Comments on: How to Install a Car Amplifier

on 4/29/2009 When installing a 4channel amp. Does the speaker wires on the head unit splice into the set of speaker wires running to the amp, or do you totally disregard the head speaker wires, and only run wires directly from your main speakers to the amp?

on 4/3/2009 WHAT ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC ANTENNA RELAY WIRE (BLUE WITH A WHITE LINE)?

on 3/6/2009 hello i instaled 1 crossover 2 amps 1 for speakers 1 for 4 subs but when i turn on my car it makes a iiiiiiiiiiiiii noise what can i do

on 2/22/2009 jgblaster in regards to hooking up a second amp. first what size is your power wire from the amp? if its anything bigger than 4 gauge, you will need to up the gauge of your power wire. second you can buy a distrubution block. its around $30. ive seen many ways to hook this up. its like a surge protector...one source of power for multiple items. just rememer to keep the wire size the same through out the whole process. also remember to upgrade the fuse on the main power wire to handle the load of 2 amps instead of 1. hope that helped

on 2/22/2009 cesar....if its an aftermarket head unit, on the back of your headunit there should be a blue wire or a solid blue wire with a white stripe on it. hook up the blue wire from your amp to it and it should work...if not check your ground fuses, etc

on 2/10/2009 Hello. Ok so I have my head unit installed along with a 4 channel amp and 4 after market speakers. no I want to connect a 12" sub with its own amp and a cap. How do I add this to my system? Help please, I feel like I'm getting ripped off if i go somewhere to get it installed.
Thank you.

on 12/18/2008 hi i had an amp installed in my car several yrs ago, along with the subs, but they were seperate from eachother, i then bought subs with the amp screwed on to it, and when i tried to switch out the two i think i made a shortage. My radio wont turn on, my windows wont roll down, etc. Any ideas...? thanks so much. Oh and i went from 4 channel to 2 channel amp, but i think did it correctly just taking off the extensions to the wire...

on 12/16/2008 Two problems with this guide.

1) DO NOT install your amp on a sub enclosure. I mean seriously guys, wtf. All that vibration will shake the crap out of your amps solder joints and eventually kill a $400 piece of equipment. I've seen it happen.

2) The trunk is a much better mounting location than under the seat. You spill one latte down there and BAM, blown fuse. My fave spot is drilling right into the rear seat so you can lower it and have access to all your amp's dials and switches.

on 3/28/2007 where does the blue wire from the amp go ,because i tried to hook up my amp and it would turn on ,cause i dont know where to put the blue wire.thanks

on 1/11/2007 this makes it sound very easy why cant this person write the instructions that you get when you buy an amp 10 out of 10

on 10/31/2006 A more easy way to install just your amp that u already own (step 1) get all your wires layed out on the sides of the car/truck u wish to put them on ie Power wire usually on the drivers side or in a BMW case that has the battery in the trunk either side would do (step 2)Pull out your head unit so you have room to connect rca's and remote 2.(Step 3)look around behind and above your brake gas or clutch pedals to see if there is a rubber gromet u may be able to feed your power wire through use a long clothes hanger to break through to see if it goes out to underneath the hood, at least so u can connect the power to the battery (optional)if there is no gromet you will have to drill through your fire wall (BE CAREFUL!!!!)LOOK BEFORE YOU DRILL SO YOU AREN"T DRILLING THROUGH ANYTHING OTHER THEN UR FIRE WALL LIKE CABLES TANKS FOR FLUIDS ANYTHING LIKE THAT (THAT IS A MUST!!!!) ALWAYS LOOK BEFORE YOU DRILL. once you have found a good hole that can get ur power wire through the firewall and through the hood to the battery then ur set (Step 3)next what you will want to do is figure out where u want to put ur amp Most likely drilled to your sub enclosure or if ur powereing your speakers to the back of the rear seats just so it isn't moving around as u drive and doesn't cause shorts or disconnections. Once you have figured out where you want to put your amp get the little blue wire and your Bass remote wire if there is a Bass controller and start feeding that through the passengers side take off sil panels (the plastic things at the bottom of your doors with a panel popper) then feed your little blue remote wire and Bass control cable and rca's that will connect to your head unit put it underneath the carpet so it is not visible. (Step 4)Next you will mount your amp after that you will find a place for your ground usually ground to your chassis for the best ground to do that rip up the carpet and get to the metal floor (THEN LOOK UNDERNEATH THE CAR TO MAKE SURE YOU WON"T BE DRILLING THROUGH ANYTHING ONCE AGAIN if you are clear to drill First sand down the metal so u reach bare metal and no paint just silver metal make it enough so you can fit the O-ring on that silver metal then drill the ground o-ring onto the surface you have sanded (WARNING) For your ground wire always use the same guage wire as your power wire for example you are using 4 guage for your power, u must use the same guage for your ground (Step 5)now you have all your wires amp and everything else in place the easy part comes connecting everything connect your rca's connect your remote blue wire and bass control wire to the amp and head unit if necessary then put the fuse in the fuse holder cut a little bit of power wire so that you have a little bit of wire after the fuse DO NOT HAVE IT TO LONG! connect both of those wires to the fuse holder and take the nut off the power on the battery and then put the o-ring on that and put the nut back on and screw tight after that is done hide all the wires connect the ground wire to the place that reads GND may give you a little spark don't be alarmed then connect your power wire to the amp that reads pwr then connect the rca's and remote blue wire and your bass control wire that's it for the amp no for the subs simply get the speaker wire connect positive to red and negative to black then if you want to bridge for more power connect the left to the far left of the speaker and the right to the far right if you are running more then one sub splice the wires together that are comming from the subs to the amp your done enjoy the bass (NO CLEAN UP YOUR MESS!!!!)

on 2/15/2006 When you first buy the amp (if you do not know what you are doing) buy a kit for your amps range. Then, connect the RCA cables; the red and white cables to the back of your stereo, and run those and the little tiny blue wire that comes in the kit, down one side of the car. Connect the tiny blue wire to the tiny blue wire on your stereo. Zip tie those wires together and run them over your pedals and tie them to a wire, then run them back to the amp. Connect the blue wire to the amp where it says "REM." Connect the RCA's to the designated spot on the amp. Then, take your power wire and tie it to a wire near the positive thing on your battery. In every car there is a firewall, or a hole behind the engine where you can put the power wire through, just look around for it. If you can't find one and are ghetto, you can run it behind the quarter panel and in through the door. Run this back to the amp and plug it into the power slot. Then, find a hole in your trunk somewhere, and connect the ground wire with a bolt to that hole, connect the power wire to the battery, and check if your amp is on, (make sure your stereo is on too) if it isn't, disconnect the power wire, then disconnect the ground wire and sand or grind around it until there is no paint on it. Reconnect both wires and try again; it should be on!

on 12/28/2005 Always insulate or tape your wires, no matter which one, including the RCA brands, even if they are not in use.

on 11/22/2005 Make sure to fuse your remote wire or you can cause damage to the head unit.

on 11/22/2005 Be careful if you ever drill - especially into the floor of your car. Look to check on both sides for dangers! Below your floor are wires, tubes, fuel lines, and the gas tank. If you drill into your gas tank, it can explode and seriously burn you or kill you. Live to enjoy your ride!