cd wiring

[bigdaddycain]

I had no rear speakers in the back of mine..
Found out with a torch, though the loom was there for the rear speakers (its a white block connector with two wires if i remember) just where the back of the speaker should go.

When i fitted speakers i managed to wangle it so i could use the original grill...

I had to cut mine out!

[wes 68]

Had a look thru rear grilles & no speakers present,looked thru the fronts & there are bose speakers fitted.Im impressed,were these standard?

[jaylee]

Had a look thru rear grilles & no speakers present,looked thru the fronts & there are bose speakers fitted.Im impressed,were these standard?

Not to my knowledge... You did well!!

[Alison01326]

I know the last post on this thread was November 2008 but is anyone still there?! Fortunately, my question as to "missing speakers" has now been answered (I have already established I haven't got them, but wondered if we had been diddled somewhere along the line).

My question is - how hard is it to get the grilles off and put speakers in? I don't really want to trouble our friendly local auto-electrician as it probably isn't that hard to do the speakers themselves if the wiring is already there.

I really want to keep the grilles intact and be able to put them back again (I know "naked" speakers look pretty, but are neither attractive nor effective when they have had a colouring pencil poked through the sensitive parts).

I desperately need to address the issue of rear speakers as if I have to listen to the soundtrack to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at full volume for many more weeks just so the little man in the back can "only hear it a little bit - TURN IT UP MORE LOUDER" I will go deaf and probably crash the Bongo (although not necessarily at the same time). Fortunately, the longest journey we've made so far is an hour but we've got some much longer ones coming up from mid February onwards.

Thanks in advance for any advice (about the speakers, not about my son's choice of in-car entertainment, please - I'd be listening to Pink Floyd if I had my way (probably giving away my age a little bit - although you can probably knock off 5 or 10 years ))

[dandywarhol]

The speaker grilles don't come off - you need to remove the complete panel to fit the speakers.
The original rear speakers fit onto brackets which bolt to the body and aim the sound through the grilles. you don't have to do this - you can mount the speaker onto the panel directly behind the grille but they might vibrate.

[Alison01326]

The speaker grilles don't come off - you need to remove the complete panel to fit the speakers.
The original rear speakers fit onto brackets which bolt to the body and aim the sound through the grilles. you don't have to do this - you can mount the speaker onto the panel directly behind the grille but they might vibrate.

Thank you for your quick reply. Removing an entire panel sounds a bit scary - I'm OK with fiddly things, but what should be straightforward always turns out badly. I'll give it a go tomorrow but if I bottle out I will try and drag hubby from his "how can it be a project if I drive it to work?" on one of his rare days off and get him to lavish some attention on the Bongo instead.

It's not too tricky a job is it? Removing panels?

[dandywarhol]

Depends if there's a kitchen in the way or not Biggest problem is breaking the brittle clips - sometimes worth investing/making a panel removing tool.

[Alison01326]

Thank you so much. That is FANTASTIC. I will let you know how I get on (my enthusiasm to get on with it tomorrow has been curbed a little since I saw the weather forecast - there'll be a bit more light if I can open the doors and it's going to rain tomorrow) but will let you know how I get on with the job when I next have a free day which is both dry and toddler-free (not this week).

I'm so grateful to you for the photo and the advice - it's just like having a Haynes Manual.

Thanks again.

[jaylee]

My question is - how hard is it to get the grilles off and put speakers in? I don't really want to trouble our friendly local auto-electrician as it probably isn't that hard to do the speakers themselves if the wiring is already there.

I really want to keep the grilles intact and be able to put them back again (I know "naked" speakers look pretty, but are neither attractive nor effective when they have had a colouring pencil poked through the sensitive parts).

Hi Alison, here's how i did mine!
The rear grilles are held in place by four plastic rivets.. I cut the heads off mine to remove the grill.

I also had to cut the middle of the brace section out to accommodate the protruding centre cone on the speaker.. ( You might not need to.)
I also used MDF to make a plate to house the speaker to the trim panel..
The grill just pops back in to place.!

[stringman]

Thats a very posh looking trim tool there Dandy!.. Snap on if I'm not mistaken

In the trade these days we use plastic trim tools as they tend to cause far less damage to trim panels. Do a search for "Bojo" trim tools as they seem to be the most poular if interested. I bought a set of 10 tools for about £20

I would certainly go along with the idea of making up an MDF panel to support your rear speakers if you do not have the factory brackets (possibly even if you do) as you are far less likely to get nasty vibrations doing it this way

[Alison01326]

Thank you Jaylee and Stringman for further helpful advice on the subject. And more photos - I love "how to" photos - they always make me feel invincible when tackling a job (or should that be over-confident).

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[bigdaddycain]

Hi alison, don't let the pic of my speaker mislead you, the speaker i housed there is a massive 7x10 inch, high power jobby powered by external amplifiers.... I had little choice but to cut off the grilles completely to fit them in.

Does your bongo have the sliding bench seat, or flip up seats in the rear?

If it has the "flip" seats, its not a massive job to remove the panels. Whip the seats out, undo the rear seat belt anchor, then tuck the belts out of the way, and i think there are a couple of screws to undo in the rear cubby pockets, then carefully get your fingers behind the panel, and persuade them out carefully.