How To Change Your Front Door Speakers On A Mk2

[JohnR]

OK. Only had this Gal for 2 weeks, but couldn't stand the diabolical sound quality anymore. As I have already swapped out the mal-functioning 5000rds unit for a Panasonic mp3 head that I had in the garage, which was only worth abot 80 quid, I did not want to spend too much money on new speakers. As I never travel in the back I opted to just swap the front ones.

 

The speaker size fitted is 16.5cms (6.5 inches). There are lots to choose from if you go on ebay and search for "16.5 cm speakers". In the ebay shops they start from about 20 quid per pair + delivery. I acted on impulse and bought a pair of pioneers in a local car radio shop for 39.99 instead.

 

Before doing the job, arm yourself with at least 1/2 a dozen new yellow door trim clips from Fords (about 30p each). You are guaranteed to break a few.

 

Best to choose a warm day to do the job, as otherwise you will find that some of the plastic breaks easily (both the yellow clips and the black moulded brackets that they fit to).

 

The trim panels are removed by first prising out the handle insert (the bit you pull on when closing the door). This is best done with a 6" steel ruler so you dont damage the handle surround.

 

Now you can prise out the handle surround, and unplug the switches.

 

On the drivers door, you will now be able to see the 3 M6 bolts. You will need a 10mm hex socket for these. On the passenger door, there are only 2.

 

Having removed these, the panels are now only held on the yellow clips, being hooked over the lip at the top adjacent to the window glass.

 

Starting at the bottom corner, prise the trim away (I used a 12" steel ruler). You need to get the ruller right in to the yellow plastic clip if you can. There is a proper Ford tool for this, and if you wanted to you could improvise one by grinding an open ended slot into the end of your 12" ruler.

 

However, I just used brute force. The passenger side panel came away without too much trouble, just leaving 3 of the plastic clips in the door, which I removed with pliers (breaking them in the process).

 

The drivers side had already been removed before by Frauds as the window winder was reported in the history as being changed. Unsurprisingly, 2 of the plastic brackets at the bottom had been broken away from the trim panel. Fortunately, this was only at the interface where they were held by a melt-rivet technique.

 

I found that I had some M5 x 12 self taps in the garage, and with a 4mm drill to clean out the holes the brackets went back on as good as new. When the panel finally comes free, you have several wires to disconnect (quite easy) and also the cable that connects to the door handle. This is a simple clip and the bowden cable is simple to put back.

 

Now take out the 4 screws in the speakers, and fit the replacements. You may need an adaptor cable (this sometimes comes with the speakers, it did with the pioneers) or you can solder and splice if you are so inclined.

 

Before clicking the panels back into place, make sure you have plugged everything back in that you removed, and tested the new speakers.

 

Last job is to take the ridiculously poxy Ford speakers and chuck them in a skip. I did not even have the nerve to put them up on ebay even though they were in A1 condition. They are about the worst "factory fitted"s I have ever heard!

 

Finally, sit back and enjoy your favourite tracks. What an amazing difference!! :D

 

Cheers,

John

[mumof4]

Hmmm..sure there is a thread round here about this with pics.......MATTS wasnt it?

 

Isnt it in FAQs?

[Guest MATT jr]

the great man has been there, done that! lol

 

MJR

[JohnR]

the great man has been there, done that! lol

 

MJR

 

Hmmm....yes. It MIGHT be worth indexing this more appropriately in the faq's? I didn't search for "door card" I searched for speakers!!

 

Cheers,

 

John

[mumof4]

well, you need to get the door card off to reach the speakers so i think its fine as it is.It is always worth searching with different keywords if you don't get all the results you are looking for.

[mumof4]

Can i just say that using brute force on a door card is tantamount to disaster...they can be broken and are expensive to replace..about 90 odd quid on ebay...If you take care and take your time as with any job you undertake, then there is less chance of damage or anything breaking. ;)

[adrianf.]

Can i just say that using brute force on a door card is tantamount to disaster...they can be broken and are expensive to replace..about 90 odd quid on ebay...If you take care and take your time as with any job you undertake, then there is less chance of damage or anything breaking. ;)

Only after taking care and taking your time can u use brute bloody force :D :D :D

[Guest HairyPlateEater]

You can easily get the yellow plastic clips out of the door without damaging them by using 2 flat head screwdrivers. A small thin one to initially get under the lip of the clip then a larger one to first lever one side of the clip out and then using the small one again to lever the other side out while holding the first side out with the larger screwdriver. Easy peasy ;)

[Guest seacam]

Can i just say that using brute force on a door card is tantamount to disaster...they can be broken and are expensive to replace..about 90 odd quid on ebay...If you take care and take your time as with any job you undertake, then there is less chance of damage or anything breaking. :D

Only after taking care and taking your time can u use brute bloody force :D :D :D

 

;) :D :D

[anadin]

You can easily get the yellow plastic clips out of the door without damaging them by using 2 flat head screwdrivers. A small thin one to initially get under the lip of the clip then a larger one to first lever one side of the clip out and then using the small one again to lever the other side out while holding the first side out with the larger screwdriver. Easy peasy :D

 

or alternativley just buy a trim removal tool like i did :D :D ;)

[Guest HairyPlateEater]

You can easily get the yellow plastic clips out of the door without damaging them by using 2 flat head screwdrivers. A small thin one to initially get under the lip of the clip then a larger one to first lever one side of the clip out and then using the small one again to lever the other side out while holding the first side out with the larger screwdriver. Easy peasy :D

 

or alternativley just buy a trim removal tool like i did :D :D ;)

 

I prefer the money being in MY pocket :D :D

[anadin]

You can easily get the yellow plastic clips out of the door without damaging them by using 2 flat head screwdrivers. A small thin one to initially get under the lip of the clip then a larger one to first lever one side of the clip out and then using the small one again to lever the other side out while holding the first side out with the larger screwdriver. Easy peasy :D

 

or alternativley just buy a trim removal tool like i did :D :D ;)

 

I prefer the money being in MY pocket :D :D

 

wasn't dear hairy , pack of 3 about a

[Guest HairyPlateEater]

[anadin]

 

[Guest gooner52]

trim removal tool,can be bought at all good motor factors halfords etc

[anadin]

trim removal tool,can be bought at all good motor factors halfords etc

 

tell scrooge the g ;) :D

[adrianf.]

trim removal tool,can be bought at all good motor factors halfords etc

The words HALFORDS and GOOD in one sentence hhhhhmmmmm :lol:

[JohnR]

trim removal tool,can be bought at all good motor factors halfords etc

The words HALFORDS and GOOD in one sentence hhhhhmmmmm :D

 

According to the local car radio shop (who have a good reputation) One of the problems is that on earlier Gals Ford undersized the panel hole so the clips are an oimpossibly tight fit. If you happen to get one of these, their advice is to get an old 12" ruler and sharpen the end of it. You then use it as a chisel to shear them through!

 

Didn't need to go that far on mine. Oh, yes, and I used less brute force than Frauds who bust the black brackets off when they changed the drivers window mechanism before I got it! See the post as to how I fixed it! :(

 

John

 

(think I'll add a proper removal tool to my collection for next time though!)