I'm searching on the net for the wire harness that goes into the factory speaker connector. I found the right harness but they're so damn expensive. $25US with shipping to Canada. Yet I can get the speakers installed by a shop for about the same price.

So what should I do? Cut the factory harness and solder the wires onto the speaker directly? Or is there a cheaper way out?

 

I have no idea what the connectors look like on the Protege since I won't get my car until tomorrow night (I'm assuming not too different from other cars - someone help me out here). In other speaker installs, I've just taken spade connectors that fit into the factory harness and made pigtails to connect to the speakers.

 

I'll second what multipath said--get some terminal ends (spades), some wire, and a crimp tool. Crimp the spades to the ends of the wire and slide the spades into the OEM harness. You can attach the other end of the wires to the speakers either with solder or with (female) terminals.

 

sunbyrne: since you already have the new speakers installed, can you tell me the size of the terminal end that fits onto the factory harness? I want to get everything ready so I can get the speakers installed in one shot.