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How to Hook Up Car Speakers

by Kate Evelyn

  • Overview

    Just about any car you purchase will already have speakers in both the front driver side and passenger side doors. However, you may want to connect new speakers if you have ones that will offer better sound or your existing speakers are not functional for any reason. Hooking up speakers is actually pretty easy. The harder part is disassembling and reassembling the car doors. Even this part of the process should take you less than 10 minutes, though.
 

  • Step 1

    Remove the cover from the inside of each door. First, take out any screws you find. There is usually one at the bottom on the side near the hinge, one near the door handle and one near the actual speaker. There may also be some screws hidden beneath the carpeting, so run your fingers along the door to make sure you've gotten them all.

  • Step 2

    Run the end of your flathead screwdriver around the inner edge of your doors, between the plastic or leather and the metal. Gently pry, and you will pop out the clips. Be careful not to break them. Then pull the cover up and out. Before you take off the entire door cover, check to see if you can remove just the speaker grille. This is an option on some newer cars.

  • Step 3

    Pull the existing speakers out of the doors by removing the four screws that secure them. Then disconnect the speakers from the wiring harnesses and place them aside. Use your utility knife to cut through any sealant that was used to keep the old speakers in place so it won't keep the new ones from fitting properly.

  • Step 4

    Carefully hook the wiring harnesses of your new speakers up to the old ones still in the door (they should simply plug in). That way, the new speakers maintain a connection with the head unit. Mount your new speakers in the same place where your old ones were and screw them in.

  • Step 5

    Put the door cover or grille cover back on by slipping the clips into their slots and pushing them down and out. They should click to let you know they are back in place. Put the screws back in the door. Then turn on your radio to test it.
  • 2
  • Flathead screwdriver Two speakers with wiring harnesses Utility knife
  • Flathead screwdriver
  • Two speakers with wiring harnesses
  • Utility knife
  • If your car has crank windows, you will need to pry the handles off, plus the spring clip behind them, before you remove the door cover. If you want to install speakers in your dash, the process is basically identical.
  • If your car has crank windows, you will need to pry the handles off, plus the spring clip behind them, before you remove the door cover.
  • If you want to install speakers in your dash, the process is basically identical.
  • When removing the door clips be careful not to separate the door cover from the clip. This will cause the cover to flap around and not lock down tight.
  • When removing the door clips be careful not to separate the door cover from the clip. This will cause the cover to flap around and not lock down tight.

References & Resources

     
     
 
 

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