Subwoofer Help

YYgirl · Post by **YYgirl** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 10:57 pm

Hi guys, I have just bought a subwoofer. I am having trouble trying to find where I can feed through the power lead to get to the positive terminals of the battery? I have fed the power lead through the boot under the seats and to the front seats, but have no idea how to get past there into the engine area. THanks heaps!

Chrisp · Post by **Chrisp** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 11:05 pm

i did the same last week, bit of a bitch of a job !
if you look on the firewall, straight back from the battery, you will see a large rubber grommet. The factory black wiring loom runs through it. I ran my 8ga cable through there. It comes down behind the glovebox on the inside.
But you will have to push in through from the engine side first, wont be able to go the other way.
tip : remove the coolant reseviour first to get easier access to the rubber grommit. It just pulls up (with a bit of force)

MattG · Post by **MattG** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 11:13 pm

I do know with the turbo kits, they have relocated the battery to the boot.
If you could hide the battery (eg inside a box or something) that may also be an option, but I guess you would still have the same problem of running the cable.

M@

G_A_V · Post by **G_A_V** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 11:19 pm

look on the firewall under the bonnet for small holes with a grommit letting wires through,there should be a few of them in the firewire, if worste comes to worste u can drill your own hole, BUT be very carefull, and purchase a grommit to seal it so it doesnt rust up on you

YYgirl · Post by **YYgirl** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 11:32 pm

oh, sounds to complicated!!
I am not quite sure what a grommit and firewall is? hehe
Thanks! it would be very nice if you guys can take a photo of the wire through the "firewall"? haha. am I asking too much?

Chrisp · Post by **Chrisp** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 11:37 pm

yeah i can do that for you. but i wont have my digicam till fri, so if u want i can send some next weekend.....?

YYgirl · Post by **YYgirl** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 11:42 pm

Thanks Chrisp, that would be very nice! thanks. i'll be waiting. hehe

YYgirl · Post by **YYgirl** » Mon Jun 23, 2003 12:17 am

is grommit jsut a piece of rubber? if it is, do I just pull it out? does it just go back in place? thanks again!

G_A_V · Post by **G_A_V** » Mon Jun 23, 2003 11:48 am

yeaqh its a rubber sorounding, some you can pullout, where others it breaks when u pull it out, cause they are in there soootight

andy · Post by **andy** » Mon Jun 23, 2003 9:52 pm

Just one tip - make sure you fit an inline fuse to the power cable as close to the battery as you can. That way if you ever have a short in the cable (like if the plastic outer shroud gets rubbed through) the fuse will blow and you shouldn't get any other damage.

If you don't have a fuse, or you fit one close to the amp / sub in the boot and you you do ever get the wire touch an earth the whole length of wire will glow red hot and melt through anything in its path - potentially ending in a nasty fire-related incident.

ps to find the firewall stand at the front of your car (with the bonnet open!) and look at the back of the engine bay - the firewall is the vertical panel at the back (the same colour as your car) that's probably got the engine number / chassis number etc rivoted to it.

YYgirl · Post by **YYgirl** » Mon Jun 23, 2003 11:13 pm

oh thanks! I have fuse in the amp, does that mean the same?

andy · Post by **andy** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 12:29 am

Nope. You MUST have a fuse in the power cable as well - like I said as close to the battery as you can.

[- +]-------[=]----------------------------------------------------AMP + SUB

Battery Fuse Cable through the car In the Boot

Even if it costs you a few dollars from Dick Smiths or Strathfields - it's got to be better than burning your car out. I'll see if I can find a photo....

YYgirl · Post by **YYgirl** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 2:42 pm

oh ok, i better find myself a fuse, do i just solder it on or something? hehe

YYgirl · Post by **YYgirl** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 11:45 pm

Hi guys, thanks for helping me out, I have eventually found the grommet and finished setting it all up. I have not yet bought a fuse, but I guess I will do it as soon as possible!

andy · Post by **andy** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 12:44 am

Please promise me that you'll do it in the next week.

I know it's not as exciting as getting you sub working in the first place - but you'll be pretty gutted if your FTO goes up in smoke and your insurance won't pay out, because they blame your dodgy wiring. All for the sake of a $10 fuse.

YYgirl · Post by **YYgirl** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 11:50 am

sure! but can I just put it next to the battery? like still in the engine, just cut the positive lead and stick the fuse in between?

andy · Post by **andy** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 10:34 pm

Yep. You need to cut the new power cable you have that feeds the amp and fit the fuse 'inline'. It depends on the kind of fuse / fuse holder you buy whether you have to solder the 2 ends of the wire (where you've cut it) or whether you can fix them with screws.

If you have a look on www.strathfield.com.au and search for fuse, you can see some kits with the fuse already part of the wiring, in your case you need to add one - or buy a set like that if you haven't got soldering equipment and stuff.

At last! I've just found a photo of what I've been going on about. From the strathfield home page (above) there's a link to installs. Then choose Kenwood install and then fuse and battery. The big fat red cable is the one feeding the amp (in this case it's the size of your thumb because it's a massive install), but the principle is the same.

It might be worth going into a car hifi shop and talking to them. They are usually full of enthusiasts with loads of free advice and they can show you some example fuses / cables and maybe installs.