doesn't know which is which and refuses to try and help me any further, worried that we might fry something. Can anyone help me? these are the genuine maserati air horns from a by gone era. New and boxed but no diagrams or markings, Can anyone help this troubled Yank?
thanks
Jhonnyrockets

Jhonny, The only Maserati horns I have dealt with have been with a single outlet to dual horns and they all had an external solenoid with a single wire feed and earthed through the compressor body. Your horns must play a musical tune hence the three outlets. I would doubt they have an internal solenoid. I would take it apart and find out.
Richard

Jhonny
If I remember correctly my Excel SE (89) had Maserati air horns.
It might help if you have a look and find out how they did them on the Excel.
Cliveyboy

I found this blog while looking for instructions to install a set of Maserati air horns that I purchased in Italy about 40 years ago - they play the first 8 notes of Bridge on the River Kwai. Does anyone know how to install these, or how I can sell them? Thanks.

I believe we have the same horns:







These were my dad's horns that get obtained from a friend's Maserati (model unknown) back in the seventies. After being stripped from the Maserati they were installed on a MG Midget, Datsun pickup, a couple Acura's and I'd now like to put them on my Subaru Outback. Unfortunately my Dad always handled the install & passed away some time ago...

You can see from above that one of the plastic connectors from the hose to the compressor is broken (damaged during an accident while on the Acura). Besides that, the horns work great - i just need to figure out the install.

I see it's been awhile since the original post - was a wiring diagram ever found/figured out? Any info is definitely appreciated.

Have a look here...

http://www.alfa-duetto.com/docs/airhorns/airhorns.pdf

oldelanman wrote:Have a look here...

http://www.alfa-duetto.com/docs/airhorns/airhorns.pdf

Wow, that's much more than I thought I could find, thank you!

Boone333,

Be careful, systems that play tunes were outlawed a long time ago. IIRC in the late 60s.

Mike

I also have a triple set. As u can see it has 2 spade terminals on cap top (as well as the post terminals on the blue metal body). Pls see pictures for what's inside the red cap on the top ! I'd like to know how to wire them up too.......jc

I'm all set to wire these up, except I need to replace the hose connector that comes out of the compressor (pictured above - grey, blue, red). I've searched all over for replacement parts for this horn & come up blank. I'm sure something could be fabricated to make it fit - but i'd like to keep the oem parts on this.

Suggestions anyone?

Maserati air horns
The two spade connectors on the top of the compressor...
Connect any one of these to the horn powered nut that comes from the relay thus is powered positive.
Connect the other spade to a single position (on/off) and then to ground (earth).
This activates a disc that will sound all three horns continuous...
A loud single (complex) note.
You can test the solenoid by simple powering it using a jumper.
Bark