Bose Radio

[safety_match]

The Bose radio in my 1990 has a problem that I would like some opinions on.

The rear speakers are so quiet that even when I turn the fade all the way to the rear I can still barely hear them...is this a speaker or radio problem?

thanks, Safety

 

[qwall]

sounds like a speaker problem to me , could be a lose wire or something, front and door panle speakers work ok?

q

 

[safety_match]

front speakers work well and there is some sound from the rear, but very very little

 

[DHOUGHTON]

Simple test

If you have a set of speakers for your home and they are easy to move put them in the rear of car. Jump wires from the bose speakers to the house speaker. If you have sound then it must be your rear speakers have a problem of some kind. If you can't hear anything then you have a radio problem. You could also run wires from your front speakers to the rear ones to get same test result. You can check out a great site www.carstereohelp.com
for more help.

Heres to great sound.

Marathoner

 

[resto75]

I have a similar problem with the 94 radio. The rear speakers a much lower volume than the front. They do work but are more of a fill type sound and not as pronounced.

I don't think you can switch speakers to test them as I understand they are a different OHM resistance as most speakers. You would probably need another set of Bose to check them against.

 

[DHOUGHTON]

I think the Bose speakers are 1 ohm. Pretty weak. I ended up replacing the stereo with a 45 watt output (not huge) and bypassed the Bose amps then took out the Bose speakers front and back then replaced with some JBL speakers out of their cabinets (perfect fit) I had sitting around the house. Oh the sound
is so much better than the original. Easy job.

Marathoner

 

[vigman]

Typically amps

Espically if the car was an "outside car"

The heat destroys the caps in the amp, as well as the magnet in the speaker... ( looses sensistivity)

But on the Bose radio you have a front/ rear fader control.


http://scotfab.tripod.com/old_proj15/old_proj15.html

Check this page out!

Vig!

 

[vigman]

The circut board is

ITS A BEAR TO REMOVE IT!



Vig!

 

[vigman]

And just my .02

You can put ALOT of time /money/effort into the bose system... but runing 100% it's ok at best.... an aftermarket system will really out preform the bose system HANDS DOWN!

( unless you buy the Circut City $99.00 special)

And you must have the system PROPERLY installed!



Vig!

 

[safety_match]

Sounds like the easiest thing is to attach the rear speaker wires to another (known to work) speaker to isolate the problem? But I gather from the discussion that it HAS to be another 1 ohm speaker or it won't work at all?
I would rather start with the easy things first.

thanks, Safety

 

[vigman]

A standard speaker will work fine!

The Bose speakers a low impeadeance so they may get maximum power out of the 12 volt amp!

You might be 1.5 DB off in sensitivity.. but there a simple fix... TURN IT UP!



Vig!

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Have you checked the power relay? Remove the speaker grill and check for +12VDC at the connector. (With the radio playing)
I you do not have power at the connector change the relay.
If you have power the problem is probably the amp.
There is a guy on eBay with 11 rebuilt Bose amps for sale. If I were in the states I would scoop those up in a heartbeat.

The link posted by vigman is excellent.

 

[maxm]

http://scotfab.tripod.com/old_proj15/old_proj15.html

Look at this link. You have probably seen it before. I did the fix myself. It was easy. Cost off 2 USd.
Max

 

[Moonunit 451]

OK, I'm getting ready to put some replacement Bose in the front of my car. I've done the search and this page seems to have the best info on getting them out and in, but I guess I don't fully understand. My car is still intact and so I'm looking for kind of the A to Z of the teardown and getting the old ones out.

I've been in other car doors before, but this sounds way out of the ordinary. Vig and maxm that link is no good, any other suggestions for more info. I don't want to spend forever on this, hoping for maybe an afternoon a side if possible. I really don't want to do a roach job either. I will be replacing the outer window weatherstrip at the same time.

SPANISHVETTS, Where is the relay you're refering to? Initially I had only R rear speaker working and occasionally L front which seemed to come on if I turned the volume really loud briefly, or the car body tweaked a certain way. The Lrear was, well gone, when I checked there. Empty hole. The R front never worked.

I've got two replacements for the front that are supposed to work. They better I wasted enough money on em. And I'v e got a L rear lined up for a reasonable price I guess. Wish I would have just decided to replace the system with areal one now. I messed up the head unit and have one in transit currently.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hey, what's the little black ?down arrow to the left of a topic mean?

 

[Daryllawman]

Thats what mine was doing.......So I went and bought a New JVC, the big one with all the diff. lights. Its a in dash CD, and cass.......I did put all new Sony speakers in the rear and front. Had to run new wire also. Not that bad of a job. I also put in a new JVC Cd Changer that holds 12 CD's. I then added a 400 watt amp.....Sounds really great.......

 

[Eagle85C4]

Do not hook up house speakers to the bose radio....because each speaker has it's own amp, the signaling to the speakers is line level and you will damage the radio trying to drive un amped speakers. Better to unhook and try another speaker and amp.
Also I repair the amps...let me know if you are interested...

 

[Moonunit 451]

Eagle85C4,
Good advise, but no one seems to want to answer my questions. C'mon, I'm tryin' to be cool here. I guess I caould start a new post on whats probly been beat to death. If neccesary, I guess I will

 

[Eagle85C4]

Ask away if I can answer I will...if not I will endeavor to find the answer for you...

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Moonunit
Here is another link for Bose repair

I am not sure where the Relay on an 86 is. The General moved things around from year to year.

Dr. Don has a ¨how to remove the stereo¨ page on his site.

 

[Moonunit 451]

Eagle85C4,

I'm aware that you know about all there is to know about these speakers. I've seen that on another post or two. I've probly made a big mistake in trying to keep the stock system, but,WTH, I'm a rookie. I thought when I resurected this thread that my questions were fairly specific.

I need info on getting them in and out of the door. It sounds like it's a total PITA. Looking for the way to do it efficiently and correctly without taking forever. Rebuild comes later for the speakers comming out. I can do it with the info you've already provided, or I'll just send em to you. I've not been lost on your VERY generous willingness to help forum members with this.

I would have PM'd you but it seems like there is a lack of coherant public information on the actual R&R of these speakers that I can locate, and I've tried. Bad lnks ect.

I really appreciate you responding. I think from what I can find that going through this "stock" labor of love is probly the wrong thing to do. I like a good sound system when I want it, but I mostly listen to "American" talk radio so a big sound system is not all that important to me. Just want it right. Thanks for your help.

Thanks SNISHVETTES, I went offline to respond and didn't see your post till now. I found DR Dons link somewhere else earlier today after my first post and haven't had a chance to search though it yet.