Car stereo enthusiasts desire power and clarity from their custom car stereo systems. To achieve both, add an amplifier to boost the signal from the stereo unit. The amplifier will drive the speakers to performance levels unattainable from the stereo deck alone. For a complete sound that includes bass and other low musical tones, install a subwoofer. Subwoofers produce a depth of sound that door panel and rear deck speakers cannot duplicate. An amplifier is needed for any system that includes a subwoofer; stereo decks are not powerful enough to drive a speaker as large as a subwoofer.
Instructions
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable (also called the grounding cable) from the vehicle's negative battery terminal. Use a 10 mm wrench or adjustable wrench to loosen the bolt that holds the grounding cable clamp around the negative battery lead post, just enough to slide the clamp from the post. Move the cable away from the battery to prevent shorting the vehicle's electrical system while connecting the components.
2. Remove the positive battery terminal bolt and place the ring terminal from the amplifier wiring kit onto the positive lead. Replace the bolt onto the positive lead, holding the ring terminal in place.
3. Remove the fuse from the fuse holder on the ring terminal.
4. Connect the power cable to the ring terminal. The power cable will connect directly to the amplifier.
5. Feed the power cable through the opening between the engine compartment and the inside of the vehicle. If there is not an established opening, use a drill to create one. Insert a rubber grommet in the hole to protect the cable that will be fed through it.
6. Consult the vehicle's repair manual for radio removal procedures. Following the instructions in the repair manual, remove the stereo from the dashboard of the vehicle. Disconnect the stereo wiring from the back of the unit and connect the wiring to a wiring harness adapter. Refer to the wiring harness adapter manual for a precise wiring diagram to use when connecting the stereo wiring.
7. Connect the leads of the wiring harness adapter to the rear outlet panel on the factory stereo.
8. Plug the patch cables included in the amplifier wiring kit into the wiring harness adapter and feed them through the opening in the back of the stereo mounting dock. The patch cables will emerge in the footwell on the passenger side of the vehicle. The power cable that was fed through the firewall will be on the driver's side.
9. Run the cables from the front of the vehicle to the location of the amplifier. Keep the patch cables and power cables separate; the power cable will emit interference and distort the signal if the cables are run together.
10. Connect the patch cables and power cable to the amplifier. Connect one end of the grounding wire to the amplifier and attach the other end to a bolt nearby. The bolt chosen for grounding should be less than 20 inches from the amplifier and must be connected directly to the frame of the vehicle.
11. Connect speaker wiring to the amplifier and route it to the location of the subwoofer. Connect the wiring to the subwoofer.
12. Connect speaker wiring to the amplifier and route it to the other speakers in the vehicle that you wish to have amplified. Connect the wiring to the intended speakers. Return to the engine compartment.
13. Replace the grounding cable clamp over the negative battery lead post. Tighten the cable clamp with a wrench so that it cannot be moved around the lead post by hand.
14. Place the fuse into the fuse holder of the ring terminal and close the hood of the vehicle.
Tags: power cable, ring terminal, harness adapter, negative battery, patch cables, wiring harness, wiring harness adapter