DIY: Bose Tweeter upgrade
#1
DIY: Bose Tweeter upgrade
I decided to upgrade the OEM tweeters on the dash with some Bose tweeter from an Acura.
Tools and Parts needed:
Flat Head Screwdriver
Phillips Screwdriver
Any type of sealant - i used a clear household sealant
Acura Bose Tweeter - in my case i got one from an Acura MDX. If you want to use the same one, here is all the info you need:
Acura Part Number: 39120-S3V-A81
fitment: 2004-2006 Acura MDX Touring Models
List Price: $34.70
Here is the OEM tweeter removed from the dash:
Here is the tweeter removed from its housing:
to remove it just pry out the 3 plastic hooks from the sides:
for the Bose tweeters i sourced a pair of Acura MDX Bose used tweeters:
tweeter removed from the sail panel:
it is almost the size of the OEM Fit tweeter, just a tad smaller so it slides into the OEM housing:
remove the metal bracket by removing the Phillips screw and little bit of glue between the tweeter and the bracket:
here is the metal bracket:
as you can see, the Bose tweeter slides right into the Fits dash tweeter housing:
to keep it in place i used some regular clear seal:
just get it all around the tweeter and into the void between the tweeter and the housing:
set aside to cure for about a day or so. will be continued when seal is cured.
Tools and Parts needed:
Flat Head Screwdriver
Phillips Screwdriver
Any type of sealant - i used a clear household sealant
Acura Bose Tweeter - in my case i got one from an Acura MDX. If you want to use the same one, here is all the info you need:
Acura Part Number: 39120-S3V-A81
fitment: 2004-2006 Acura MDX Touring Models
List Price: $34.70
Here is the OEM tweeter removed from the dash:
Here is the tweeter removed from its housing:
to remove it just pry out the 3 plastic hooks from the sides:
for the Bose tweeters i sourced a pair of Acura MDX Bose used tweeters:
tweeter removed from the sail panel:
it is almost the size of the OEM Fit tweeter, just a tad smaller so it slides into the OEM housing:
remove the metal bracket by removing the Phillips screw and little bit of glue between the tweeter and the bracket:
here is the metal bracket:
as you can see, the Bose tweeter slides right into the Fits dash tweeter housing:
to keep it in place i used some regular clear seal:
just get it all around the tweeter and into the void between the tweeter and the housing:
set aside to cure for about a day or so. will be continued when seal is cured.
Last edited by CaliBoy; 07-19-2012 at 11:07 AM.
#2
OK, i waited a day for the sealant to cure. Using a simple blade i cleaned the excessive sealant all around:
nice and clean all around:
So if you like to cut and splice the wires on the car then you are basically done. Just connect the positive to the postie wire, splice them together and you snap the tweeters back in place.
or...if you want to make the speakers "plug and play" without cutting any of the car wires then you have this option.
using a simple dremler tool i cut off the little plastic plug housing from the Fit tweeter:
here is the plug housing where it snaps into place on the tweeter:
as you can see one side has the connection to the speaker. one is positive and one is negative. we will need to figure out which is which on the car( next step):
in my 2012 Fit the RED wire on the car harness is the positive:
using a marker, mark the side of the plug housing that the red (positive) wire goes into:
to match the positive wire to the positive side of the tweeter all we need to do is look at the tweeter. the side that goes into the little cylinder (right side in the pic) is the positive connection on the tweeter:
splice the positive wire coming from the speaker to the side of the plastic housing that was marked in the car. do the same thing for the negative wire.
to have a little more support i simply bended the wires on themselves and put
a small zip-tie on it:
and you are done!! you have plug and play Bose tweeters which will plug right into the OEM car harness:
nice and clean all around:
So if you like to cut and splice the wires on the car then you are basically done. Just connect the positive to the postie wire, splice them together and you snap the tweeters back in place.
or...if you want to make the speakers "plug and play" without cutting any of the car wires then you have this option.
using a simple dremler tool i cut off the little plastic plug housing from the Fit tweeter:
here is the plug housing where it snaps into place on the tweeter:
as you can see one side has the connection to the speaker. one is positive and one is negative. we will need to figure out which is which on the car( next step):
in my 2012 Fit the RED wire on the car harness is the positive:
using a marker, mark the side of the plug housing that the red (positive) wire goes into:
to match the positive wire to the positive side of the tweeter all we need to do is look at the tweeter. the side that goes into the little cylinder (right side in the pic) is the positive connection on the tweeter:
splice the positive wire coming from the speaker to the side of the plastic housing that was marked in the car. do the same thing for the negative wire.
to have a little more support i simply bended the wires on themselves and put
a small zip-tie on it:
and you are done!! you have plug and play Bose tweeters which will plug right into the OEM car harness:
Last edited by CaliBoy; 07-20-2012 at 06:28 PM.
#4
i installed one side today and i can actually hear a very noticeable difference in sound. you can hear much more detail from the Bose side and the sound is much crisper. i am going to finish the other side and write a final report on the project.
#7
I installed the new Bose tweeters back in the car and i can tell you that there is a night and day difference. The sounds quality is much sharper, the highs are much cleaner and there is way more detail you hear on the high end. I purchased the used MDX Bose tweeters for $30 and it took about an hour of actual work time. I would say this is easy and cheap MOD which is well worth it. I am now thinking of doing the door speakers as well. The MDX Bose door speakers look like they are the same size of the Fit speakers so it should be an easy MOD.
#10
Nice DIY, i'm interested on it, someone else who did that can share with us if there is a big difference....
Luis
Honda Fit Sport 2013 - Vortex Blue Pearl
Luis
Honda Fit Sport 2013 - Vortex Blue Pearl
#12
Yeah, sure I installed the OEM JDM Gathers Coaxial Speakers in the front doors, better sound and no need to cut or modify something as an OEM part is plug & play, I really recommend those speakers thinking to replace the speakers of the rear doors too.
Luis
Some items from Japan
Luis
Some items from Japan
#15
Starting mine.....questions
so I started mine and so far so good....
I decided on the plug and play approach and dremeled that little housing out.
Then I went back to the car and noticed the wires were blue and green.
How can I find out which one is positive?
I only did one side just in case so worse-case scenario I buy 1 stock tweeter.
Another question....can I run my radio with 1 stock tweeter/1 Bose tweeter at the same time? Want to see if there is a real sound difference....
thanks!!!
I decided on the plug and play approach and dremeled that little housing out.
Then I went back to the car and noticed the wires were blue and green.
How can I find out which one is positive?
I only did one side just in case so worse-case scenario I buy 1 stock tweeter.
Another question....can I run my radio with 1 stock tweeter/1 Bose tweeter at the same time? Want to see if there is a real sound difference....
thanks!!!
#16
my progress lol
So I forged ahead and figured the wiring situation out....
also was my first time with a soldering iron and a dremel and I like the results...
Plugged them in to see if I got it right and there is CERTAINLY a difference! I left the treble on C and it was like the stockies on 5
some notes for those undertaking this mod:
Really make sure your sealant dries.....
if you go the plug and play route, make sure to cut the connectors carefully to make sure you get those two metal connectors exposed...
Double check your wiring (in the 2012, on the right side the red is the positive, on my 2009, the brown is...)
FINALLY,
Each grille is labelled for the side they need to be on...I didnt notice this, tried forcing it in and ended up flexing the grill, causing the tweeter to come out of the housing.....I took it out and noticed the big L on it....and on my forehead....
also was my first time with a soldering iron and a dremel and I like the results...
Plugged them in to see if I got it right and there is CERTAINLY a difference! I left the treble on C and it was like the stockies on 5
some notes for those undertaking this mod:
Really make sure your sealant dries.....
if you go the plug and play route, make sure to cut the connectors carefully to make sure you get those two metal connectors exposed...
Double check your wiring (in the 2012, on the right side the red is the positive, on my 2009, the brown is...)
FINALLY,
Each grille is labelled for the side they need to be on...I didnt notice this, tried forcing it in and ended up flexing the grill, causing the tweeter to come out of the housing.....I took it out and noticed the big L on it....and on my forehead....
#17
So I forged ahead and figured the wiring situation out....
also was my first time with a soldering iron and a dremel and I like the results...
.........................nded up flexing the grill, causing the tweeter to come out of the housing.....I took it out and noticed the big L on it....and on my forehead....
also was my first time with a soldering iron and a dremel and I like the results...
.........................nded up flexing the grill, causing the tweeter to come out of the housing.....I took it out and noticed the big L on it....and on my forehead....
Please post pictures and details of the new TWEETERS
Luis
Honda Fit Sport 2013 - Vortex Blue Pearl
#18
they look just like what the original poster had in his photos....
Update: So far so good....they havent fallen out of the grill, I figured these mean NYC streets and my swift springs would try the sealant.
I'll see if they hold up after a month.
Caiboy: any update if the MDX speakers work in the door housing and if the stock HU can power them?
found this and I'm interested:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PAIR-BOSE-6-5-SPEAKERS-2-OHM-ACURA-MDX-CL-ACURA-HONDA-HARNESS-/181529638212?pt=Car_Speakers&hash=item2a44027544
Update: So far so good....they havent fallen out of the grill, I figured these mean NYC streets and my swift springs would try the sealant.
I'll see if they hold up after a month.
Caiboy: any update if the MDX speakers work in the door housing and if the stock HU can power them?
found this and I'm interested:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PAIR-BOSE-6-5-SPEAKERS-2-OHM-ACURA-MDX-CL-ACURA-HONDA-HARNESS-/181529638212?pt=Car_Speakers&hash=item2a44027544
#20
sorry, I was ass backwards. you'll raise volume like you had 360watts... DOH ;-)