Rear Speaker Grill Dry Rotted!!!!

[magautoparts]

Hey, visit your Toyota dealer. There's a bulletin on the speaker grilles, which means (depending on the mood of the service manager that day) they might be partially or fully warrantied. :-)

[rj58chevy]

Spent a long time reading posts over the weekend and didn't get the help I needed but figured it out anyway. Go buy the $25 replacement covers at the dealer (hopefully the replacements are made from a better material). You need to remove the rear parcel shelf to do this properly (U tube posts are a joke). You'll need to remove the rear seat back column cushion next to the rear doors (the only part that doesn't fold down). There is a 12 mm bolt at the base of the column - you'll need a socket with a 6" extension to get to it. If you push the side of the bottom seat in from the door you'll see the bolt. Once the bolt is removed push/pull up sharply on the column - it will release. Next pop off the side panel leading back to the rear window - start at the exposed edge and work toward the rear of the car. Rear brake light is next - push the front edge of the light with your thumbs and then up - (or slide a putty knife underneath on each side to release clip). There are 4 push pins that are exposed when you fold down the seat - remove them. Shelf will lift up and out (two pins will release). Drill out the old speaker posts (1/4" bit) and replace with new covers. Put everthing back in reverse - save yourself $200. Hardest part is realigning the 12mm bolt to finish it off - it is nearly parallel to the ground and your pushing against the seat. If you've got small hands you can engage the bolt manually.

[JOET/CAMRY]

Originally Posted by rj58chevy

Spent a long time reading posts over the weekend and didn't get the help I needed but figured it out anyway. Go buy the $25 replacement covers at the dealer (hopefully the replacements are made from a better material). You need to remove the rear parcel shelf to do this properly (U tube posts are a joke). You'll need to remove the rear seat back column cushion next to the rear doors (the only part that doesn't fold down). There is a 12 mm bolt at the base of the column - you'll need a socket with a 6" extension to get to it. If you push the side of the bottom seat in from the door you'll see the bolt. Once the bolt is removed push/pull up sharply on the column - it will release. Next pop off the side panel leading back to the rear window - start at the exposed edge and work toward the rear of the car. Rear brake light is next - push the front edge of the light with your thumbs and then up - (or slide a putty knife underneath on each side to release clip). There are 4 push pins that are exposed when you fold down the seat - remove them. Shelf will lift up and out (two pins will release). Drill out the old speaker posts (1/4" bit) and replace with new covers. Put everthing back in reverse - save yourself $200. Hardest part is realigning the 12mm bolt to finish it off - it is nearly parallel to the ground and your pushing against the seat. If you've got small hands you can engage the bolt manually.

Thank You rj58chevy for the instructions on replacing the rear speaker grills. I too saw the uTube videos on replacing the speaker grills and with enough bass I wonder if the grills would rattle or work their way loose.

I followed the instructions You posted on removing the rear shelf. I drilled out the speaker posts from the back. They were probrally melted on at the factory and looked similar to a pop rivit. I installed the push on connectors on the new speaker posts. Once the push on connectors are installed they would be very difficult to remove because of the way they are designed. They bite into the plastic speaker grill post. I posted a few pics from the repair below.

Picture of one of the old speaker grills. They literally fell apart just by touching them. Toyota defect.



Close up of one of the 10 push on connectors that were included when I bought the OEM replacement speaker grills off of Ebay for $24.95.


Close up of the speaker grill post before the push on connector was applied.


Close up of the speaker grill post after the push on connector was applied.


Picture of underside of rear shelf after the replacement speaker grills were installed.


Hopefully these replacement grills will last. Thanks Again.