On my 1990 Max, the front and rear right (passenger) side speakers dont output any sound. Occasionally Ill hear a crackle and they'll come on for a few seconds. I also noticed that there is a small circular metal box mounted to the top of the inside of my trunk. It says its made by Clarion. Is this a factory amp that has gone bad? Or is the problem in my head unit?

Thanks in advance

 

Non-bose units don't have external Amps. Check the connections leading to the speakers. Look for corrosion, cuts, tears ect... If nothing comes up, Try searching for another radio and see if your problem still exists.

 

2 more things,

1 How do I remove the speaker grilles?

2 what is that circular metal box?

thanks

 

As far as removing the speaker grills go I have just done this recently. I used a flat head screw driver to pop out the mesh from the frame then with a short phillips head you can easily unscrew the speakers. Hope that helps.

 

I think the problem might be your speaker tweeter or surround. I am also wondering what the circular thing is in the trunk. And the rectangle thing next to it. If you need any stock audio parts I have everything still from when I replaced it.

 

I've also gotten a lot of conflicting answers about the size speakers the car can handle. What size are the stock speakers in a non-Bose 3rd gen max, and how big can I go w/o major modification?

 

That circular thign is a clarion amp for the rear speakers. rear fits 6.5".. 6x9 coudl fit with little modification.Front doors are 6.5" factory I believe.

Also cannot remove the rear speaker grills,you have to remove the complete tray.Remove the back seat,then it will pop off the metal with little plastic connecters.

Also for any naysayers if the circular thign is not an amp why does it have a remote wire,12+ power,ground and enough seperate wires to account for the rear speakers :P

BJ White

 

Can you take a picture of the box? I never new GXE non-Bose had external amps

 

Actually the front doors originally have 4x6 and they can fit 6.5 with little modification. I think putting in 6x9 would require some more modification than just puttin in 6.5

 

I will try to take a pic of it today.I am not sure if originally the fronts were also amped or just the rear were.

BJ White

 

I thought the clarion thing was added by the previous owner. All the wires coming out of
mine have crimp connecters on them. I have 6x9's in the back and they over power my door speakers and subs. Anyone sitting in the rear whines about it. I have to make the fade front-biased to even it out but then my subs are also turned down. What is its purpose and should I remove it?

 

Sounds liek someone rewired the amp.Are you using an aftermarket deck? You can remove the amp if you want if you are using an aftermarket deck or willing to use an amp that you can change the level on.I do not think there is a way to adjust the level on the stock clarion amp.I also do not know the rms output of it but I would like to know.

Also I took the pics but I have no place to host them since I dont have a car domain site.

BJ white

 

Yes, I am using an aftermarket deck. (I'm pretty sure 2 12's wouldn't sound too good connected to the original tape deck.) This car's previous owner needs to be slapped! He did some very unprofessional installations. This clarion amp situation is the last one I need to remedy. Anyway, how come no one is familiar with this little amp?

 

It was uncoomon in the US and mostly installed on canadian vehicles is my understanding.There is some US vehicles with the clarion stereo systembut not as many as the Bose units.

If you want your color codes on the wires go to the maxima FAQs in the sticky and then go to I think it is CraigB's page.The Clarion wire colors are at the bottom of one of the stereo how tos

BJ White