Diy - Amp Installation

[d00dle]

hi, im back

I want to upgrade my stereo system with a Mono Amp + a Sub (w/ small budget). I just bought Amp installation Kits (come w/ red, black, blue, RCA, and speaker wires). I'm 'bout to install it (DIY style since I couldn't afford to hire someone to do it for me). I kinda have general idea of what I have to do, but HOW TO actually do it is the problem. I'm hoping someone would help me here (im sure this would help newbies who want to do this, but afraid of it too). Thanx

1) I need to locate a hole on the firewall of my vehicle (it's 00 civic EX)

 

[EG-Owns you]

ya that hole would be just fine just make sure u have a good ground and the power cable and RCA cables aren't like next to each other u will get like a fuzzy sound

 

[ShinsenTuner]

To locate that hole, it's easier to remove the battery first. When you run the other wires, it's pretty straight forward. I found it easier to remove the seats, then peel back the carpeting, also have your stereo out as well. It's not difficult, no need for someone else to do it.

 

[Genuine Rolla]

Run power wire from the batter to trunk of car

Thin blue wire gets spliced into a blue wire that you'll find on the back of the headunit and run that to the trunk, where the amp is as well.

Same thing with the RCA's.

Connect all wires to the amp, ground the amp. Connect the power wire to the batter and then install the fuse. Then you should be good to go.

 

[ShinsenTuner]

I actually connected my remote turn on wire to the red wire on the stereo because i like it to turn on when the car turns on...

 

[Solid_Snake]

Remove battery and battery tray. you will see a grommet with the main engine hasness coming out of it. being VERY CAREFUL make a hole big enough to run the power wire. it will come out just below the blower in the car. Make sure you install a fuse.

 

[d00dle]

Remove battery and battery tray. you will see a grommet with the main engine hasness coming out of it. being VERY CAREFUL make a hole big enough to run the power wire. it will come out just below the blower in the car. Make sure you install a fuse.

So the one on the pic wasn't a hole then? Also, below the blower in the car is the top of head unit am i correct (or blower on the passenger side)?

 

[JohnS.]

No and no. To access the hole, you need to remove the battery and the battery tray (it just rests in there, no bolts holding the tray).

Once you remove those 2, if you look on the firewall, just under where the battery sits, you'll see a rubber grommet in an oval shape.

My power wire for my amp runs through there too and so have my Wal-Mart fog lights back when I had them. What I did was I took a thick screwdriver and made a hole. Then I took needle nose, gripped the end of the wire, and jammed it through. Once it's through, go inside, underneath the glove box where the blower is, and you'll see it. A flashlight will come in handy. Then just pull on the wire and it should slide in easy.

 

[ShinsenTuner]

Also, to help you guide the wire, get some type of metal, like from a hanger or something of that nature. Tape it to the peice of metal, and use that as a guide.

 

[d00dle]

No and no. To access the hole, you need to remove the battery and the battery tray (it just rests in there, no bolts holding the tray).

Once you remove those 2, if you look on the firewall, just under where the battery sits, you'll see a rubber grommet in an oval shape.

My power wire for my amp runs through there too and so have my Wal-Mart fog lights back when I had them. What I did was I took a thick screwdriver and made a hole. Then I took needle nose, gripped the end of the wire, and jammed it through. Once it's through, go inside, underneath the glove box where the blower is, and you'll see it. A flashlight will come in handy. Then just pull on the wire and it should slide in easy.

this was EXACTLY what i did to get the red wire in (took me awhile to locate a wire inside the car. Its stuck too if u try to pull it down. A hanger is very helpful).

 

[d00dle]

2) I have to route the red power wire and blue under the carpet on the passanger side of the car, then the RCA on the driver side all the way to the trunk. Basically, I have to strip out 2 kick panels, trim panels, and the back seats (mind is a coupe) This is probably the scariest part for me. They should pop out right if I pull it?

 

[JohnS.]

You don't need to take them off. I routed all 3 wires under there by just slightly lifting on them and them jamming them in there with random tools. Helps to have someone help you so they can use both hands and lift on the plastic pieces while you use a tool to push them in. I had 2 friends helping me so it took less than a minute to get all the wires tucked .

 

[eskateboarding7]

theyre easy to pop off man, just take off our kickpanels. I run power and remote on one side of the car and RCA and speaker wires on the other side and your golden.

Honestly getting the power from the battery to inside the car was the hardest part of the install.

 

[2000 EKCivicEX]

i think those sides just snap off after you unscrew the front part

 

[eskateboarding7]

i think those sides just snap off after you unscrew the front part

they do.

 

[honda98civic]

why did yall take ur battery out to run the power wire. i rasn mine through the hole where the a/c drain thing is . its a whole lot easier.

 

[X-aCuTiOnA]

why did yall take ur battery out to run the power wire. i rasn mine through the hole where the a/c drain thing is . its a whole lot easier.

thats actually bad. you want your 12v wire to be as short as possible. its basic electronic principle.

Longer the wire, the more resistence
The more resistence, the lower the power

Essentially, your amp has to work harder to the required power.

Thats why my battery and amp are only 2 inches awa with 4 inches of wire between them

 

[X-aCuTiOnA]

I forgot to add, that you can overcome this by making your wire thicker

thicker wire = more copper = less resistencee.

Thats why battery relocation kits are 0 gauge wire.
If you relocated the battery in your trunk and tried to run like a 12 gauge wire, you prolly would only run your windows.

 

[d00dle]

um...I can't figure out how to fold rear seats

 

[cfuller_21]

Pop your trunk and there should be t-shaped handles on each side on the back of the seats towards the top near your 6x9's. Pull those and the seats will fold down.