Subwoofer Wiring

[phewop118]

I know I posted 6 months or so ago about subwoofer wiring, but I still haven't got around to doing it and I don't feel like reviving an ancient post. Anyways, I need to run the positive power wire for the amplifier to either the positive terminal of the battery or some other positive terminal in the car that can handle a high current. I was thinking possibly the remote positive terminal just above the fuse block that's under the hood. Problem is that I still need to get the wire under the hood from the trunk. Yesterday, I tore the carpeting up and the area under the dash on the passenger side looking for a way to get through. I found everything is covered in a rubber insulation. So after pulling that off, all I have is metal. No places I can see where wires could go through. I thought about somehow running it into the fenderwell, behind the housing and up by the washer fluid tank, but once again, I can't figure out how to get the wire out of the passenger compartment, at least without running it into a door gromet, which would then make the grommet worthless for protecting other wires and put my power wire at risk of the elements.

I know some of you have done this, so if you could please tell me exactly how you managed to get your positive power cable from the passenger compartment to under the hood, that would be great. Thanks. I would really like to get my subs, which have been wasting trunkspace (and gas due to added weight) for 6 months, working.

[harmankardon35]

your in the right spot...mine went through on the passengers side behind the carpet just up about as high as the radio maybe a bit lower. Its a big rubber grommet that already has some factory wires going through it. Its a pain, as GM did some double grommet thingy. What I did was stick my head down behind the altenator and look way down and see the wires coming out,,,its sort of like a rubber bag that is sealed on the wires (kind of looks like the shift boot on a manual tranny)....take a razor and put a nice slice in the rubber (being sure not to cut the wires)

Now back on the floor on the passengers side, take out as much rubber as you can (As i remember there was a peice that came out with a little prying) This will reveal the back side of that rubber boot, but its 2 ply rubber so take a screwdriver and poke a hole up in the general direction of the hole you cut. (remember the factory wires go in and up a few inches before they exit under the hood...so dont mess up those wires)...keep poking away until you can see daylight (or a worklight) through it. Now you can fight and try and get the wire through. I remember throwing a few F bombs doing mine..its not as easy as most cars.

Yes you can use the + terminal on the factory fuse block as long as you dont have a huge power sucking amp. If you have a big amp then its probably a good idea to run right off the battery. And make sure you disconect the battery when doing anything like this. 12 volts can hurt, bad!

[phewop118]

I did see a rubber covering with a few wires going into it, but I couldn't find it on the engine side. I wonder if I remove the coolant surge tank if that would help me.

Also, by disconnecting the battery, do you mean both cables, or would disconnecting the negative suffice?

When I have time on a nice day, I will try to get to this. Problem is that I have no time and there seem to be no nice days in the near future.

[harmankardon35]

negative terminal is fine....my car has the 3800 engine so the coolant tank is on the other side.