Hello. I am going to use this thread to post detailed instructions with pictures for replacing the 6 speakers in the standard stereo with aftermarket speakers. I will create this thread in three sections, first the dash speakers, then the rear doors, and finally the front doors. I will include part numbers and links when applicable.
Today I will start with replacing the OEM 3.5 in dash speakers with a pair of 3.5 in Infinity 3002cfx 2-way speakers. This project took approximately 1.5 hours including taking pictures and cleanup.
1. As with any project, it helps to lay out all your tools before you start. For this project, I used the following
- Socket wrench with #10 socket
- Decent crimping tool
- Wire cutter
- Small gauge wire stripper
- 22 gauge butt connectors
- Plastic pry tools. In place of these, I have found that a flat head screwdriver wrapped with electrical tape works well.
- Wires for connecting the speakers with appropriate spade terminals on one end
2. The first step is to remove the dash grills. Use the plastic pry tools or a flat head screwdriver to pry them upward. I was surprised by how much force it actually took to pry them up. The dash is pretty soft and luckily forgiving, so there was no damage done even though it had to flex quite a bit. I found that starting on the side and then working your way down the front worked best for me. I have notated where I started on the picture below.
3. Once the speaker grill is removed, remove the OEM speaker by removing both #10 bolts. The speaker connector is released by a small latch at the back of the connector. Push down on the latch, and the connector will slide out.
Here are some pictures of the stock connector. This is the part that I tried and tried to find a matching connector for, but never could. I took a good view of both the connector on the OEM speaker and also on the car side if anyone wants to keep trying to find the match.
4. Assuming that you don't have the matching connector, you will need to clip off the stock connector. However, as you can see in the pictures above, Lexus wrapped the speaker wire with a nice mesh sleeve. This is great except that it doesn't leave very much exposed wire at all for stripping and crimping. I found that I needed to cut this mesh sleeve back about an inch, and also remove some black electrical tape that was on the wires. This allowed enough room to clip off the connector and strip the wires.
5. Using a decent quality crimp tool, crimp your speaker wires onto the stock speaker wires. Green is the positive color for the right speaker. Red is the positive color for the left speaker. This is easier said than done, and a good crimp tool really helps. Of course if you are good at soldering and have a portable soldering iron, you could also solder these wires.
6. Connect the Infinity speaker to spade terminals on the new speaker wire. Here are some side by side pictures of the OEM speaker and the Infinity speaker.
7. Place the speaker into the speaker opening. Due to the size of the magnet of the Infinity speaker, you may need to play with the speaker wiring a bit to push it out of the way so that the speaker sits flat on the speaker mounts. I found that the right speaker fits pretty easily. The left speaker just barely fit. At one point I actually thought I wasn't going to be able to get it to fit because it was so tight. The problem here is that the magnet is so big that it actually hits the very back of the instrument cluster "hood" as it starts to rise from the dash. Once in place, bolt them in place with the original #10 bolts.
8. I always advise testing the speakers before replacing the grills, just in case something isn't connected correctly. When I tested the speakers, I found the highs were much improved. Cymbals and other high range sounds really sang, especially at high volume. I was shocked however to see that the 3.5 in woofers weren't moving AT ALL. I couldn't even feel anything if I put my finger on the speaker surround. I can only assume that this is due to the cross-over point of the OEM head unit blocking bass and midrange from going to the speakers. I also noticed that these Infinity speakers come with an electrolytic capacitor attached to their input. This may be acting as a high pass filter in addition to the filtering that the OEM head unit is already doing. I know that the 3.5 in woofers wouldn't do much anyway, but it's kinda a shame to have such nice speaker cones and not really be using them.
9. If everything is working, replace the speaker grills by inserting the back end first, and then pressing the front end downward.
10. Clean all the finger and hand prints you just made off the windshield and dash, and then put away your tools. Now you have much improved high frequency sound!
I have matching Infinity 6x9 3-way speakers and 6.5 2-way speakers on order for the front and back doors. I will add a similar write-up for each of those installations once I perform them. As always feel free to post or PM me any questions that you may have.
- Jason
Today I will start with replacing the OEM 3.5 in dash speakers with a pair of 3.5 in Infinity 3002cfx 2-way speakers. This project took approximately 1.5 hours including taking pictures and cleanup.
1. As with any project, it helps to lay out all your tools before you start. For this project, I used the following
- Socket wrench with #10 socket
- Decent crimping tool
- Wire cutter
- Small gauge wire stripper
- 22 gauge butt connectors
- Plastic pry tools. In place of these, I have found that a flat head screwdriver wrapped with electrical tape works well.
- Wires for connecting the speakers with appropriate spade terminals on one end

2. The first step is to remove the dash grills. Use the plastic pry tools or a flat head screwdriver to pry them upward. I was surprised by how much force it actually took to pry them up. The dash is pretty soft and luckily forgiving, so there was no damage done even though it had to flex quite a bit. I found that starting on the side and then working your way down the front worked best for me. I have notated where I started on the picture below.

3. Once the speaker grill is removed, remove the OEM speaker by removing both #10 bolts. The speaker connector is released by a small latch at the back of the connector. Push down on the latch, and the connector will slide out.
Here are some pictures of the stock connector. This is the part that I tried and tried to find a matching connector for, but never could. I took a good view of both the connector on the OEM speaker and also on the car side if anyone wants to keep trying to find the match.


4. Assuming that you don't have the matching connector, you will need to clip off the stock connector. However, as you can see in the pictures above, Lexus wrapped the speaker wire with a nice mesh sleeve. This is great except that it doesn't leave very much exposed wire at all for stripping and crimping. I found that I needed to cut this mesh sleeve back about an inch, and also remove some black electrical tape that was on the wires. This allowed enough room to clip off the connector and strip the wires.

5. Using a decent quality crimp tool, crimp your speaker wires onto the stock speaker wires. Green is the positive color for the right speaker. Red is the positive color for the left speaker. This is easier said than done, and a good crimp tool really helps. Of course if you are good at soldering and have a portable soldering iron, you could also solder these wires.

6. Connect the Infinity speaker to spade terminals on the new speaker wire. Here are some side by side pictures of the OEM speaker and the Infinity speaker.


7. Place the speaker into the speaker opening. Due to the size of the magnet of the Infinity speaker, you may need to play with the speaker wiring a bit to push it out of the way so that the speaker sits flat on the speaker mounts. I found that the right speaker fits pretty easily. The left speaker just barely fit. At one point I actually thought I wasn't going to be able to get it to fit because it was so tight. The problem here is that the magnet is so big that it actually hits the very back of the instrument cluster "hood" as it starts to rise from the dash. Once in place, bolt them in place with the original #10 bolts.

8. I always advise testing the speakers before replacing the grills, just in case something isn't connected correctly. When I tested the speakers, I found the highs were much improved. Cymbals and other high range sounds really sang, especially at high volume. I was shocked however to see that the 3.5 in woofers weren't moving AT ALL. I couldn't even feel anything if I put my finger on the speaker surround. I can only assume that this is due to the cross-over point of the OEM head unit blocking bass and midrange from going to the speakers. I also noticed that these Infinity speakers come with an electrolytic capacitor attached to their input. This may be acting as a high pass filter in addition to the filtering that the OEM head unit is already doing. I know that the 3.5 in woofers wouldn't do much anyway, but it's kinda a shame to have such nice speaker cones and not really be using them.
9. If everything is working, replace the speaker grills by inserting the back end first, and then pressing the front end downward.
10. Clean all the finger and hand prints you just made off the windshield and dash, and then put away your tools. Now you have much improved high frequency sound!
I have matching Infinity 6x9 3-way speakers and 6.5 2-way speakers on order for the front and back doors. I will add a similar write-up for each of those installations once I perform them. As always feel free to post or PM me any questions that you may have.
- Jason
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