Step-by-Step on How to Hook Up a Car System
- 1). Disconnect the car's battery. This will prevent electrocution and a short during the install.
- 2). Install a new head-unit, or deck, receiver by using the flathead screwdriver to carefully pry off the dash panel that surrounds the existing head unit. Make sure to unscrew any screws that hold the dash panel in. Unscrew the existing factory head-unit from its mount and pull it out of the car's body. Unhook all the wires that are connected to it and connect these wires to the new head-unit. It is strongly advised that a wiring harness for the car's make/model and new head-unit be purchased. This streamlines the connection and eliminates splicing the wires. Wiring harnesses are readily and inexpensively available at all mobile audio retailers.
- 3). Connect RCA audio cables to the new head-unit's pre-amp output ports. Connect a remote lead wire to the new head-unit's remote wire; the remote wire can be of a very thin gauge. Run the RCA and remote wires to where the amplifier will be mounted. Insert the new head-unit into the mounting brackets and crew it in. Attach the dash back to the car's body.
- 4). Connect the RCA audio cables to the amplifier's "Audio In" ports. Connect the remote lead wire to the amplifier's "Remote" switch. The remote lead wire turns the amp on when the car turns on. The amplifier should be mounted near the subwoofers, and is almost always done in the trunk of the car.
- 5). Connect the amplifier to the subwoofers. Use an appropriate gauge speaker wire; see owner's manual for model's specifics. Measure the distance from the amp to the subwoofer and cut that length of speaker wire. Each subwoofer will need two wires, positive and negative.
- 6). Connect one end of the wire to the amplifier's positive "Speaker Out" port. Connect the other end of that wire to the subwoofer's "Positive" power terminal. Connect another wire to the amplifier's negative "Speaker Out" port. Connect the other end of that wire to the same subwoofer's "Negative" power terminal. Repeat this process for each subwoofer.
- 7). Connect the amplifier to the car's battery. Use an appropriate gauge power wire as noted in the owner's manual. Connect one wire to the amplifier's +12 volt power terminal. Connect another wire to the amplifier's ground or negative terminal. Run both of these cables to the car's battery. Connect the negative wire to the car battery's negative terminal. Connect the positive wire to the car battery's positive terminal. Reconnect the car's battery to the car's electrical system.
- 8). Turn on the car and test the stereo.
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