1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Quick, Cheap, Speaker and Sound Deadening Upgrade

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by revhigh, Mar 1, 2011.

Page 3 of 4
  1. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    That's what I did ... I'm not sure if I'll even upgrade the rears ... I don't sit back there LOL. I have to take the rear doors apart anyway to sound deaden them, so I may just replace the speakers while I'm in there. Just replacing the fronts with the Pioneers had a vast effect on the quality of sound, IMO.

    REV
     
    #41 revhigh, Mar 10, 2011
  2. Fla Fla Flo Fly

    Fla Fla Flo Fly Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2011
    38
    3
    0
    Location:
    Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Ok, thanks. I got the speakers in last night, and was just reading about people saying they were under powered. My only concern was that if it would be louder in the back, but not in the front is all.
     
    #42 Fla Fla Flo Fly, Mar 10, 2011
  3. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I don't even hear the rear speakers very much from the front. If you like the sound who cares if it's a little louder. I can tell you that as far as I'm concerned, the fronts are less efficient than the rears ... therefore, at a given volume level, the rears would tend to be slighly louder than the fronts. If you find that to be the case (which I didn't), just adjust the fader.

    Do you like the Pioneers ?

    REV
     
    #43 revhigh, Mar 10, 2011
  4. Fla Fla Flo Fly

    Fla Fla Flo Fly Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2011
    38
    3
    0
    Location:
    Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Doh! I didn't even think of the fader! I haven't installed them yet. Trying to find some time. This will be my first real upgrade to the car (other than poping a center cap in the rims). My wife is real nervous that I;m going to mess something up, so I need to do it when she isn't home!
     
    #44 Fla Fla Flo Fly, Mar 10, 2011
  5. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    If you follow my instructions you won't damage anything. Make sure you get the two screws out, and then just work the panel off ... once it's disconnected, lift it off the door and move it away slightly, so you can reach behind and disconnect the electrical connectors. If you're worried, it may help to have a second person hold the door panel while you disconnect the connectors. Once you do one, you'll be laughing at how easy it was.

    Make sure all the 'clips' are replaced in the door panel all the way around if any remain in the door itself after you pull the door panel off.

    REV
     
    #45 revhigh, Mar 11, 2011
  6. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    4,539
    1,433
    9
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    A door panel removal tool makes a world of difference.
    http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00960657000P
    You can find them at Sears, car parts stores, Harbor Freight.....

    Once you use one you will never go back to prying with screwdrivers or just pulling on the panel.:rockon:

    Edit: 14 May 2011. Now that I have done my doors, I no longer value the panel tool as much for the Prius panels. I ended up not using mine because the panels are so much easier to just pull off. I had one door panel off once, the other panels 2 to 3 times each and didn't break a single panel or fastener.
     
    #46 xs650, Mar 11, 2011
  7. dopey423

    dopey423 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2010
    77
    16
    0
    Location:
    Silicon Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    agreed.. got a whole set of these on amazon for around 10 bucks and you can get free shipping..

    used them on to install the rear view camera, pop every panel and clip in the car, and even gets stuck clips out =D
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017HX5DE
     
    #47 dopey423, Mar 11, 2011
  8. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    They can help sometimes, and I have several, but in this case it was unnecessary. Once the two screws have been removed, you can very easily just pull it off with your hands, which is what I did. When I started doing it, I was a little concerned about doing it, but then 60 seconds later I was holding it in my hands .... piece of cake.

    REV
     
    #48 revhigh, Mar 12, 2011
  9. Fla Fla Flo Fly

    Fla Fla Flo Fly Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2011
    38
    3
    0
    Location:
    Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Sorry to keep bothering you with dumb questions, but I want to make sure I have everything I need before I start this. You said in an earlier post that you had to drill two new holes for the new speakers. Did you just use a nut and bolt to put them back in? Is it as difficult as if you were putting the originals back in?
     
    #49 Fla Fla Flo Fly, Mar 12, 2011
  10. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    If you are not planning on replacing the factory speakers I'd say you're gonna have to rivet them back in, or find a special fastener. THe problem is that once you remove the rivets, you can't get behind the speaker to hold a nut since the speaker is now back in the way and you can't get behind it.

    If you're replacing the speakers with 6.5's, it's no big deal because Crutchfield gives you new brackets that must be bolted in. You can use the two top holes from the factory speaker to mount the bracket with no modification, but the two bottom two bracket holes require new holes to be drilled in the door. I used 3/4 inch bolts and washers with ny-lock nuts so they wouldn't back out or vibrate. Once the brackets are mounted, you mount the new 6.5's in the bracket with simple wood screws. Works like a charm and is an excellent secure install.

    I just ordered 2 more of the speakers and a new head unit. I got the Clarion CZ500 with bluetooth.

    REV
     
    #50 revhigh, Mar 12, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  11. don_chuwish

    don_chuwish Well Seasoned Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2009
    816
    182
    0
    Location:
    Southern Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I don't have a first hand account, but in my own sound deadening research I found many more arguments against Peel & Seal than for it. I'd strongly recommend staying away from it. The biggest issue I read about is how it handles hot days. Stuck on a house roof in a relatively horizontal position and being part of other roofing structure it's fine. Stuck vertically to the inside of your door panel it can become too gooey and slump off, making for an awful mess. Asphalt smell is the other issue mentioned, again more prevalent as temperatures rise.
    By all means do your own searches and make up your own mind, but it is NOT the same as butyl matt products like Dynamat, Second Skin, Cascade Audio & SoundDeadenerShowdown (SDS) offer.

    - D
     
    #51 don_chuwish, Mar 13, 2011
  12. putty

    putty Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2008
    147
    39
    0
    Location:
    somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    damn, just finished 4 speaker install with peel and seal
     
    #52 putty, Mar 13, 2011
  13. Ragadelic

    Ragadelic Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2011
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Western Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Wow, I never could have imagined that this topic could actually be controversial! I was all set to hit Lowe's for Peel & Seal today but will probably spend the extra cash and buy the real deal (Dynamat) on Amazon.

    Many thanks to Rev and everyone that has chimed in on this topic. I never would have had the guts to tear into my new baby without Rev's copius details. (And I sure as heck never would have found that 2nd screw in the door panel.)
     
    #53 Ragadelic, Mar 13, 2011
  14. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I'm not worried at all about the Peel and Seal.

    I would like to see the documentation on the melting though. Please post some links. I must have read 50 reviews and discussions and this didn't come up once. This may just be one of those 'my cousin knew a guy who had a brother that ..... blah blah blah' ...

    There is ZERO smell from the Peel and Seal I used. THere is no hotter place than a roof. If it would melt, it will melt ... horizontal OR vertical.

    I did find a few threads when I googled 'Peel and Seal melting'. You might want to call MFM for first hand info ... I found the link below in one of the 'melting' threads. It seems for everyone who 'knows' or 'has seen' or 'who has a buddy that saw P&S melt, or smell', there is someone who's used it forever and has never had it melt or smell. I know mine has no odor.

    From one of the threads .... I'd do your own research, and come to your own conclusions after due diligence. :D

    ********************************************************
    I called the manufacturer of Peel and Seal and spoke with Techinal support person and he said as long as the tempature of the car doesn't go over 200 degrees it will not melt.

    He said there are companies who buy and market his product to use in automotive applications.

    Use this information as you like!

    http://www.mfmbp.com/Contact.htm
    *********************************************************

    Here's a pretty good 50/50 thread ... LOL.

    http://www.caraudio.com/forums/general-discussion/60644-peel-seal-3.html

    REV
     
    #54 revhigh, Mar 13, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  15. Fla Fla Flo Fly

    Fla Fla Flo Fly Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2011
    38
    3
    0
    Location:
    Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    It seems like when I line up the holes, the wires from the adapter struggle to connect, and bend part of the tab.

    Edit: nevermind. I think I was just over complicating things. I ended up leaving off that extra cover of the speakers, and it was easier to install then. That shouldn't make a difference, right?

    All in all, I love the new pioneers. Only issue I had was I ended up breaking a piece from the circuit for the pass. power window. I will end up taking the panel off next weekend and seeing if I can fix it.
     
    #55 Fla Fla Flo Fly, Mar 13, 2011
  16. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    LOL !! Yeah, ya don't use the Pioneer cover when you put the speakers in !! :D

    REV
     
    #56 revhigh, Mar 13, 2011
  17. cagauss

    cagauss Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2011
    9
    0
    0
    Location:
    West Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Well, I just tried the door panel removal on my new 2011 Prius IV, as described by Revhigh. It's not quite as easy as he makes it appear. The 2 screws are no problem. But prying out the fasteners by hand is definitely not a good idea. You need a tool. If you pull the door panel without a tool, you run a serious risk of breaking the plastic on the door panel that holds the fasteners. Remember, this is PLASTIC folks, and when you break a piece of molded plastic you can NOT repair it. I had 3 of the fasteners stay embedded in the metal door and the panel pulled away from them. I was just lucky the plastic holders on the door panel did not break. Also there is a fastener alonf the upper side of the door panel that war hard to remove. I did not know it was there.

    When I got it all apart, I saw the plastic cover. My goal is to reduce road noiuse and cabin noise, not to upgrade the stereo system (I have the factory JBL's which are OK for me). I need access to the outer shell to cover it with P&S. It was too much for me. I iwll take it to a shop. I find the road noise at speeds above 45 - 50 mph too stressful. I spend 50 minutes a day at high speed on the LA freeway system.

    ... Fred
     
    #57 cagauss, Mar 13, 2011
  18. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hmmmm ..... mine came right off and only left one clip in the door ... no big deal. I agree with you about the plastic ... only way to get it off would be to destroy it ... no way it's coming off ... that's why I worked through the speaker hole !

    REV
     
    #58 revhigh, Mar 13, 2011
  19. cagauss

    cagauss Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2011
    9
    0
    0
    Location:
    West Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    If you want to do the inside of the outer shell, it looks like you need to remove and discard the plastic liner. Why is it there? What is its purpose? Should something be used to replace this function?
     
    #59 cagauss, Mar 14, 2011
  20. revhigh

    revhigh MPG Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    986
    141
    0
    Location:
    PA - Pocono Mountain Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Vapor barrier
     
    #60 revhigh, Mar 14, 2011
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 3 of 4