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Speaker installation...you CAN do it!
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Reviews
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Date of last review
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1
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2261
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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None indicated
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8.0
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Description:
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This post is for the people who have not upgraded their speakers in the MM yet. This post is also in reponse to an earlier post I read where a gentlemen said "if you have never changed or taken off door skins before, don't do it". Forget that! I can personally tell you that it is NOT hard. If you have never done this, then I will guide you through the install. Go for it....do it yourself.
First, I picked up two pairs of the Kenwood eXcelon KFC-X688C 2-way speakers. If you can spare the cash for these, buy them! These speakers are top notch and sound unbelievable. I promise you will not be disappointed. So when you are ready, lets begin.
1. The rear speakers are very easy and really need no explaining here. Simply lift up the grills from inside the car and then take the four phillips head screws out and swap the speakers. Put the grills back on and you are done. Installation time: 12 Minutes.
2. The fronts need a little more patience, but are not hard to change. Tools Needed: A nut driver with some bit attachments. You will need a 3/16, 9/32, torx bit, and flathead. Below is a picture of the only tools you will need.
3. Now we will locate the screws that must come off to remove the door skin. You will find two 9/32 screws under the bottom of the skin. One 9/32 screw hidden under the switch assembly. And finally, one torx screw behind the door release under the cap.
4. Begin by removing the two 9/32 screws underneath the door skin on the bottom. Just take a look down there, you will see them. Next, use the flathead and gently pry the cap off behind the door handle. Use a torx bit and remove the screw behind the cap.
Now we have to remove the switch assembly cover that is in the door. Use your flathead and gently lift up the front of the assembly so you can grab it with your fingers. Lift the panel up gently from the front and make sure to slide the assembly forward and out. Be carefull: There is a clip underneath that I broke off. See below.
Here is the piece I am talking about that I snapped.
Finally, you will see the 9/32 screw that is underneath. Just get in there and remove it.
Thats all there is to it as far as removing screws. If you removed more than 4 screws, you are wrong!
5. Then we have to remove the triangle piece up towards the top of the door skin. This is not hard, just try to be as gentle as you can. Use the flathead again and pry the top of the piece away, so you can get your fingers under. Carefully pull the top away and out, remembering that the bottom of the piece slides up and out. Be carefull: if you just pull that piece straight out, you might snap the clip off the very bottom of the piece itself.
6. Now you are ready to remove the door skin (or pull it away anyway). Carefully pull the door skin out and up to get it to come off. There are hooks on the inside that just lift up and out (NOT those pain in the *** door snaps that they use to use). Just rest the skin out of the way so you can have access to the speaker.
7. You can now take the old speaker out by the four 3/16 screws holding them in. Unclip the old speaker and throw it in the trash (cause it aint worth CRAP!). Well, do what you will with them. Here is where you must take those same four 3/16 screws and cut them in half for the new speakers so you do not bind the speaker mount. I used a dremel and just grinded off half the screw. Use a hacksaw if you do not have a dremel. Finally, place the new speaker in, hook up your speaker leads, and screw it back in place.
NOTE: I used the clip adapters that just clip on to the factory wiring so you do not have to cut the ford factory speaker clip. Harness used: Metra 72-5600 turbowire harness. These are nice clips, but be carefull. The clips have a 4 inch lead on them. I screwed up by soldering the Metra on and having a four inch clip hanging. When I clipped on the factory plug, the speaker wires were all together too long inside of the door when I put the skin back on. This caused the window to interfere with the wire everytime I put the window up and down. On the drivers side it literally ripped the lead off the speaker and I had to take the door all the down to get to the speaker and fix the problem. What I did was, I cut the leads down on the Metra and just about soldered the clip onto the speaker terminals. Put everything back and was good to go.
8. Now you are ready to put the skin back on. It is the same procedure in reverse to get the skin on. Just take your time and it will button up the same way it came off. Put the screws back in place along with the other pieces you had to remove.
The pictures shown are of the passenger side door skin. The drivers side skin is exactly the same to remove. THATS IT!! You are Rockin' now! It is not hard at all to do as you can see. So get out your tools and GO FOR IT! You will be very happy when you are done when you realize how much those factory speakers suck. And you will be glad you did not pay some guy to rip your doors apart. Good luck! If I can help in any other way, drop me a line and I would be happy to give a hand.
Take it easy- MMpridenjoy.
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Keywords:
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Speaker Installation
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Author
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MNMarauder
Member
Registered: May 2005
Posts: 73
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Review Date:
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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BETTER SOUND PRIDE OF DOING YOURSELF
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Cons:
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YOU COULD MESSS UP
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RE DID ALL MY SPEAKERS EXCEPT THE SUB WHICH IS A 6.5 INCH SUB (I CAN NOT FIND A REPLACEMENT ANYWAY). WENT THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF PUTTING EXPENSIVE SPEAKERS IN THE BACK WELL BECAUSE OF THE SUB THOSE SPEAKERS GET LITTLE TO NO BASS SENT TO THEM SO THEY DON\'T GET TO WORK TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THE INSTALL YOURSELF GET SOME SOUND PROOFING WHILE YOU ARE AT IT AND STICK IT IN THERE. HELPS HIDE VIBRATION AND KEEPS YOUR SOUND IN YOUR CAR.
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2003 Mercury Marauder Silver Birch
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