How do you install amplifier and subwoofer in a car?

Answer 1

I have a very basic Sony deck in my car. It has sub out and sub amp control connections on the back.

You will need these connections.

Next I found a spot to mount the amp and where and how the sub would go in the back. I planed out and used a piece of chalk to mark the mount location and orientation.

Now you need your 8 gauge wire for the amps power supply. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS This what my amp said I needed for how far from the battery my amp is mounted. I also made sure the amp came with the specified 50 amp fuse.

No matter what you are told, special wire and bigger wire than recommended will not make things work better.

The three other wires are cheap and I bought 50 feet of each cost me like $25.00 total.

SO now you have to wire from the stereo to the amp and from the battery to the amp. Running the main power wire through the fire wall off the car was a cow. Finding an accessible place to drill a hole or to route trough a grommet in use was a pain.

Once it was inside I found the amp control wire and sub out wires were easiest to run over the doors tucked into the head liner and door post trim and into the trunk.

The 8 gauge went under the carpet, I used a light electricians fish and lifted carpet in sections. It would have taken less time to remove the drivers seat and rear seat bottom, but I am stubborn. Many cars you can pop up the lower door sill trim and run it under there. There was not enough room in mine.

Next hooking up: My system said hook up ground before any other wire. I used a #10 self drilling tech screw into the trunk interior sheet metal a solder type ring connector to fit, and the 8 gauge power wire, I used a piece of black tape at each end of the wire to keep + and - organized in my tiny head. The amp instructions said to tin (Solder the ends) the wires before putting them in the screw retainers on the amp. If you do not have this skill or the tools there are good vids about this on YouTube.

Next amp control, power and stereo in wires. The kit came with wires for the sub to amp connection's, I made sure they were long enough so I could pull the sub towards the back of the car and unhook them quickly.

Finally I screwed the amp down as planned with the same #10 tech screws. The instructions said DO NOT USE ANY OF THE AMP MOUNT SCREWS FOR THE GROUND WIRE. So I did not.

I mounted the fuse beside the fuse box under the hood and Tined all ends and soldered the connectors where applicable.

What a good installer charges 2 hours for took me all day.

Works awesome.