Installing Speakers behind seats.

[Saga286]

I need some help here.

I am a new owner of a 1st Gen Insight. It's not a bad car, a little ugly (have to be honest), but a good car. I think my only issue so far with the car is that the battery drains so quickly when accelerating, especially when in the city. I find my self at 3 bars in no time. Not sure what is going on there.

My real question though is about the audio. I just bought some Infinity Kappa 62.9i speakers and when I tried to install them, I realized they are deep and the magnet a little too big. I thought maybe I cut the plastic in the door into a full hole to get them to fit. Would that be an issue?

I thought about using the speaker holes behind the seats, but apparently I would need to purchase the speaker kit. $56.00 is a little pricey for me at the moment. Is it possible to install these speakers behind the seats without the kit, or is it that important to buy it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you very much.

[gilbertguy]

Not sure about the speakers but about your battery it is probably weak if it drains that quickly. Try not to use alot of assist and always try to maximize your regen.

I do know that there is a plastic spacer behind the seat where the speaker should go that you can easily remove, also there are wires already prewired there for speaker use. I'd think as long as your new speakers come with a cover you should be able to size it and cut the material but I haven't installed them in my car.

Here is a thread that might help you: Honda Insight Rear OEM Speaker Installation - CleanMPG Forums

Also, please post your location on your signiture information.

[bigjim56]

Wow, I did'nt realize there were precut holes and prewired terminals for speakers behind the seats. The sound sux a little now coming from just the 2 floor/door speakers. Please give the link for the speakers, and also the speaker template...I'm definately interested!

Saga286 - as far as your battery, check out the grid charger threads...my current Do's and Don'ts of grid charging/etc. A grid charger would certainly do your battery pack some good...sounds like you pack is WAY out of balance. I'm a new Insight owner too, 2001 MT w/85K miles. HTH..

Thanks,

bigjim56

[Saga286]

I wonder if to much space behind the speaker would cause issues in sound quality. Not sure. Anybody know?

About the battery, the battery is new. Just spent over 1000 replacing it
Could they have given me a bad battery? How do i rebalance the battery?

[bigjim56]

You rebalance the battery by doing a series of grid charges.

The battery pack consists of 20 sticks (each stick equiv. to 5 "D" size batteries back to back), over time, due to the irregular charge/discharge rates of each stick (cell) they become 'unbalanced' = not of equal charge. The SOC (State of Charge) gauge you read on the dash limits the view to only 20-80% of the actual batteries charge -when it falls below or above this it goes thru a positive/negative recal. This will take away ALL assist and use part of the engines power to recharge the pack...robbing you of engine power and mpg's.

The grid charger charges the pack - and when the fuller cells top off, the excess voltage charge is dissipated as heat, at the same time the weaker cells are still building up charge...eventually equalizing with the full cells. Checking the voltage meter of the packs before/during/after will give proof that the battery pack is accepting the charge. Once the packs voltage remains in the 170-174 volt range, grid charging can be put off to once every 1 or 2 months. I plan on "pack whacking" mine about every other week until it reaches the acceptable voltage range.

You can either buy a grid charger, or if your handy with tools/elect./etc. you can make your own. Some members will sell theirs when they no longer need them. I don't have the links w/me, but just plug in "grid charger" in the search engine of InsightCentral and you'll get tons of links.


bigjim56

[gilbertguy]

Where and when did you get the pack work done, dealer or someone on the side? What kind of warranty did they give you with the work? If it is under warranty then grid charging may void the warranty so you will want to be careful and check with who did the work.

[Saga286]

It was done at the dealer.

[Eli]

I'm recommending that everyone grid charge a dealer replacement pack ASAP after it's installed. They're in unknown condition.

[Dakine]

The Polk DB651s speakers work well in the front (the s stands for slim) The Polk DB651 will fit in the back. The back is prewired. You can do the rear without the template if you take your time and cut only as much material as you need to (I overdid it on my install, hence the warning) The midpoint of the speaker holes are located about 6" down from the Tom Mix Bar and 5" in from each side. You can feel the indention if you press along the fabric area, most of the area is firm, when you get to the area that has give you have found the speaker cut-out. Trim that fabric back carefully. You will see the prewired feeds.

You can purchase Metra 72-7800 Speaker connectors to simplify your install.

You may still need to upgrade your head unit depending on your sound specs. I ended up swapping the factory unit with a 2002 s2000 head unit that included a cd player. With the addition of an iPod module you end up with a decent system.

[Saga286]

So plenty of space for the speakers then. That's good. Is it imperative that I buy the kit? I guess I would need the plastic speaker receiver piece. I just wish they sold it without the speakers. Would make it a little cheaper.