Bose speaker distorting,

[S3-Oski]

Hi, the S3 im picking up has the bose upgrade but have been told the left hand speaker in the passenger door had started to crackel when the volume is increased or though it seemed ok the other day,

Is this a common problem, are new speakers easy to get hold of? and also are the door cards simple to take off or best left for a someone who know what they are doing,thanks alot,

 

[AndyMac]

Removing the door cards is pretty easy. First lower the windows, then remove the 2 visible screws at the top on either end of the door card, remove the single screw inside the grab handle, push down the plastic cuff inside the grab handle and remove the 2 screws behind it. Pull the whole door card straight up and out, but not too far as you need to unhinge the door release cable and unplug the wiring looms.
It may in fact be the amp rather than the speaker. If a speaker is blown then it's blown and will sound consistently dreadful. The Bose amps are prone to crackling/hissing etc usually due to solder joints on the PCB drying out (especially if the problem is intermittant or heat related). Running a soldering iron & new solder over the main component connections on the PCB can often cure the problem.
Replacements often come up on ebay, amps are about £50 or so. If you do decide to swap the amp I'll have the old one off you!

 

[S3-Oski]

Thanks Andy very very helpful theremate, i will have a look, and let you know if i need a new amp mate

 

[fairzy]

I've got a similar problem, although when playing music you can't really notice it, it's more when people are talking on the Radio (Moyales in the morning is the main culprit).

I know the easy solution is to not listen to him, but Wogan is just as bad

I have adjusted the fader / balance etc and have established the crackling comes from the main speaker in the passenger door. Could this be a loose connection, or soldering on the amp as above?

 

[fairzy]

Any ideas? Please help!

 

[AndyMac]

Will most probably be the amp, is it heat dependent i.e. does it vary depending on whether the amp is cold or warmed up?
Does it clear if you turn it up loud?

 

[fairzy]

Will most probably be the amp, is it heat dependent i.e. does it vary depending on whether the amp is cold or warmed up?
Does it clear if you turn it up loud?

Thanks Andy - it's driving me insane.

It is not heat dependant and clears if the music is turned up a bit and 'busy' if that makes sense - the more going on the less you notice it.

Where is the amp?

 

[AndyMac]

The amp is in the rear drivers side quarter/cubbyhole. You need to release the drivers side boot trim to remove it. Just remove the 3 cargo anchors, then the boot lip trim. Then the side trim is simply clipped to the bodywork on the upright next to the rear light. There's also a hidden plastic screw up inside the cubbyhole where the trim bends round the rear light. Remove this and then pull the trim hard towards the passenger side of the car to release the metal clip. The clip will remain in the bodywork, so remember to remove it with long nose pliers and slot it back when refitting.

 

[fairzy]

The amp is in the rear drivers side quarter/cubbyhole. You need to release the drivers side boot trim to remove it. Just remove the 3 cargo anchors, then the boot lip trim. Then the side trim is simply clipped to the bodywork on the upright next to the rear light. There's also a hidden plastic screw up inside the cubbyhole where the trim bends round the rear light. Remove this and then pull the trim hard towards the passenger side of the car to release the metal clip. The clip will remain in the bodywork, so remember to remove it with long nose pliers and slot it back when refitting.

Thanks Andy - I'll have a look this weekend.

Hopefully it will be a case of re-soldering some of the connections...