I have a 1997 XK8 convertable with the Harman Kardon sound system. I replaced the rear subs with a pair of 4 ohm Kicker COMPVT65. The foam surrounds on the old subs were disintergrated. The high frequecy rear speakers seem to work OK.

The new subs sound awful. The just make a low blatting sound. The original front speakers sound 300% better alone and have more bass. When I installed the new rear speakers I connected the black and white wire to the positive terminal of the speaker. I noticed some air leaking around the mounting gasket but left it alone.

1) Do I need to go back and seal up the box? I can't imagine this making that much difference.
2) Could my wiring be out of phase? Again, I can't imagine this making that much difference either.
3) Could there be a problem with the amp?
4) Is there some other potential solution I am overlooking?

Thanks for your help and thanks to all those who posted information on what speakers to get and how the access the rear speakers. Looking forward to getting this sorted out.

 

Boy, I was pretty much wrong on all counts. I went back and discovered I had reversesd the speaker wire on one of the speaker so they were out of phase with each other. I also discovered that the speakers were not seating well even though I trimed away the plastic surround as suggested in other posts. I corrected these problems and all is well. Nice punchy bass for a 14 year old system. Very pleased with the Kickers. I'm sure the JL Audios sound better, especially with a little more power to push them but for $150 including tax and express shipping the Kickers are well worth the money. Thanks again to those who posted instructions on how to get to the rear speakers.

 

Congrats on making it right. And thanks for coming back with an update. I've got to do that same thing soon as well, and thinking ahead was wondering what the cause was.

Steve

 

I replaced mine and this should help JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource

 

Thanks Gus. Best pictures I've seen on how to do this yet. I saw H20 Boy's installer put Dynamat on the inside of the speaker box. Any opinion on this?

 

Good luck. Just follow Gus' pictures and instructions. I took my time disassembling the back seat the first time and it took me about 30 minutes to get to the speakers. One tip - my seat belt buckles in the middle of the rear seat have a leather or vinyl boot that covers their bases. This unsnaps so you can gently push them through the bottom of the seat when taking it out. Much easier than unscrewing the mount for them underneath the seat. Very satisfying project if your rear speakers are blown.

 

 

I did mine without removing the seats nor did I install Dynamat.

 

I removed the seat by unscrewing the nuts just under the front lip of the bottom part of the seat in the foot well. The back of the seat also has two screws on its bottom that become accesable once the bottom of the seat os removed. Once those are out the back of the seat lifts out. Taking the seat out made it easier for me to remove the panels that the speakers sit behind.

 

Gus;

How did you get to the speakers without removing the seat? I replaced mine a few years ago, but I don't like the sound all that much and am thinking about trying again or checking the wiring. I think I fought with all of it every step of the way and couldn't find a way to get the covers off with the seat in place. (1997 MY).

 

It was not difficult it was a matter of getting the sides removed. Look at my procedure and it tell you how.

 

Thanks for the great pictures, I just did mine in under an hour with out removing rear seat. I bought a set of Kenwood subs that fit perfectly and sound awesome.

 

This will seem like kind of a stupid question as there is a sedan. Easier I am sure, but did you have to put the top down to replace?
Or could you change with the top up?

 

I had the top down but I think it can be done with it up. I was 65 and 240lbs when I did it I just needed more room to move around.

 

Hi Gus,
your pictures are very helpful .. JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource
I ran into one hitch ... how do you slide the speaker cover out from the door sill.
It is stuck to floor like no ones business no screws to loosen
and called no less than 5 stereo shops and the dealer
who did not know how to get it out...
So close and yet so far LoL

 

E, as i recall there is a screw underneath the speaker cover, on the underside of the door itself. Maybe I'm talking about the wrong speaker, you mention stuck to the "floor", so I thought of the speaker cover which is closest of all to the floor - the one in the door forward bottom. Which speaker are you working on mate? Let us know.

John

 

Hi Johnken
This is for the rear speakers.
If you click on link is Gus' guide.
Once you get the initial screws off the top you slide the speaker cover (panel) out from the door sill.
This evaded me. The speaker panel even was unclipped
but could not get from under the door sill.
Did not want to bend the sill or anything
here is the link for the pics: JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource

 

If you are talking about the interior cover all I did was after the screws were removed I just tilted it back away from the cill and it came right out. If you are talking about the speaker box I removed the entire box.

 

So between wicked cold days etc. I have finally gotten to get back to working on this.
You are probably thinking this guy is a half wit right now, and you would be half right.

I push back and nothing .... was thinking well it might be the "guide to the rear that holds it in place" as the clip came right out, when I noticed a second bolt much like the seat belt one near the back.
Does this need to be taken out ? Is it possible I have one they decided just for fun to add an extra bolt? Or is there a trick to getting it out of the "guide to the rear that holds it in place?

 

Are you talking about the bolts that hold the speaker box in place?