'99 STS Bose Speaker Problems

[Alert]

When I purchased my '99 STS (w/ Bose stereo) a few weeks ago I noticed the drivers door speaker emits no signal, just a constant buzz/crackle that is uneffected by turning the volume up or down. Now my front passenger door speaker is giving me problems. It sounds blown -- plays the signal and responds to volume control buts sounds horribly distorted. The whole stereo sounds bad now.

I checked out the cost of a new speaker (part #: 25717924).
- $102.75 at GMPartsDirect.com
- $118.56 at gmotors.com

Are these the best prices I'm likely to find? At the rate they're going, will I likely be replacing the rear two soon, also? What about the failure rate of the little dash speakers? They sound fine now...

I'd be willing to order two of these and put them in myself. My question is how hard is it to do? I assume getting inside the door and then putting it back together is the tricky part. Are wire connections to the speakers simple? Do they have to be soldered?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Ed

[99esteees]

Honestly I would start checking ebay first...

[6thCAD]

These are very simple to replace. I did the driver's door on my '00 STS. It took me about 30 minutes and I am not very mechanically inclined. If you are going to buy brand new ones, those are about the best prices you will find, still better than the dealer. gmpartsdirect.com does take a long time though. I would pay the little extra and order from the other place if you would like them fairly soon. I would go new so you know they are good. Used ones may have the same problems, why are the people selling them? If you PM me with your email, I will send you a file that explains how to do it. I paid for the file and then modified it. After doing it, I found a couple of steps were not even necessary unless you are completely trying to remove the door panel, which you are not in this case.

[Alert]

6thCAD thanks for your response. I tried to PM you but was not allowed (it said I need 20 posts to PM and I only have 5).

Here's my email: ecanavan@naturesplus.com

Please send me whatever you have -- I'd love to see how you did it and try to do it myself.

I can only image how much it would cost to have a dealer do this.

Thanks again,

Ed

[6thCAD]

Sent.

[JCPlummer]

I could use a copy of those instructions, too. Would someone post them, link to them, or email them to me, please?

Thanks,

jc

[lavarock]

I have a 99 SLS with the same problem. My question is does the replacement speakers have the problem fixed. I am concerned that we would be spending over $400 only to have the same problem in a year or two.

I suspect this was a generic problem that all Bose systems had in the 98-2000 years.

I had the same problem with a 85 Oldsmobile that had a Bose radio. Not sure Bose knows how to make a speaker for automotive use.

I also have a 2005 Chevrolet 2500 with the Bose system. This system is sounding like the speakers may be failing. Always happens just after the warranty expires.

[chubbyranger]

The Bose speakers do not seem to have a long life with the 425 watt systems - the center dash was dead on mine when I got it. They can be replaced (in SOME applications) with non-Bose speakers - I swapped in a regular 3 1/2 inch in the center and it sounds fine. You can find a ton of posts on this - search 'Bose replacement' and there should be plenty to read. Apparently the stock Bose speakers are 2-ohm impedence and therefore if you use a standard 4-ohm speaker you will not get as much performance, but Infinity makes a compatibl spaker if you want to go aftermarket.

[99STSeville]

Blew my front left dash speakers at 62,000. Replaced at my local shop with Infinity Kappa 10.7T's that run at twice the ohm, but still sound fantastic. No re-wire required, and install ran me about $90.00 (Purchased the infinity's for roughly $50 on ebay including shipping). Replacing my stock head-unity next weekend with the Pioneer AVIC-D2... can't wait $150 to re-wire everything and like $85 for the deck install.

[derone]

I used the C5 Corvette Bose door speakers for the front door replacements. You'll find more of those on ebay and cheaper. They are exactly the same physical size and electrical impedance, with a little less top-end.
Doug

'00 STS w/nav

[dirtyguido]

Originally Posted by derone

I used the C5 Corvette Bose door speakers for the front door replacements. You'll find more of those on ebay and cheaper. They are exactly the same physical size and electrical impedance, with a little less top-end.
Doug

'00 STS w/nav

From a quick ebay search it seems as if these C5 vette bose speakers are actually two speakers mounted onto a door plate.... Do you remove one of them and replace our door speaker, or does that whole plate bolt into the door. I'm also assuming that you have to splice the electrical connectors, no big deal.. I haven't taken apart the door in my Seville, but I'm just curious. I was under the impression that the bose setup simply had an 8" driver in the door in our cars.

Thanks in advance for the info,

George

[derone]

Yea, you remove the larger speaker from its C5 frame and use it in the Seville's front door speaker frame. I'm thinking the extra 3.5" speaker(s) from the C5 may work as the center one in the dash...haven't verified that yet though. There is no wire splicing involved...same connectors from speaker to speaker frames. There are 4 screws holding the speaker to the frame along with 3 plastic push pins as well.
Doug

[dirtyguido]

Originally Posted by derone

Yea, you remove the larger speaker from its C5 frame and use it in the Seville's front door speaker frame. I'm thinking the extra 3.5" speaker(s) from the C5 may work as the center one in the dash...haven't verified that yet though. There is no wire splicing involved...same connectors from speaker to speaker frames. There are 4 screws holding the speaker to the frame along with 3 plastic push pins as well.
Doug

Gotcha. Good info to know... Also, since they make speaker adapters for the c5 to mount 6.5" components, this should also facilitate replacement to other brands... although our options are somewhat limited due to the fact that these are 2ohm drivers.

Take care and thanks for the info,

George

[derone]

The Seville Bose front door speakers(~7-8") may be classified as 2ohm impedance, but on a DMM they measure 0.6ohm, the same as the C5(~7-8" door speaker). Now the 3.5" C5 door speaker measured 3.5ohms via a DMM for reference.
Doug

[rubenmer1]

Originally Posted by JCPlummer

I could use a copy of those instructions, too. Would someone post them, link to them, or email them to me, please?

Thanks,

jc

Same here...

Thank you.