Installing amp, trim removal questions

[astraelraen]

Anyone have tips for removing the interior door trim/etc for running amp cables/etc. I know how to take the door panels off.

I'm probably going to do that this weekend and was wondering if anyone had done it.


I assume its probably all clips holding most of it down... but I'm really good at breaking clips....

I'm running a power cable + inputs to the back for a 4 channel amp, then speaker cable back up to the doors. Also, I was thinking about doing some tweeters or ~3" speakers in the dash if anyone knows how to take the dash apart. (I have the oem 4 speaker system)

edit:
Also, does anyone have a wiring diagram/know the speaker wire colors for behind the factory head unit? I guess I could go get a oem to aftermarket adapter and that would tell me the colors.

 

[CX-7owner]

Anyone have tips for removing the interior door trim/etc for running amp cables/etc. I know how to take the door panels off.

I'm probably going to do that this weekend and was wondering if anyone had done it.


I assume its probably all clips holding most of it down... but I'm really good at breaking clips....

I'm running a power cable + inputs to the back for a 4 channel amp, then speaker cable back up to the doors. Also, I was thinking about doing some tweeters or ~3" speakers in the dash if anyone knows how to take the dash apart. (I have the oem 4 speaker system)

edit:
Also, does anyone have a wiring diagram/know the speaker wire colors for behind the factory head unit? I guess I could go get a oem to aftermarket adapter and that would tell me the colors.

Most of the panels simply pop off, with clips, and as for the dash that would seem pretty complex but if you were to get a shop manual it should be OK,
but door mounted tweeters would be the best. And if you buy the Harness from Metra, it will tell you which color is which.

 

[astraelraen]

Thanks for the hints. I didn't get any component speakers, I had them in my last car and they were really nice... but I really didn't want to cut the doors in this car. (my wife would have probably killed me if she knew I did that)

I already replaced the 6x8's with 3 ways, but the soundstage is still pretty bad without any tweeters/speakers up higher in my opinion. Its pretty difficult to hear anything without turning the radio up pretty high if the windows are down. I think I'm going to try and mount 2 tweeters in the dash area and maybe 2 tweeters somewhere behind the rear seat.

I don't really want to switch out the factory radio as I like the look of the oem unit - and I don't really want to spend the money on a navigation unit/dvd screen that would look nice. I don't really like the look of most single din radios in the dash with all the blank space and in my opinion alot of the double din radios (not including navigation/dvd units) are fairly ugly.

 

[07LiquidCX7]

^That is what I plan on doing. Utilizing the factory head unit with aftermarket amps and speakers. I will be using components though because I am so used to them... you know how it is. Like going to halogen headlights to HID's, you can't ever go back.

 

[CX-7owner]

The factory head unit is trash, Too bright, and the bass is also garbage, do yourself a favor and get a new head unit and start from there. The old head unit wont be missed.

 

[astraelraen]

I'm going to install a 10" amp/sub and a 4 channel amp tomorrow/this weekend with the stock head unit to try it out. I already have the parts in the back of my car.

I looked up under the driver's side for the hole through the firewall and man is that in a BAD place. Its not gonna be so fun to run the power wire.

I've got 4ohm 6x8's in the doors. I think I'm gonna pick up some 4 ohm tweeters and mount 2 on the dash and 2 right behind the rear seats. Putting the tweeters in parallel with its respective door speaker to drop the load to 2 ohms. My 4 channel amp can handle it.

We'll see how it sounds. If its really that bad I'll consider dropping the factory head unit... but I really like the way it looks, especially if I can pick up some of those shiny bose faceplates.

 

[nikedout]

I have a copy of the wiring diagram for the car as well as the harness and the install kits for replacing the original head unit with an aftermarket unit. They just came out and are new. When changing the head unit you will really notice a differrence in the performance of the speakers. If you replace everything but the head unit, you are wasting your time.

 

[07LiquidCX7]

I have a copy of the wiring diagram for the car as well as the harness and the install kits for replacing the original head unit with an aftermarket unit. They just came out and are new. When changing the head unit you will really notice a differrence in the performance of the speakers. If you replace everything but the head unit, you are wasting your time.

With a 4 channel amp on the interior speakers, you can bypass the crappy factory head unit sound and just use the Xovers on the amp. Even better would be to add an Audiocontrol EQS or similar unit that can act as a line driver, line out converter, and an EQ. Problem solved.