99 Ford Explorer Subwoofer Installation

The Ford Explorer debuted in the 1991 model years, as a late competitor to the likes of the Blazer, Trooper and Cherokee. What it lacked in experience, it made up for in luxurious options, such as leather seating and premium audio. The 1999 Explorer also included a premium audio system as an available option on all of the Explorers trim levels, from the base level Sport to the decked-out Limited model. This five-speaker audio system included a rear cargo area-mounted subwoofer. Replacing this subwoofer on the two-door Sport trim level requires removing the rear quarter trim, which you need an assistants hand getting off.

Instructions

Removal

1

Open the passengers side door. Pry along the length of the front A-pillar trim, the trim panel that runs along the side of the windshield and around the top of the door, with a flat-head screwdriver to disengage its retaining clips. Remove the A-pillar trim.

2

Pry upward on the door scuff panel, the panel on the bottom of the door opening, with a flat-head screwdriver to unfasten its retaining clips. Remove the door scuff panel.

3

Trace the right front seatbelt upward until you find the upper seatbelt anchor. Pry the triangle-shaped cover upward with a flat-head screwdriver, exposing the anchors retaining bolt. Remove the bolt with a ratchet and Torx-bit socket.

4

Follow the right front seat belt downward and find the lower seatbelt anchor. Remove its retaining bolt with the ratchet and Torx-bit socket.

5

Open the rear access hatch and lift the cargo cover from its mounting valleys in the rear cargo area, if equipped.

6

Unfasten the rear hatch scuff panel, the panel on the bottom of the hatchs opening, by prying along the length of it with a flat-head screwdriver to release its retaining clips. Remove the rear hatch scuff panel from the vehicle.

7

Fold the rear seat into its lowered position, by pressing the lower release lever on the drivers side of the seat downward, then pressing the seat back forward until it sits flat on the seat cushion. Press downward on the seat back until you hear it click into place.

8

Pull the rubber cover from the right rear seatbelts upper anchor, exposing its mounting bolt. Remove this bolt with the ratchet and Torx-bit socket. Follow the seatbelt downward and remove the lower anchor bolt.

9

Remove the two screws securing the right rear quarter window latch to the rear quarter trim, using a Torx screwdriver. Pivot the latch away from the quarter trim.

10

Unfasten the screw securing the rear coat hook to the right rear quarter trim, using a ratchet and socket, and remove the rear coat hook from the quarter trim.

11

Pull the carpeting back from the front-most part of the right side quarter trim, exposing a retaining screw. Remove this screw with a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the carpeting upward from the base of the rear quarter trim, exposing three retaining screws. Remove these three screws.

12

Remove the eight pin-style retaining clips from the quarter trim, by prying them out with a flat-head screwdriver. With an assistants aid, guide the rear seatbelt into its cutout in the rear quarter trim as you pull the trim from the vehicle. Once free of the seatbelt, remove the quarter trim panel through the rear hatch, exposing the subwoofer assembly behind it.

13

Unplug the wiring harness from the subwoofer assembly and remove the four screws securing the assembly to the rear of the SUV. Pull the subwoofer assembly from the Explorer.

Installation

14

Guide the subwoofer assembly into the rear of the Explorer and align its mounting holes with those In the Explorers body. Hand-tighten the subwoofer-retaining bolt, then torque them to between 61 and 82 inch-pounds, using an inch-pound torque wrench and socket. Plug the wiring harness into the subwoofer assembly.

15

Have your assistant help you guide the rear quarter trim into the rear of the Explorer and feed the seatbelt through its cutout. While feeding the seatbelt, make sure to keep it from twisting. Align the eight clip holes in the quarter trim with those in the Explorers body and press the eight pin-style clips into place to secure the trim.

16

Tighten the four quarter trim-retaining screw, using a Phillips screwdriver and pull the carpeting back into place over the screws and trim.

17

Sit the coat hanger into place on the rear quarter trim and tighten its retaining screw until it is just snug, using a ratchet and socket.

18

Pull the rear quarter window inward and align its latchs mounting holes with those in the rear quarter trim. Tighten the latchs mounting screws to 80 inch-pounds, using an inch-pound torque wrench and Torx-bit socket.

19

Position the lower seatbelt anchor into place on the base of the quarter trim and tighten its retaining bolt to 30 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and Torx-bit socket. Lift the seatbelts upper anchor into its mounting position and verify that the belt is free of kinks or twists. Align the upper anchors mounting hole with that in the rear quarter trim, then tighten its retaining bolt to 30 foot-pounds. Pull the rubber cover back over the anchor.

20

Press downward on the top corner of the rear seat and pull the lower lever upward to release the latch. Rotate the rear seat back upward and press it rearward until it clicks into its upright position.

21

Line up the rear hatch scuff panels retaining clips with the slots in the rear of the SUV. Press the scuff panel downward until the clips snap into place. Sit the rear cargo cover back into place in its mounting valleys, if equipped. Close the rear hatch.

22

Set the rear front seatbelts lower anchor into place on the base of the rear quarter trim and tighten its mounting bolt to 30 foot-pounds. Lift the upper seatbelt mount into place and verify that there are no kinks or twists in the belt, then tighten its mounting bolt to 30 foot-pounds.

23

Pivot the right front seatbelts upper anchor cover over the upper anchor, then press it onto the anchor until it snaps into place.

24

Align the retaining clips on the bottom of the passengers door scuff panel with the slots in the door opening and press the panel downward until you hear the retaining clips snap into place. Line up the retaining clips on the A-pillar trim with the slots in the A-pillar and press the trim onto the pillar until you hear the clips snap into place.