Car Stereos: speaker removal, sony head unit, sony xplod

Question
QUESTION: Brian, I'm going to apologize in advance,I do not have the specifics about my Sony stereo. I just happened to stumble onto this site. My Sony Xplod stereo is giving me a "failure" message, but all of my speakers are working great and I'm not loosing power and its retaining all of my presets. I have one Sony amp for my Sony 10" bass speaker and one amp for my other four speakers. Thanks for any help that you can offer. Sal

ANSWER: Hi Sal,

A "failure" message in a Sony head unit means that there's a problem with the internal amplifier.  In your case, it's not causing a problem with the audio because the internal amp isn't running any speakers--all of your speakers are connected to external amplifiers.  The head unit's RCA pre-amp outputs, which supply the audio signal for your amplifiers, are working fine.

It's possible that the head unit is defective, and would need to be serviced before you can make the message go away.  However, this can also occur due to a shorted speaker wire.  You should pull the head unit, and check the speaker output wires in the Sony plug.  Because you're not using the deck's amplifier to run the speakers, the output wires shouldn't be connected to anything.  Each one should be insulated so that it can't come into contact with another wire, a metal part of the dash, or the metal chassis of the head unit.  If you have all the unused speaker wires bundled and taped together, separate them and insulate them separately.  Inspect the wires for pinched spots--sometimes a wire can get trapped behind the head unit when it's pushed into position.  One shorted speaker wire would be enough to cause the "failure" message, and if you fix the problem with the wire, the message should disappear.

Hope this helps!

Brian



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Brian, your advice regarding the "failure" message was right on target! So let me see if I can stump you with this one. I am trying to remove the front, left speaker from my 94 Jeep Wrangler (YJ) and I've been cursed with freakishly large hands. I cannot get to the nut on the top post, any trade secrets? Thanks, again!

Answer
Hi Sal,

As it happens, I just replaced the front speakers in one of these Jeep Wranglers about three or four weeks ago.  My knuckles are almost healed.

There's nothing that's going to turn this into an easy job, but there are a few tricks that might help.  In this situation, I like to use a tool called a palm ratchet.  This is just a small ratchet that's designed to be turned with your fingers:

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/22-10090&cid=prodCrossSell

You'd need to use this with a deep-well socket.  I don't recall the size of the nuts holding the factory speakers in place; I think they're 7/16" or 11/32", but I might be off.  Another trick is wrap the end of the socket with some fabric tape, so that you can turn the socket directly with your fingers instead of using a ratchet.

On the driver's side, you can remove the instrument cluster assembly and get to the back of the speaker through that opening.  You can also loosen the heavy-duty torx bolts that secure the end of the dash; you don't need to remove them completely, but loosening them lets you flex the dash a bit, and give yourself an extra half-inch.  Note that even after you remove the nuts that hold the speakers, you'll still need the extra room to pull the speakers off the bolts and maneuver them out the bottom of the dash.

Keep in mind, depending on the design of your new speakers, you may need to fit small spacers over the factory bolts before you put the speaker in place.  Otherwise the speaker cone will be pressed up against the grill, preventing it from moving freely.  The stock speakers have a front gasket that keeps the cone away from the grill, but after-market 4x6" speakers usually don't have this feature.

I should mention that I, also, have to look for extra-large sizes when I'm shopping for gloves; but I've always managed to replace the speakers in these Jeeps.  So, it's not impossible, but you'll want to be fully stocked on four-letter words when you start, because there's a good chance you'll be going through them pretty quickly.

Good luck!

Brian