Replacing Front Speakers 2004 Forester

I used this to change the speakers in me 2003. Might be the same for the nearly identical 2004s too.

Thanks alot!

Without checking out my vehicle that looks like what I need.

It looks pretty straightforward. Any parts of the removal that were difficult?

Willi

You may be able to get something from

They have excellent worksheets for most all car audio/component replacements.

I plan on buying my speakers from them. I've never removed a door panel and I wanted to see what I was getting into before I ordered.

When I look at their site for back speakers, they say that no speakers will fit without modification but don't specify what modifications need to be done. I'll probably pass on the rears for now.

Thanks

Willi

Mostly very easy. There might have been some complication with one of the window switches. Don't remember very well. Not a big deal.

I didn't do the rears either. Putting in decent front speakers makes a huge difference.

That's quite good but doesn't explain the plastic studs in the doorpanel very well.

There are plastic barbed studs spaced around the sides and bottom of the panel that push into mating plastic bushings. To separate them, GENTLY pry the panel away from the door itself. You may have to try a couple of different locations to get one that pulls free easily. One you have one (or maybe two) pulled free just keep going around the door pulling out GENTLY as you go. It can be done with your hands alone, but there are upholstery/trim tools that make it easier. Surprisingly, a 3" wide wooden spatula works well though.

There may also be "buttons", just those same studs with heads on them. These can be a pain in the ass to get loose. Often a dull butter knife can be pushed underneath the head and twisted to get it started, then keep going around the head until the knife blade can fit under the whole side and (again) GENTLY pull it straight out.

To reinstall, line the studs up (ALL of them) and gently tap the panel back into place, making sure that you don't jam one out of it's socket. Going around the door and partially seating all of them is the safest way. Finish up by thumping them snug with the heel of your hand.

Push in the buttons gently at first but thump them in the same way.

"GENTLY" is the word! Breaking those studs can be expensive, as in replacing the panel. If you are lucky, you might break one in the middle of the bottom and get by with putting it back on and it won't rattle or gap. Sometimes a stud can be fixed with a "glue and screw" repair, but you will always remember your 'oops' when you see the screw head.

The ring around the door latch is a bit tricky. You are liable to crack one of them.

-R.

Thanks for all the help.

The install went well and was pretty easy. I did both front and rear because of the sale at Circuit City with the second pair of speakers half off. I looked at Crutchfield and they listed very few speakers suitable for a 2004 Forester. Although they carry the same speakers I got at Circuit City, they didn't list them as suitable for a 2004 Forester although Circuit City did. I got the below speakers

Polk 6-1/2" Speakers (DB650) FRONT

Polk 4" 2-way Car Speakers (DB400) REAR

Circuit City was right they fit fine. I did need to drill new holes to mount them (But all speakers need that) and I did have to make a spacer (I used a circle cut out of a sheet of craft foam) for the front speakers.

The people that helped me on this newsgroup did a great job and made things MUCH easier.

I think that if you do both the front and rear speakers, you should do the rear ones first. The rears are easier and will give you the practice you need to get better. The whole job took me about 4 hours. The first front door took 2 hours, the second 1 hour and the back two a half hour each.

I also downloaded the Pinknoiseinphase and pinknoiseoutofphase MP3 files below to help make sure that the speakers are in phase. Unless you have Subaru book, you can't go by the color of the speaker wire because there doesn't seem to be any consistency.

All in all the job turned out well with little frustration and no goofs.

Willi