Lesson Learned

[nowomannocry]

Hi all. Been searching this and other forums for several months now and finally made a decision on buying speakers. I bought ID CXS 6.5s and Alpine PDX F4 from woofersetc based on review from these forums. What I just learned today is that I should test speakers before installing them. Long story short my local installer told me that one of the speakers didn't work and probably needed a new tweeter. On the way home the other speaker stopped working. This morning I found out that the bluetooth no longer works. I think it was a bad wiring job but again I have no way of telling. I would have thought they would check speakers before they put door panels back on. No I am without sound and bluetooth. I will get replacement speakers from woofersetc but i think I will try the install myself. My question to you is whether there is a wiring harness for OEM to amplifier that I need to buy. I don't have any experience with this and don't want to pour more money into it. If its just a bad connection I think I can deal with that. Please let me know what you think. Thank you.

[keep_hope_alive]

first, we need to know everything else about the system.

car: year/make/model/trim/options
HU: stock or aftermarket

how did they get a signal to the amp? high level from stock or RCA from aftermarket.

no, the shop wont test speakers, especially if you didn't buy from them. and because you didn't buy from them, you have no idea if they treated them well.

this is a lesson learned from a purchasing standpoint. don't buy online if you want a shop to install. buy from that shop so they warranty the gear AND install. you lose any money saved buying online when it doesn't work and you have to pay for reinstallation of new gear.

yes, this could certainly be an issue of connections. you'd have to take good pics of the connections they made for evaluation.

we can help you with the DIY work, but we need to see what we are working with.

PAC-Audio has a selection of interface harnesses for Accords. METRA has harnesses that go into radio and into car so you can intercept factory without cutting factory.

[nowomannocry]

Thank you for your response. Here is more info:

2010 Honda Accord coupe EXL 7 speaker system (4 x 6.5" and 8" sub). Dual climate control no navigation. Running off stock HU.

Looks like signal is high level from stock although i did buy an loc but I dont see it anywhere in the vehicle (maybe behind stock radio?). I have been reading more and it looks like I bought the wrong loc. I bought 2 channel and should have 4 channel for the amp to power 4 speakers?

I bought speaker wiring harness from crutchfield and they sent me some detailed instructions on how to get to connections behind stock radio. I will tackle that today and send pics along with pics of amp connections. Maybe the harness you mentioned would help along with the right loc. I will send pics later today.

I have been reading a LOT on many forums and you guys are awesome. I plant to follow your advice in one thread to do an A-B swap with RCA's and speaker wire to determine if speaker or amp could be culprit. I will take pics of everything 1st to see if there is something you can diagnose. I really appreciate your help!

[nowomannocry]

ok i got HU pulled but do not know what I am looking at. Everything looks original to me. I don't know exactly what pics you need to help me. Please let me know and I will take as many as you need. I took pics of wiring to amp and the back of HU. I dont see LOC. I have not take door panels off because I wanted to hear from you 1st to let me know if it was necessary. Sorry about pic quality, not very good with camera. Again thank you for your help!

[nowomannocry]

more...ok while searching for factory amp i found the LOC. I see the RCA connections but arent there supposed to be speaker connections to the converter? i don't see any. so do i take front speaker wires from HU and put them in the converter? i am really green on this and really dont understand how the speakers are playing (well the rear at least)without the connections. I should have started this yesterday cuz I have to put this thing back together before I go to work tomorrow. Another question...Keep Hope Alive mentioned that i needed a wiring harness from the HU. he mentioned one from Metra. l checked online but there are several and I want to make sure I get the right one. Not even sure what it is for or what it connects to? Think im gonna have to take wife's car in the morning. she wont be to happy lol.Thanks again!

[nowomannocry]

Ok i showed my audio ignorance. Looked like LOC is connected properly and there are two of them. I took door panels off as you can see from the pics. Here are my amateur findings:

1. My left speaker is connected to the crossover wires held together with electric tape. This may be the reason for them working intermittently?

2. Both tweeters have a wiring harness in the area that is not connected to anything. I assume this was for the original tweeters and is no longer needed.

3. I did see a couple of wires that were cut (1 pink and 1 white) coming off the factory amp. Couldn't get a very good pic of it. May mean nothing.

I dont really know what to do from hear. I did find that with the right instructions disassembly was easy even for me. I am going to button it back up and hopefully you guys can see something that I did not that could help me solve my problem. Thanks again for your help!

[Daythread831]

it looks like the installers were in a hurry to get your car done.
the 3rd pic from last, is that the sub? i dont see no soldering or proper terminals hooked up. did they add a new sub?

[nowomannocry]

That is the left speaker that comes in and out. They are also screwed directly into the door instead of using spacers. I don't know if this is common but seems like very poor craftsmanship. Can I buy those terminals at radioshack or local hardware store?

One other thing I noticed. The speakers have two sets of terminal connections each. The left speaker is connected to a different one from the right (which does not work at all). I did try to change them but the connector is larger than the one it is on. What would be the difference in the two connections?

[strong*I*bumpin]

What a mess,a do over is very much needed.Sorry but I'll call it like I see it.Any deadener?....X-over in the door?

[MacLeod]

Are you kidding me? Is that picture of the amp sitting in the trunk an "in progress" picture? Any shop that would do an install like that, and just leave wires dangling like that, is no shop you ever want to go to again. That is just horrid. Yes, it sounds very much like a crap install job and needs to be re-done from scratch cause there is no telling how many other shortcuts they took. If you dont want to do it yourself, you should fine a REAL car audio shop to take it to in order to clean that travesty up.

And the problem with buying stuff from Woofers etc and other retailers like that is that theyre not authorized by the manufacturers so there is no telling what kind of gear youre getting. When you buy from places like Crutchfield, youre paying a little more but youre getting brand spankin' new stuff straight from the manufacturer. So there is a chance youve got faulty gear too but seeing those pictures, Im almost certain its a bad wiring job that needs to be cleaned up.

[Daythread831]

Originally Posted by nowomannocry

That is the left speaker that comes in and out. They are also screwed directly into the door instead of using spacers. I don't know if this is common but seems like very poor craftsmanship. Can I buy those terminals at radioshack or local hardware store?

One other thing I noticed. The speakers have two sets of terminal connections each. The left speaker is connected to a different one from the right (which does not work at all). I did try to change them but the connector is larger than the one it is on. What would be the difference in the two connections?

i dont think spacers are required. ive never used them on my previous cars.
you can buy those terminals at radioshack or your hardware store for sure

what really surprises me is the two sets of wire in each speaker.imo i think you should re wire the speakers one by one. if your unsure of yourself, get an independent installer off craigslist

[nowomannocry]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I guess it is worse than I thought. i actually thought I did my research on this install. I had an 08 TSX that would not run after amp was intalled by a local shop. I found this place as it was voted best car audio shop in Indy.

Unfortunately this is the finished product by them. I guess I'll have to start over. Now that I know how to get doors off I can add deadener myself. Do crossovers not belong in the door? I had no idea.

I went with woofersetc because it said they were authorized internet sellers of Image Dynamics. I had a set from them before and had no problems with them. I do like Crutchfield's customer service...top notch.

Maybe I will look at craigslist for an independent installer but that may be even more risky than going to a retailer. Guess it couldn't get any worse. I am not to comfortable with wiring things especially in small places. Still a little dissapointed as I have been waiting patiently to save money for speakers and install. It will be worth it when its finished and I have learned a lot. Thanks again everyone!

[keep_hope_alive]

i agree with Aaron - avoid that place. they cannot help you.

the lack of any connectors here is a problem. wire wrapped like this will make intermittent contact. yes, you want a spacer to make an airtight seal. some weatherstripping foam would help with that seal. you want proper connectors - available at any autoparts or hardware or electronics store (radioshack)


the PAC SNI-35 is a 2-channel adjustable LOC. since there is two of them, they should have connected front left AND front right to one of the LOC's, then rear left and rear right to the other LOC. you do want to identify where they made those connections, and redo them with proper terminals.

as far as help - you may be able to find someone in the forums who is close enough to you. or show these pictures to a proper audio shop and see if they are flabbergasted.

the two wire terminals are indicative of needing external crossovers. one set is for the tweeter and the other set is for the woofer. you should see these crossovers at the door

and there should be two sets of wire from each crossover to the speaker.

[keep_hope_alive]

because you bought convertible coaxials, you should consider having the front tweeters placed in the factory locations. this will move the crossover out of the door and into the dash somewhere.

once you sort through the first shop's mishaps and blatant incompetence, you should have a great sounding system.

also, pick up some split loom tubing to hide the wires. i would trace the power wire routing to ensure it is protected from damage and that there is a grommet in the fire wall penetration. you don't want a fire hazard.

[PaulD]

try turning the flash on the camera on, it will prevent most of the blur