One of my back seat speakers have been causing annoying rattles and distortion. I did a quick bit of research and pinned it down to two possibilities: either a damanged cone or the speaker is just loose.
So, today I successfully, thanks to a handy Youtube video, removed the entire backseat assembly and go to the speakers. The foam is worn on all of them and starting to come off, but that's not my main concern right now.
All of the screws were on tight. I found the offending speaker. When ever I pressed gently on the cloth skin covering the cone, the distortion would go away. I'm guessing the speaker is bad or something else aside from what I thought it was.
I don't know the name of the speaker exactly, but I've circled it here in this picture:
Since the form is badly worn and it's going to need replacing anyway one day, I decided to set about findign a replacement. That's where I ran into my problem.
The speaker says Delco Electioncs Corp., which is now called AC Delco.
The model number of the speaker was: 16207411 (LH)
I quick search shows the part is no longer made. I didn't readily find one of eBay, thought I could have missed it since I don't know what the full unti looks like out of the car. But all the parts, when I skimmed the listings, kept coming back "used". I guess finding a "new" one might be hard, so without further delay:
What now? Can I still get this speaker new someplace? What alternative speaker could I use (and will it work without having to also replace the one on the other side?)?
I listen to a lot of film/television orchestral music and I find the Delco speakers were very suitable, though nothing remarkable, for my listening experience. So, if suggestiosn are made, keep in mind speakers that might be good for rap, pop, and one specifically for bass-heavy window vibrating experiences, are not what I need.
AC Delco responded to my e-mail. They told me what I already knew and told them: the part is discontinued. They then suggested I try after market sources.
They said there was no alternate part number. What??? Grand Prix was a popular seller. I see them on the road all the time. The years 1997 to 2003 (I think that's the number) have many parts that are similar if not interchangable. AC Delco never came up with an alternate part? This just strikes me as odd.
I think it's even more odd to say "we show that GM has discontinued that part", when the part clearly says it was made by Delco. They have to go to GM to find out the part they made themselves, is no logner made? There's a saying for that: going through the back door to get through the front door. :P
I don't want to be limited to a local store, both in terms of what I can get and what prices I will be forced to pay. I was hoping other people here might have gone through what I am going through.
Originally Posted by theaceofspades
