Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio I'm going to attempt to install my subs...

OK, first off, I don't know much about this process at all.. I asked a few people in the SE-MI forum about a good place to go, and they all told me to just do it myself. I'm wondering if any of you gurus out there can offer some help. I have 2 Pioneer 12s in a box and a Rockford Fosgate amp attatched to the box... I bought the stuff used. I have some 4 gauge wire, thats pretty long(so im guessing its going to run to the front.) Then about a foot of 8 gauge, so I'm guessing thats the ground. Some litle clips and screws. After that I have no idea what i'm doing. My deck has dual preouts so I won't have to bypass the factory amp right? I have searched around for a basic sub install how to, but had no luck. Can anyone offer some help?

An amp will basically have five connections:

(1) Run your 4ga power wire from the battery to the amp. Make sure you fuse it within a few feet of the battery.

(2) Run your patch cable from your HU to the amp. This provides the amp with its signal. You'll want to use the rear pre-outs on your HU.

(3) Run the remote turn-on lead from your HU to your amp. You'll either connect it to the remote turn-on lead from the HU or the power antenna output (if no turn-on lead is present).

(4) Run the ground to the nearest accessable grounding point. The bolts for the tail lamps or the power antenna make good grounding points. Be sure to scrape and sand away all of the paint for a secure connection.

(5) Wire the subs to your amp.

I'd highly suggest buying an amp install kit, like this one: Amp Install Kit

It's got all of the connectors, wiring, fuses, etc... and will make installing your amp much easier.

1. Buy new ground wire-same size or bigger than power, and keep it as short as possible.
2. Buy a fuse and fuse holder. Fuse rating should be equal to the fuse rating of the amp.
3. Disconnect battery ground.
4. Run power from trunk, along driver's side floor board, through grommet in firewall. (If you can't find a grommet, search. There are dozens of posts on this subject. :p )
4. Run RCA's and remote turn on lead (usually a blue or blue w/white stripe) from Head unit to trunk along passenger side floor board.
5. Attatch Power, Ground, and remote to amp and plug in RCA's
6. Install fuse no more than 18 inches from pos. terminal on battery. The closer to the battery the better.
7. Attatch power to battery.
8. Run speaker leads from amp to subs. (Note Ohm load. Stay with 4 if you can.)
9. Re-attatch battery ground.
10. Turn on head unit and play something representative of most of your playlist.
11. Get a friend to sit in car. You go to the trunk. Have friend SLOWLY turn up volume to 2/3 max. When he gets there, adjust the gain on the amp starting at .05 (or lowest marked gain(sometimes called "Level")) until you hear the slightest bit of distortion. When this happens, back down on the gain just a bit, so you can go a bit louder if you desire.
12. Now you're screwed, cuz you have all this bass, and your head unit can't make the other speakers scream. Now go buy another amp for them. :p

HTH. If anyone has anything to add, feel free!

Hey These guys pretty much nailed it, but the big thing is just make sure you get a bigger ground to match your power, it should never be smaller, the ground is just as important as the power

Exactly what they said. Its not hard to do. I used to install at the Best Buy in Southgate on Dix and eureka. There is one sweet Car audio place in Taylor i think it was on Ranchero drive kinda over by the Star moive place. That was 5 years ago though they might have went under. or Palco electronics on Eureka in southgate kinda by the outback if going towards taylor its on the right side with a big whale on the sign. They are always helpful or atleast where long ago when friends of mine where on the Orion Kick. any more ?'s just ask.

If you are going around SE MI area dont goto Palco or best buy, they crimp everything! Goto a Circuit City or dont go anywhere,

If you must crimp onto large wire, I suggest you do it before you get the wire into the car and use a bench clamp (You know, the very heavy duty ones). I've never lost a crimp using one.
Crimps on small wires are just fine. Why wouldn't they be? I doubt CC does anything any better than any other chain store.

I don't think you should go to any place like a best buy or a circuit city.. The price they charge is out of this world for the work they do. My cousin lives in gibralter, he works at a automotive place. i can talk to him and ask where you would go that does a good job for cheap. I don't know if you ever seen the Huge Kicker Bronco around the metro area its got kicker stickers all over it? My cousin is the one who put the lift on it and who he did it for hooked him up phat with a ton of kicker gear. Ill talk to him and ask who did the install work. if you want me too

My experience with Circuit City has been horrible. I had them install four door speakers and a 4-channel amp when I had my GL. First of all, the speakers kept blowing every 2-3 weeks. Thankfully I had their ESP service and didn't have to keep buying new speakers. After every time I'd take it there there'd be a little pile of screws left in my cupholder. They lost (or stole) pretty much every screw cap I had, and mutilated my defrost vent cap trying to get that cap off. They've blown fuses (not power wire or amp fuses) and tried to charge me for them.

I know every store is different because there are different people working at each store. I had Best Buy put a couple of decks in when I was 16 and I had a more positive experiene with them than with CC.

The best way to get it done is to do it yourself. There are people on CEG, including me, that will help anyone all the way through.

That is the truest thing i have ever read on this forum.