How to Replace the Rear Speakers in a Ford Escort
by Allen Moore
Rear automotive speakers are often responsible for delivering more of the bass to a car's sound system. Since bass is most often the culprit behind blown speakers, it stands to reason that rear speakers are more prone to failure than front ones. Depending on the body style of your Ford Escort, you may have rear speakers located in the rear inside trim panels adjacent to the back seat, or in the back dash surface. In either case, you can follow a few simple steps to remove and replace the speakers.
Step 1
Locate the rear speakers in your Escort. If they are in the side trim panels, move to Step 2. If they are located in the back dash, move to Step 3.
Step 2
Use the trim tool to pry the trim panels loose from the interior wall of the Escort. You will need to find an edge of the trim panel, insert the head of the tool behind it and pry the trim anchors loose. In most cases the trim can be removed fairly quickly; just be careful not to pry too hard, as it can be easily broken. Once the trim is removed, move to Step 4.
Step 3
Pry the speaker covers out of their mounts carefully using the pocket screwdriver. You should pry carefully at one point, then move several inches and pry again, repeating this pattern until the grill comes out of the mount. Use care not to scratch the surrounding trim with the tip of the screwdriver. Once the covers are out, move to Step 4.
Step 4
Use the socket set to remove the fasteners holding the speakers down. Depending on your year and body style, there may be two or four fasteners.
Step 5
Pull the speakers out of the mounts by hand and disconnect the speaker wire from the speaker. Connect the wires to the new speakers and reinstall them in reverse of how they were removed.
References
Tips
- Certain model year Escorts require you to access the back dash-mounted speakers from inside the trunk. In this circumstance, you will need to get into the trunk and unbolt the speaker mounts from below, using the socket set. Once done, disconnect the speaker wires, connect them to the new speakers and install the new speakers in reverse of how you removed the old ones.
Things You'll Need
- Trim tool
- Pocket screwdriver
- Socket set
- Replacement speakers
Writer Bio
Allen Moore's career includes awards in poetry and creative fiction, published lyrics, fiction books and nonfiction articles as well as a master certification in automotive service from the Ford Motor Company. Moore is a contributing writer for RF365.com and various other websites, a ghostwriter for Rainbow Writing and has over a dozen works of fiction currently in print.
