YACAT: Replacing speakers

[Vilica]

Having blown both my front speakers, and putting off replacing them for awhile, I finally grabbed some replacements and decided to try to install them myself. However, I've run into a problem before I even start. I can't seem to remove the grilles for the speaker, so I turn here to see if anybody else has done it, or knows how. The car is a 98 Olds Cutlass, with stock everything. The pics are of the grille, and the clip that holds it in. It seems to be sunk into a molding or something, and no matter how I pry with a flat head, its not popping out. Is there something simple that I'm missing, or do I have to take off the entire door panel assembly to get to these stupid speakers. Feel free to PM me with more detailed suggestions if necessary.

Clip
Grille1
Grille2

 

[Pepsi90919]

GM uses those clips everywhere. if you pry at the grille in the right way it will just pop off.

 

[amdskip]

Do you have to remove the whole panel possibly?

 

[PTCvette]

Haven't seen that type of grill before, but my guess is that it would be a lot easier to get them off with the door panels off That's a huge PITA, but I bet it would be easier to get the grill off. Plus, if you do it on one side, you might see how in the world it is held in there and end up not having to take the panel off the other side.

Jeff

 

You have to remove the entire door panel to replace those speakers, try to pry it off and you will break it.

 

[Vilica]

Followup then: any idea howto get the door panel assembly off? There are 4 push-on screw protectors on the assembly, but that's all I can see. Just remove those 4 and take it off?

 

Take a pic of the entire door and I will guide you

 

[Vilica]

The back
Full panel
Underside

The bumps on the underside and the back are able to be somewhat pried, but the screw seems connected somehow. I have pics of the front but didn't see anything that wasn't welded to the frame or that seemed useful.

 

First, see all those little plastic buttons ? , remove those, they are either plastic clips holding the panel on or plastic covers hiding philips head screws.
Right behind the inner door handle there should be a screw, remove that, remove the light colored panel, disconnect the electrical connector(s), this will expose a set of philip screws that holds the rest of the panel on, remove those.

Now, once you are sure that all the screws are removed, gently take a flat bladed screw driver and carefully pry the panel outwards, there are many clips that surround the out circumference of the door so you will have to follow it all the way around the door.

If you run into a problem, do not force anything on the panel, post your problem and I will help you.

 

[Vilica]

Roger... thanks for your help so far. Any idea howto get the buttons off? I'm trying to pry them off, but the assembly just bends and bends, and never pops. The panel behind the inner door handle opens to non-phillips screws, do I need a wrench to get those off?

Edit:

Behind the inner door handle
Prying at the back button

 

Unscrew those hex head nuts, pull those covers off, it is difficult to do, I like to use needle nose plyers (Lay the nose on it's side and force under the plastic head), then pry up.


I have to go now, I will be back Sunday night, if you run into a problem again, wait, I will PM you when I get back on Sunday

Good Luck

See ya !, going camping in my bus

 

[Shockwave]

They may use Jesus Clips, I hate those damned things. There little plastic clips on the inside of the door. Pull the panel GENTLY to see where its being held at, if you can try to run something alongside the inside of the panel, between the panel and door. If you can find any clips holding it, thats the ticket. They sell special tools at any auto parts store to remove them. Thats what I had in both my RX-7 and Taurus, those damnedable Jesus Clips. Also, as Roger said, it may be held with screws whcih would be behind the buttons.