Ls430 Subwoofer Issue

[irish87]

The speaker/subwoofer on the back window deck can't handle the bass anymore without cracking. Almost sounds like wires are crossed, but I realize it is shot. I need to confirm what I've read on other posts:

1. This is a subwoofer that needs to be replaced.

2. I have to use one with similar ohms or I need to add an amp as well.

3. The only way to switch this out is to remove the back seat first.

4. The guys at Best Buy are likely not the best place to get this done. I should find a car stereo place if I can.

5. Removing the back seat is a real PITA.

Please confirm that my research is correct and please make any suggestions on the best way to handle this situation.

Thanks for the help. I love my car, but need the sound back. :cries:

[Zett123]

The speaker/subwoofer on the back window deck can't handle the bass anymore without cracking. Almost sounds like wires are crossed, but I realize it is shot. I need to confirm what I've read on other posts:

1. This is a subwoofer that needs to be replaced.

2. I have to use one with similar ohms or I need to add an amp as well.

3. The only way to switch this out is to remove the back seat first.

4. The guys at Best Buy are likely not the best place to get this done. I should find a car stereo place if I can.

5. Removing the back seat is a real PITA.

Please confirm that my research is correct and please make any suggestions on the best way to handle this situation.

Thanks for the help. I love my car, but need the sound back.:cries:

I had the same problem in my 2001 LS430 due to my 25 year old daughter cranking the base up in a certain song when she borrowed the car. The sub woofer was crackling when I got it back. (Thanks pumpkin). I did an extensive search to try to find a like replacement to no avail. No one would re-cone it either. What I did was to find a used 2001 LS 430 sub-woofer on Ebay ($50.00) and had Myer Emco install it for $75.00. It works perfectly after three years. All that said, I believe I saw in the Lexus forums or a Google search, a quick fix using a heat gun and glue around the perimeter of the cone. What do you have to lose doing this? If you want to do the speaker change out, Myer did an excellent job. I believe any custom auto radio shop can do the same thing.

Note: The sub woofer on Ebay was listed as an auction by a auto junk yard. I asked if they would take $25 as a buy it now. He said $35.00 plus $15.00 shipping. The rest is history.

Hope this helps.

[jcrome04]

I don't know much about the 430. But find out what the stats of the stock sub are and buy and aftermarket with the same specs.

Oh... and hearts for the Topic Icon is my thing! you probably got everyone thinking this thread was mine! hahahhaha JK man :)

Welcome to the club

[irish87]

Thanks for the info. My car happened to be at the dealer and I asked for an estimate to replace it...$649 installed. I passed.

A little more research and I found the glue gun solution on another post. I tried it a couple of days ago. So far, so good.

While I am a bit older than 25, I still like to crank it up every once in a while. Now I can as the glue solution seems to work.

Thanks to both of you.

[wandawoods]

Thanks for the info. My car happened to be at the dealer and I asked for an estimate to replace it...$649 installed. I passed.

A little more research and I found the glue gun solution on another post. I tried it a couple of days ago. So far, so good.

While I am a bit older than 25, I still like to crank it up every once in a while. Now I can as the glue solution seems to work.

Thanks to both of you.

I was the one who posted the "glue gun" solution in 2006, and 2-1/2 years later, the "cone" in my subwoofer still going good with no buzzing! can't beat 5-cents solution like that ;) ...

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...st&p=210068

[Mark In Phoenix]

I replaced my subwoofer with the Polk DB840DVC 8 inch Dual Voice Coil Subwoofer available on Amazon.com for about $60. This speaker fit in perfectly as a replacement for the O.E.M. Speaker in my 2003 Lexus LS430. It has much more base response than the factory speaker. The factory speaker had a light weight magnet and was basically a cheap speaker. I was surprised by how cheap the factory speaker seemed. The Polk was heavy and much higher quality and it sounded like it. I think you would definitely be getting ripped off if you pay the dealer $300 for a factory replacement speaker that sucks. Don't fix that old piece of junk, replace it.

Replacing the speaker wasn't an easy job. I had to take out the entire back seat, unbolt the seat belts, disconnect a couple of electronic connectors going to the rear seat, and unbolt and lift up the center of the rear deck. My arms got scratched up working under the rear deck when unbolting the speaker and removing it. I recomend wearing a long sleve shirt. There are two speaker coils with two sets of connections, unlike the original speaker that has one set. You have to read the Polk instructions to determine how to wire the speaker for your car. I wired mine so the two speaker coils were in series for an 8 ohm load on the amplifier, which I think was correct for my car from what I had read on other posts. All you need is a soldering iron, solder, and a foot of 16 gauge wire. It's easy.

I had some difficulty figuring out how to take the two plastic mounting brackets off the original speaker and put them on the new speaker. I advise you to closely study how the original speaker was mounted before you disassemble it so you can put the new speaker in without trouble. Take a few pictures of the intact assembly from various angles before disassembly for reference later. I had to find a picture of a factory speaker for sale on EBay to figure out how to put mine together. Be sure to route the speaker wire through the slot on the mounting brackets so you don't have to pull the speaker back out like I did to reroute the wires.

I hope this helps you have an easier time than I did with the work. I had some problems completing the job, but it isn't extremely difficulty. Just somewhat difficult doing it the first time for a "Shade Tree Mechanic". With some time, tools, and determination you can probably complete the job and save yourself several hundred dollars by doing the work yourself instead of taking the job to the Lexus dealer.

Good luck.

[Mark In Phoenix]

Polk, the manufacturer of the DB840DVC speaker said this speaker was NOT intended for a free air installation, like in the rear deck of a car without a speaker enclosure. A speaker box is recommended. But they said this speaker will work OK if free air mounted. It would perform best if there is no opening in the surface it is mounted on that allows the movement of air between the front and back of the speaker. Your rear deck may be solid with no openings which will be optimum. Plug any holes in the deck if you can.

The speaker sounds very good in my car even without an enclosure. So if you want use this speaker it will work good. When considering other speakers look for one intended for the type of installation you intend, free air or enclosure mounted.

[AttilaTheHun]

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