Help with sub install

[jellycalais]

Hey guys

Attempting my first sub install into my VP Calais. Im struggling to find a place to run the power wire through the firewall, I dont want to drill through it as im not to sure whats on the other side! I have read from posts on JC that there is a rubber grommet behind the brake booster cylinder which can be used, Im wondering if you can cut an opening into it and thread it through and also where it comes out? I have gotten the kick panel out from under the drivers side and cant see anyplaces from where wires can come through. Also I cant seem to get the door runner sills off? Any idea how to do that? Any help would be much appreciated.

JellyCalais

[92 VP SS]

Theres a big oval rubber grommet on the drivers side that I run my wires through, yeah look behind the brake booster to the right a bit. Dont chop any bits out of your car or drill anything you dont have to. If your fitting bigger speakers anywhere use spacers so it can be reversed and keep all the factory speakers and covers. At some point people will value your car for its originality.

[wraith]

Yes you can make a tiny incision be VERY careful though. Keep feeding the wire through and you should see it. Helps with a 2nd person. The sills are held on by clips from memory and may require a little bit of force to remove. Don't be surprised if you break a couple clips in the process.

[mr calais 5.0]

MY power cable for the sub runs through the oval gromet next to the booster and down the inside wire wall and under the drivers side and along the sill on the inside to the boot to the amp and sub box.

[jellycalais]

Just another Question, when connecting the remote wire to the headunit, which colour wire is it? I was told it was the blue/white wire although I dont want to cut it if its not the right one.

Yes you can make a tiny incision be VERY careful though. Keep feeding the wire through and you should see it. Helps with a 2nd person. The sills are held on by clips from memory and may require a little bit of force to remove. Don't be surprised if you break a couple clips in the process.

Thanks for that, will give it a go just didnt know if I would see it on the other side. Ill try not to break to many clips

[mr calais 5.0]

Did you buy it new or 2nd hand? Normaly they have tags on them to tell what they go to..

[jellycalais]

I bought my HU new, its a Kenwood MP5043U. Looking in the manual it says the Power Control Wire is the blue/white wire. Im going to have ago at that and see, will let you know how I get on

[mr calais 5.0]

If you find it hard to see the power wire coming through the fire wall, I get a coat hanger and undo it and rape the wire to it and poke it through and it's easier to move around and if you put yellow tape on the end it's easier to see as well..

[jellycalais]

Did you buy it new or 2nd hand? Normaly they have tags on them to tell what they go to..

When i was taking the tape off the HU wires there were tags on them, so I was able to find the right one. Putting the power from the battery to the amp is taking its time, might do it tomorrow morning

[m1lky]

Make sure you use the right wire from the heady. Ones for amps the other for power antenna. If you use the antenna one your amp will only go on the radio

[hi_ryder]

i took off the washer bottle overflow unit and was able to fit a drill near in there (upside sown) i pulled the carpet back and felt with my hand were there wasnt any obstructions and just eyeballed it. then put some marine grade urethane on my finger and wiped it around the wire and hole. put the overflow bottle back and its all hidden. just remember to run your power cable on one side of the car and amp audio cable (sub wires) on the other to avoid speaker hum...

[jellycalais]

Make sure you use the right wire from the heady. Ones for amps the other for power antenna. If you use the antenna one your amp will only go on the radio

Yeah I noticed that there were two cables, one that said FM/AM Power and the other said P.Cable. The P.Cable didnt have anything connected to it, but after looking in the Kenwood manual I realised this was due to the wire being only for external amps, which Im going to run.

i took off the washer bottle overflow unit and was able to fit a drill near in there (upside sown) i pulled the carpet back and felt with my hand were there wasnt any obstructions and just eyeballed it. then put some marine grade urethane on my finger and wiped it around the wire and hole. put the overflow bottle back and its all hidden. just remember to run your power cable on one side of the car and amp audio cable (sub wires) on the other to avoid speaker hum...

I was tempted to take off the washer unit, but did finally get enough reach into the engine bay to find the grommet (after blooded hands and many swear words). I used a hot solder to push through the rubber, as I had tried everything before to make a cut into the damn thing! Just need to make it big enough to feed through the power cable now and connect it up tomorrow.

[mr calais 5.0]

If your running the power to the amp from the battery then use a gold fuse and clear fuse holder near the battery.. Mine is about 30 from the battery..

[wraith]

98% of amp wiring kits will have everything you need include the fuse at the correct distance from battery.

[jellycalais]

I bought this kit from SCA it had everything I needed



Thanks for the heads up though

[m1lky]

Run your rcas down the opposite side of the car to the factory power harness and the amp power wire. running them with power can cause interference that the amp then amplifies (this is usually high frequency, so you'd get away with it for a sub install but it's bad practice particuarly if later you amp your speakers