How to Connect an Original Car Stereo to an Amp
- 1). Disconnect the negative battery cable from the vehicle's battery. The negative cable connects the negative lead of the battery to the frame of the vehicle. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the cable's clamp. Remove the clamp and rest it away from the lead until your work is completed.
- 2). Attach the amplifier ring terminal (from the amp wiring kit) to the positive battery lead, using a Phillips-head screwdriver. Remove the fuse from the ring terminal before connecting it to the amplifier.
- 3). Drill a hole through the firewall in the engine compartment to allow the power supply from the battery (via the ring terminal) to be routed to the location of the amplifier. Use a rubber grommet to coat the new opening and protect the wiring.
- 4). Place the amplifier in the trunk of the vehicle. For trucks, place the amp beneath a seat with spacers under it to provide ventilation.
- 5). Remove the vehicle's stereo. Exact instructions for stereo removal vary among vehicles. Consult your owner's manual for specific procedures. Pull the stereo unit from the dash far enough to reach the wiring in the rear.
- 6). Disconnect the wiring groups attached to the stereo, by hand. Grab the groups by the plastic binders, not by the wires themselves. Connect the groups to a wiring harness adapter. The adapter will be clearly marked to identify where the connections should be made (by color code or abbreviations). Connect the adapter to the stereo.
- 7). Connect the turn-on lead and signal cable (included in the amplifier wiring kit) to the wiring harness adapter. Run the cables to the location of the amplifier. Use a trim panel tool to remove the panels that secure the carpeting to the floor of the vehicle. Lay the cables beneath the carpeting. Replace the panels by hand with a medium amount of force.
- 8). Run the power supply cable from the battery to the amplifier on the opposite side of the vehicle. Connect the power supply, the signal cable and the turn-on lead to the amplifier.
- 9). Route the speaker wires from the amplifier to the speakers you wish to have amplified, and connect them to the speakers. Specific instructions for gaining access to the speakers vary among vehicles. Consult your owner's manual for exact procedures.
- 10
Replace the stereo in the vehicle's dashboard. - 11
Insert the fuse in the ring terminal fuse socket near the battery. Reconnect the negative battery cable to the negative lead post of the battery. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to tighten the clamp. The clamp needs to be tightened so that it cannot be moved around the lead post by hand.
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