amp install help

[shadow163]

im trying to run the 0 gauge wire from the battery to the trunk of my 98 Lumina but im not sure how to run it. is there a way to get it through the fire wall?

[comet240]

ya there is 2 ways that i have done this

1. remove the carpet by pulling it back under drivers section probably remove the wireing plastic guard for best results and take a drill and drill a hole big enough but go on the silver section or low enough cuz u dotn wanna drill into the air conditioner lines been there done that LOL


2. run it under the car and zip tie to the side of the car then come up in the back and remove ur driver side tail light then there are gromet plugs slice one and shove the wire through that and then replace the tail lights

thats how i did it on my 91 luminas

[Adasm]

Yeah, I did mine the same way. Ran it through the firewall utilizing an existing grommet and underneath the carpet. I had to splice my wire into two amplifiers in the trunk so I removed the backseat entirely (which is actually quite easy and very convenient) and installed a power distribution block underneath the rear seat and into the trunk from there. Nothing seen at all, very clean and safe.

[comet240]

ah thats cool, ya and u should have spare battery, and a better alternator if u plan to pound while driving epsically if ur amp bigger then 500 watts as i have burned my alternator out, i put a custom 140 amp in but there is better called 2 stage alternators that way u dont need 1500 rpms to kick in the alternator to charge

[Adasm]

Yeah, my amps are fairly low wattage, nothing huge and extravagant. Judging by what I listen to, not too many people outside of my car are going to want to hear it anyway!

[comet240]

lol what do u listen to?

[shadow163]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I do plan on upgrading my alternator and putting a second battery in since im gonna be running a 2100 rms amp. and Ive had to take the back seat out once already to install new rear speakers. it wasnt what i would call easy. not hard, just a bit of work with all the bolts.

[xboxdave13]

i ran a 1000w rms amp with two subs, into my girlfriends 97 monte carlo. didnt want to drill so i went under the car and in the tailights.
But didnt upgrade anything, just put a 1 farad digital cap. and never had problems with battery or alternator. or dimming of the lights either.

although 1 farad prolly not big enough for 2100 rms.

[foreman72]

I have a 95, same body style as you. I just(yesterday) ran my 1/0 through the firewall. Right next to the brake booster, you'll see a med. size grommet, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Use a scredriver and pop it out from under the hood. I used a dremel tool, but you can use almost anything to cut a hole out from the back side of the grommet. Then, just push the grommet back in(you might need the screwdriver again) and go inside, up under the brake pedal area---pull back the foam-backed noise deadener--then start to feed the wire. Go back inside and start pulling the wire from the inside---BE CAREFUL HERE---There is a screw in close proximity to the hole, and it will bite you! Just continue in inside the interior and remove the plastic floor pieces and run the wire where ever it fits--just test ift it as you go so the plastic fits when you put it back in place. Hope that helps you somewhat.

[comet240]

well for the capicators the cap companys recommend like 1farad for every 500 watts but it works well like every 1000 or 1500 watts, so get 2 caps but u guys still need to put a bigger alerantor in or 2 of them since the capactior is only there to give the amplifier the 14.4 volts it needs when u pound and the cap is there so the deck doesnt flicker but the problem you guys didnt see is if u run the amp ounding for like 30 min even if car running on stock alternator the altnerator is only good enough to run the car itself not much more like usually 60 amps for non air conditionion car and 80 amps for an air conditioned car

but if u run the car for 30 min pounding the stereo the battery is dead car is just running off the alternator and the alternator never shuts off so the brushes are always working and u burn the brushes out, and i had this problem i got stuck at 3am on a dirt road lol but i know electronics but id recommend u upgrade to a 2 stage alternator it is 80amps when there is no load and like 150amps when there is a load so it will charge the battery when idling even without a 1500rpm idle,

but thats something to look into