buddy guy
Senior Member
My first experience in decades taking door panels off a vehicle. Saw it had screws..how hard can it be? well folks, if you don't read Dodge doors for Dummies, tougher than you think! First door I did was the drivers front. Wrestled a bit to get it off, fought like hell and swore to get it back on. One side wouldn't line up, handle would get through, lock pin and rod wouldn't, only about 7 slots you have to insert the panel into..finally got it..WTH? So I decide I've got to youtube this, first 2 aren't detailed enough. 3rd one I had an aha moment even though the creator didn't point out how important it was to REMOVE THE BEZEL AROUND THE DAMN DOOR HANDLE! After that, the other 3 doors were a cake walk to take off and put in. I was almost having fun and ready to do another truck's worth (not really) so that was aha moment number one.
Then, replaced the stock speakers. In the old days, if you had the wires backwards, you might have a speaker out of phase and that was pretty much the consequence. In the new millenium, if the wires are backwards, the speaker doesn't work at all. And then if you just switch the wires without completely shutting off the vehicle so the audio system does the "reload" message, it still won't work. (ie turn your key off for a few seconds then turn it back on. nope) I got lucky the first door and worked the first time. 2nd time I thought hell, maybe the left rear speaker never worked in the first place, but now i've cut the wires, not a warranty item, not paying a Dodge dealer 140 an hour to fix it, don't want to pay a 16 year old working at an audio shop 75 bucks an hour to fix it. So....I drank a beer. and decided to just switch the wires, solder it up knowing that the speaker was fine and maybe given it was a rear speaker, live with it until I can't. I'm far past the days of using my backseat so not a huge loss. So I solder it up, put the speaker and door on and voila, it worked. that's when i had my second aha moment of the night.
160 canadian for 4- 6x 9 pioneer speakers that sound VASTLY better than the stock. its like a new stereo. I was listening to the great bass line on the Doobie Bros Taking it to the streets and the definition was excellent. very pleased, learned a couple of things today.
Then, replaced the stock speakers. In the old days, if you had the wires backwards, you might have a speaker out of phase and that was pretty much the consequence. In the new millenium, if the wires are backwards, the speaker doesn't work at all. And then if you just switch the wires without completely shutting off the vehicle so the audio system does the "reload" message, it still won't work. (ie turn your key off for a few seconds then turn it back on. nope) I got lucky the first door and worked the first time. 2nd time I thought hell, maybe the left rear speaker never worked in the first place, but now i've cut the wires, not a warranty item, not paying a Dodge dealer 140 an hour to fix it, don't want to pay a 16 year old working at an audio shop 75 bucks an hour to fix it. So....I drank a beer. and decided to just switch the wires, solder it up knowing that the speaker was fine and maybe given it was a rear speaker, live with it until I can't. I'm far past the days of using my backseat so not a huge loss. So I solder it up, put the speaker and door on and voila, it worked. that's when i had my second aha moment of the night.
160 canadian for 4- 6x 9 pioneer speakers that sound VASTLY better than the stock. its like a new stereo. I was listening to the great bass line on the Doobie Bros Taking it to the streets and the definition was excellent. very pleased, learned a couple of things today.