Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio Need some install help ASAP please!

Hey all,

Finally got a new HU.

I picked up a wiring harness as well to bypass the factory amp.

Here's my question:

How do I get the sound from my new HU directly to the speakers?

I have wired up half the harness (power, lights, antenna), but I haven't even started on the speaker connections. I know that the speaker leads will be connected to the amp behind the glove box, but I'm not sure where the connection is made.

Any help would be most appreciated!

Thanks all
Brian

If you're by passing the factory amplifier with the wiring harness that you purchased, then you'll need to wire the speaker leads to the harness that's used to bypass the amp, and then the receiving in that you'll be plugging into will feed the signal from your head unit to all of your speakers within the vehicle. I would think they should have provided you with detailed instructions on this.

Ryan -

Thanks for responding.

My question is this --

where is the connection from the factory amp to the speakers? Once I find that connection, I know exactly what to do, i'm just not sure where that connection is made.

Brian

Being that I didn't use any portion of the factory system, I can't really help you there. Someone on the board should be able to help. I just went out and looked at the factory amp directly behind the glove box and I'm only seeing two connections at the amp. One on the left and another on the right. I would assume one of the connections will be needed to by pass the amp. The instructions you received with the wiring harness should have explained this to you. Hold out, someone will be able to help.

Take care.

Hey.
Jazzman, IIRC, when I bypassed the premium amp in my car, there were 2 connectors on 1 side and 1 on the other. I think the side with 2 connectors was for the power to the amp and the other for speakers. IMHO, just take the amp out completely. To me, that was alot easier to do than try and figure out things. And I did mine at work! The only thing I had handy was a Haynes manual, and it wasn't even accurate with the colour wires!

But again, to each his own, I suppose. I've always installed my own stereo and that was the way I found easiest on my car. Hope this helps in some way

Ryan - Jujeff,

Again, thanks for the help.

Jeff,

My problem is this... the back of my new JVC unit has a plug for its own harness. I've wired half of that harness (the power, antenna, and dimmer) to one of the aftermarket harnesses in the kit I bought. This harness gets its power from the amp, as I believe all of the wiring ran through or from the amp.

What I need is to locate the harness which is the last step into the speakers.

My amp, like Ryan said, has two connections on the bottom. The left one is my power/light/power antenna lead, and the right one seems to be the speaker signal line from the factory HU to the amp. Where is the amp out harness?

Thanks guys, and to all of you who may answer this query.

Brian

It's easiest to just completely remove the amp from the car.

Then, just plug the wiring harness that connects to the JVC's speaker outputs to the factory harness. IIRC, it connected on the left side of the amp.

It sounds like you've got the power, ground, etc... connected correctly already.

BTW, the wiring harness (by design) is only able to plug into the correct factory harness. So, it's really a no-brainer as to what it plugs into.

Hi,

I just did a stereo install last weekend and I had to figure out the same thing. I completely removed the stock amp and wired from the new HU to the factory harness for the speakers. If you take off the right side kick panel (it's a pain because it's one piece) you'll find a grey rectangular shaped plug. I discovered it was the speaker wire plug by unplugging it while the stereo was on. You can also tell if it's the correct plug because it runs up to the factory amp. Anyways, there are 8 wires that run along the top of the plug and 3 along the bottom. The wires on the top are the speaker wires. I don't have the details of which color is for which speaker but I do know they are paired together side by side. I figured out which wires were for each speaker by inserting the speaker out wires from my radio into the plug while the radio was turned on. I then cut the wires, one pair at a time, from the plug and soldered extension pieces from the radio to the wire harness. If you have more questions or would like more details, send me an email. cdanielp@netzero.net

Dan

I did this.
The connector is the one comming from the amp with the most wires on it. should be on the bottom. I just pulled of the connector and diked off the wires I wanted and stripped them and made soldered connections. By the way, use heat shrink on your connections not electrical tape, the heat from the sun made the tape peel in my car.

I made my own harness to go from the HU to the AMP. I have a '00 SVT so I don't know if yours is different or not.

I did however get a wiring schematic from the dealer that shows the color codes of the speaker wires comming from the amp.

I'm going to try to scan it in, sorry can't find it.

Just go to your local dealer and tell them you want a wiring diagram of the audio system of your car, and they should have the materials and be able to give you a copy. And they will probably give you the same line they told me "if you modify the audio system the warranty on the audio system will be voided" I just said "good, because the audio system sucks."

Hey all,

I've had my head up my arse!

JSmith --

Thanks! You mentioned the rectangular plug on the bottom left of the amp, and you're right -- that's the puppy. For some reason, I got really confused last night when I was writing and asking for help. I thought that plug went to the HU, not to the speakers, so I got all confused. I guess I should have had breakfast or lunch yesterday instead of spending all my time working on the furshlininger stereo.

In the light of morning, it all makes sense.

SO -----

When I get home from work, I have about 16 solders to make and then I'll be done... I think... I hope...

Time will tell.

Thanks to all of you -- I'll let you know how it goes!

Brian