Been given differing advice from Crutchfield on upgrading my '21 Tacoma's tweeters, need help.

I wanted to upgrade all of the speakers in my '21 Tacoma double cab and got everything I needed with the help of a Crutchfield representative. I am keeping the OEM head unit.

When I started installing my front tweeters, I found a note in the adapter package saying I needed a crossover, which wasn't mentioned when I bought the speakers. I called Crutchfield support, and the representative told me the crossover was already built into the tweeter. However, he said I would need to splice two positive wires together in the dash or the door speaker would fail to work, which also was never mentioned anywhere. I wasn't comfortable doing this due to the short wiring in the dash.

He suggested I return the component speakers and get 6x9 speakers for the door while keeping the original tweeters. When I talked to another rep to process the return and get some new speakers, he questioned the previous advice but still sold me new 6x9 speakers and processed the return. Basically I felt like he did not think the tech was telling me the correct information. So I now have the old component speakers that I am going to return and a new pair coming instead for my door while leaving the original tweeters alone.

Tonight, after thinking about the confusion Crutchfield had, I was searching online for the correct information. Most resources suggest simply plugging in the adapter without mentioning any door speaker issue or the use of a crossover. Some said I needed a crossover. One source said I need to flip 2 of the wires at the factory harness, but no one says anything about the door speakers not working, let alone splicing to positives together.

I'd prefer to replace the factory tweeters but I am not sure how to proceed with all of the differing information. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

If you have any type of adapter that connects to the factory tweeter wiring, that does the work for you.
Basically anything like this.



The way the wiring works, there are 4 wires in the factory tweeter connector. Two come FROM the radio, and two go TO to the door speaker. The factory tweeter allows these wires to touch, thus passing the audio signal on to the door speaker.

If you were to cut the factory connector and splice on a new tweeter, they would be correct about the door no longer working. However, this is not a good way to install a new speaker, as it is never ideal to cut factory wiring when adapters are cheaply available.

Some part numbers or links to what all you purchased would be useful to get a better idea

 

This is very clear to understand, thanks for this. Here is what I did receive

Speakers Rockford Fosgate R165-S Prime Series 6-1/2" component speaker system at Crutchfield
I am not with the harness, so working from memory, I think this is the tweeter harness Metra 72-8104 Speaker Wiring Harnesses For select 1992-up Toyota-built vehicles
Front Door Harness Metra 72-8110 Speaker Wiring Harness For select Toyota, Scion, and Subaru vehicles

 

The tweeter with that set does have a built-in crossover.

The tweeter harness should be one with 4 wires, like the one I posted. If it only has 2 wires, it is incorrect for a 3rd gen. The correct one is about $15 on Amazon, but Crutchfield should have sent it (I think?)