'94 Civic CX rear speakers?

[fritz_269]

A friend needs a little help. She went into Best Buy to get some speakers for her 1994 Honda Civic CX hatchback and they told her that they couldn't install rear speakers in that car, and that she'd have to go to the Honda dealer.

I find this a little difficult to believe. Although her car was not originally outfitted with speakers, there are panels in the rear that look like pop-outs where some 6x9" or so speakers should mount.

Is there anything unusual about the '94 CX's rear speakers, or are the people at Best Buy totally incompetent? Has anyone here fitted new speakers into a CX? What size/depth would work?

Thanks for any and all help!

[CivicRacerX]

With a lot of civics (I don't know if this applies to the car you're talking about, specifically) I've heard complaints that replacing the rear deck speakers actually entails removing the entire rear interior, including the seats. I assume your CX is not a DX typo, and thus you have a hatchback. If you have interior pods that need pulled out before the speakers will go in, the Best Buy installers might be reluctant to pull at them, for whatever reason. Also, since your car didn't come with them from the factory, the wiring may not be in place. You could try removing the pods yourself and seeing if the wiring exists. If it does, just tell the installers that you had speakers in there before, but they cracked or something. They might be giving a knee-jerk response based on the non-hatch models installation process.

Hope that helps a little bit, and good luck!

[fritz_269]

Thanks CivicRacer. Yes, it is a CX hatchback. It didn't come with factory speakers, so I don't think there's any wiring - but I'll try to check it anyway.

I didn't know about other Civic rear-decks being such a pain in the a$$ - but that may well explain Best Buy's refusal!

Anyone with a CX around here?
:smoker2:

[sparq]

Originally posted by fritz_269
Thanks CivicRacer. Yes, it is a CX hatchback. It didn't come with factory speakers, so I don't think there's any wiring - but I'll try to check it anyway.

I didn't know about other Civic rear-decks being such a pain in the a$$ - but that may well explain Best Buy's refusal!

Anyone with a CX around here?
:smoker2:

No wiring? Yes they put the wiring in... when I had my 91 escort (ok stop laughing now) it was all wired up for power door locks and power windows... its just not connected, that way they can pick which cars get the badge and which dont ~ so the wiring should be there. But yes, it is a pain in the butt to do ~ but it isnt impossible. Not even close... so if she wants some speaks, take it to a REAL place not god damn best buy

[Rice-Rocketeer]

The rear of a 5th gen hatch was never designed to have speakers. That's why there are no wires. Where are these pop outs that you talk about? The only pop outs that COULD be replaced with speaker holder are in the sides of the back seats where the armrest's are. And yeah, ony honda made those OE. You could custom but Best Buy wouldn't touch it.

[fritz_269]

Originally posted by Rice-Rocketeer
The only pop outs that COULD be replaced with speaker holder are in the sides of the back seats where the armrest's are.

Exactly!!!!

Do you have any idea what size speaker might fit in there? Ever seen anyone do it? I'm still a little confused - you say "The rear of a 5th gen hatch was never designed to have speakers" and then "only honda made those OE". Did any CX come with rear speakers? If I looked hard enough at junkyards could I come up with a mounting panel?

I've got no problem running the wires myself, I'm sure I can figure that out. But I'm much more worried about the mounting issue.

Thanks for the help!

And sparq - just because Ford wastes all that money putting in wiring harneses that are never used certainly does not mean that Honda does too!
:smoker2:

[Rice-Rocketeer]

Well I think you could split up an interior into three sections, front, middle and rear The front I would consider from the front seats foward. The middle is the rear seat area and the rear is behind the rear seats. So they were never designed to have speakers in the rear (Although I'm pretty sure they made a kit a while ago to fit 6X9's where the hatch cover would go like in the 6th gens but not anymore) But Honda defenitly did make replacement pods fr the back seats with a little vent in it and behind the pods you could mount a 5 1/4 I believe. They cost about $50 and could be still be purchased at online OEM honda parts stores. I've seen them and not only do they look stock but real cool if you know how rare they are. I myself took the stock pods and cut a hole in them, then fashioned a fiberglass and bondo "holder" so they point up a little then I painted it over. Looks real cool

Did any Cx come with mid speakers? No.
No model came with these things standard. They were optional equipment like the double din space that replaces the cup holders and OE foglights. So as you may know, finding optional equipment of ANY car at a junkyard is extremely rare because not many ppl ordered them in thier cars in the first place and second, they're highly sought after by aftermarket enthusiasts.

But yeah either way, the wires would have to be run by the installer, not too difficult.

[madtownhonda]

yep...rear speakers were only an option on the 5th gen hatchies...the guy before me had some wires and shit in there, but I could tell they were not stock...anyways..I ripped the entire stereo out along with the rear panels, seats, tire, jack, console, door panels, headliner, shift boot, carpet, etc

all that stuff does is add weight and take away sound

[Rice-Rocketeer]

Hehe...I did that a few months ago and everytime I showed it to someone they'd be like Someone stole your interior!!!

[SilverY2KCivic]

Here's what I can tell you about from the stand point of a '95 DX coupe. The coupe uses "6½ all around, front and rear, the 5th gen DX's, came with NO radio (it was an option, 6th gens come with a standard AM/FM radio) but they were pre-wired for speakers. All we had to get was an antenna unit for the radio, and that was it. Oh yeah, also had to cut out holes in the rear shelf deck for the speaker grills, and for the sound to go through. So I don't see why her hatch wouldn't be pre-wired for speakers as well.

Ok, my Crutchfield catalog (providing they are correct) lists the speakers being in the "rear seat side panel" and should be a "5¼ size unit. Well they list the size for the 5th gen coupes being 5¼ as well, but we put "6½'s int my sis's car. Hope that helps you out, if not, just walk on over to Pasadena Honda on saturday, and ask them what's up with it.

[madtownhonda]

Originally posted by SilverY2KCivic
Here's what I can tell you about from the stand point of a '95 DX coupe. The coupe uses "6½ all around, front and rear, the 5th gen DX's, came with NO radio (it was an option, 6th gens come with a standard AM/FM radio) but they were pre-wired for speakers. All we had to get was an antenna unit for the radio, and that was it. Oh yeah, also had to cut out holes in the rear shelf deck for the speaker grills, and for the sound to go through. So I don't see why her hatch wouldn't be pre-wired for speakers as well.

Ok, my Crutchfield catalog (providing they are correct) lists the speakers being in the "rear seat side panel" and should be a "5¼ size unit. Well they list the size for the 5th gen coupes being 5¼ as well, but we put "6½'s int my sis's car. Hope that helps you out, if not, just walk on over to Pasadena Honda on saturday, and ask them what's up with it.

yep, coupes are different...the eg hatchbacks had everything as an option basically....from ac to stereo...they didn't have power windows or any of those goodies

[fritz_269]

Originally posted by Rice-Rocketeer
But Honda defenitly did make replacement pods fr the back seats with a little vent in it and behind the pods you could mount a 5 1/4 I believe. They cost about $50 and could be still be purchased at online OEM honda parts stores.

YESSSS!!!! That would be precisely what I'm looking for. Thanks!!!!
Sounds pretty trick too!

I even found a picture of it at Majestic Honda:
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...y5=SIDE+LINING
But it doesn't look like they have any in stock. Anyone have any idea where I can get a set (speaker holders + vented lids) either new or used?

Custom is always an option too, but since it isn't my car, I'm a little more hesitant about ripping up her interior - wiring's no big deal, but fiberglass is.

Thanks very much for the help everyone! Any more advice or experience is still appreciated though.
:smoker2:

[Rice-Rocketeer]

You must've answered more than 10 questions I've had fully and with sites with additional info, this is the least I can do. I don't know exactly where to get it but I saw it like a month or two or ago when someone had posted that they bought it. I'll search for a bit and throw any links I find.

And that's the beauty of this part, it's not ripping out the whole interior. It's simply putting the back seat down and popping out this panel and doing whatever you need to do to it. Then run some wires and pop it back in. And you could probably make the whole thing out of bondo if glassing is a problem but it won't be as tough.

[Rice-Rocketeer]

No Luck, all I can do I guess is be on the lookout whenever I see something. They're extremely rare but I've seen them.

[madtownhonda]

ah....JDM units are great...I'll see if I can find you a picture...Gathers, JDM Honda audio stuff makes a piece that goes in where the USDM speakers would go...I think it adds 4 5.25" speakers, 2 on each side...not to mention it's JDM and it looks great