Broken speaker wire

fluffy2097 · 12-05-2006, 04:33 PM

Ok. So a few weeks ago I started hearing some distortion in my sound system. crackling static noises. Eventually the right front speaker in my 93 Honda accord began to cut out, only working at low volumes or when i hit the door panel just right.

Fearing I had blown the speaker, I decided to take the door apart and check. This sounds like a simple process, but has become much harder then i expected.

I have removed every single screw i can see from the door panel, and was able to pop it loose enough to remove the speaker and test it (the speaker is fine). So that narrows the problem down to a broken wire. Replacing the wire would be easy if I could get the door panel entirely off, but the peice of plastic holding the door lock button and door handle refuses to come loose. I've pulled on it as hard as i dare and it doesn't give at all, like theres more screws that aren't visible holding it to the door.

Can anyone help me with removing the door panel entirely? I suppose i could take it to a mechanic, but i really dont want to pay an hours labor to run a single wire....

Wiredwrx · 12-05-2006, 04:38 PM

Thanks for the descriptive Thread Title.

Check on a Honda Forum. Someone here probably has the answer, but someone there DEFINITELY has the answer.

Sorry, I can't help.

Michael

fluffy2097 · 12-05-2006, 04:48 PM

Will do. Anything is better then my chiltons at this point. All it says is "remove all the screws and take the door panel off." Google hasn't born much fruit either. I get lots of honda results, lots of accord results, lots of door panel results, and even lots of results for 1993. Nothing about the door panel for a 1993 honda accord though.

durwood · 12-05-2006, 05:39 PM

Pictures help sometimes. Chances are if the door panel is still binding there are probably screws attached. Just remember the internal door handle should have a screw or two since that is what you use to pull on the door the most.

Also, running speakre wire through your door boots ina Honda will be an experience in itself. Plan plenty of time and be prepared to get frustrated.

One more thing...judging by the year of your car, I bet the crackling/intermitant sound is due to corrosion on the terminals of the speaker wire ends that plug into the speaker.

Good luck.

3onDubs · 12-05-2006, 05:42 PM

You should just take it to an audio shop and tell them to rewire your speakers.....shouldn't cost too much and you know that it will be done the right way (usually).

Megalomaniac · 12-05-2006, 05:53 PM

there should be 3 screws... i think

one in door handle 1 in arm rest and a plastic one near the top closer to the door hinge

fluffy2097 · 12-05-2006, 07:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MegaloRESE15"

there should be 3 screws... i think

one in door handle 1 in arm rest and a plastic one near the top closer to the door hinge

I've removed 2 screws from the arm rest, 1 screw from the door handle, and two from the bottom of the door. the enitre panel is loose and can easily be moved around, but it cant be pulled free from the door because the door handle is still in the way.

This is a picture of what I can't get loose. If there are more screws holding it in place other then the one visible on the pic, they're behind the door panel where I can't see them.

I'm really hoping that the problem is a couple of wire nuts that were used to connect the speaker to the wiring harness. I suspect if I just replace them with solder joints everything will be fine again, but soldering while laying underneath the wires I'm working on seems like a good way to get molten lead in my eyes... So the door panel has to come off.

If i have to run a wire through the door boot I think I'm going to buy a hamster and tie a string around him, then push him into the wiring conduit and catch him when he comes out the other side.

Megalomaniac · 12-05-2006, 07:17 PM

well on my 00 accord there are 3 screws total, the rest are snap-offs, you might have to apply a bit of force. cause the last thing honda dealers wat is more screws...but then again u have an older model

Shadow · 12-06-2006, 06:46 AM

Fluffy, push the whole door handle thing toward the front of the car and it should loosen enough so you can pull it off of the panel and disconnect the rod that goes to the latch.

durwood · 12-06-2006, 09:31 AM

Agree with Shadow. You will have to turn or twist the door handle part a bit (be careful not to twist too much or you might break it) you have pictured so it can slip through the hole in the door panel. Then you can push the whole dorr panel forward or maybe backward until you get it worked through the hole.

EDIT: I think I might have my cars mixed up. Ignore this post and go with Shadows post below, it sounds correct.

Shadow · 12-06-2006, 11:57 AM

It'll kinda click when you push it forward. I've installed hundreds of speakers in hundreds of Accords just like yours.

No, there's a little plug on the back of that plastic piece for the door locks and there's a little green or white plastic clip that holds the rod for the latch. Green if it's the driver's door, white if it's the other door (if they're OEM parts). After that, pull the bottom of the panel out a little and pull the whole thing up. Don't forget to unplug the light in the map pocket.

fluffy2097 · 12-06-2006, 03:42 PM

Shadow! you were dead on. I feel like a fool now, I just got the entire panel off in 2 minutes thanks to your advice. I can't believe i tried pulling on it but never pushing forwards....

Upon examining the speaker wiring I'm almost positive the wire nuts are the problem. I'll replace them with proper soldered connections this evening and see how things go. Hopefully I'll have my speaker working again tonight.

On a related note, would there be any benifit to running a real speaker wire from the amp to the speaker (the speaker wire i have is much thicker stranded wire then the stock harness)? or should I just stick with the stock wiring harness and save myself work? I'm sure when you're powering 1000 watt subs using real speaker wire makes a difference, but I'm just running Rockford Fosgates with 60W RMS and 120W peak. Any thoughts?

fluffy2097 · 12-06-2006, 07:50 PM

UPDATE!

Well, I pulled the door apart in the parking lot of my work, and put the speaker back in my door with a new length of wire that is soldered to the stock wiring harness. Unfortunately when played loud I'm still getting static clicking noises from the speaker (it seems to not be as bad, but i might be playing the wrong music). The connectors that fit on the speaker terminals were a bit loose, but i didn't have time to try tightening them up since i was burning daylight and still had to put the door back together so i can drive home. I will try tightening up the connectors tomorrow and see if that makes the problem go away.

If I cant get this working this weekend, I might just pay up and to take it to a car audio shop and just have them re-run the front speaker wires entirely.

Shadow · 12-06-2006, 09:47 PM

You already did all the work, why would you pay someone else?