running power cable from battery to trunk, in line conversion, & remote turn on

[NickD85]

If anyone can help with any one of the following questions I would appreciate it tremendously....

1. I've been trying to run a wire from the positive terminal of the battery back to the trunk where my amp and sub setup will be for the past couple hours. I'm running into trouble with getting from the engine bay, into the car. I've removed most of the plastic lining that's up there, as well as the glove compartment. I see all the wires coming down and heading back, but I can't seem to feed my wire up forward (using a snake). I feel like there must be some kind of gasket around the existing wiring to keep the engine bay and cab separate, which is preventing me from getting to the front. Am I missing something?

2. Because I'm sticking with the factory headunit, I need to use an in line converter to turn the speaker signal into rca for the amp. My question is, does this conversion have to take place at the headunit, or can I just tap into one of, say, the back door speakers?

and 3. Once again, factory headunit, so no designated place to plug the blue remote turn on cable into. However, there is a 12v outlet in the trunk, right near my sub/amp and I know it's only hot when the keys are in... that would make it a good place to wire the remote turn on to then, right?

thanks in advance guys, I usually like to figure these things on my own, but I appreciate the fact that a lot of you guys have way more experience with this stuff than I do-Nick

[Qxxx4]

If anyone can help with any one of the following questions I would appreciate it tremendously....

1. I've been trying to run a wire from the positive terminal of the battery back to the trunk where my amp and sub setup will be for the past couple hours. I'm running into trouble with getting from the engine bay, into the car. I've removed most of the plastic lining that's up there, as well as the glove compartment. I see all the wires coming down and heading back, but I can't seem to feed my wire up forward (using a snake). I feel like there must be some kind of gasket around the existing wiring to keep the engine bay and cab separate, which is preventing me from getting to the front. Am I missing something?

2. Because I'm sticking with the factory headunit, I need to use an in line converter to turn the speaker signal into rca for the amp. My question is, does this conversion have to take place at the headunit, or can I just tap into one of, say, the back door speakers?

and 3. Once again, factory headunit, so no designated place to plug the blue remote turn on cable into. However, there is a 12v outlet in the trunk, right near my sub/amp and I know it's only hot when the keys are in... that would make it a good place to wire the remote turn on to then, right?

thanks in advance guys, I usually like to figure these things on my own, but I appreciate the fact that a lot of you guys have way more experience with this stuff than I do-Nick

i think im only of help for number1.....It seems like your trying to route your power wire down the passenger side? Its much easier down the driver's side, follow my pic, remove the gasket at that hole and feed your cable through there, you may need to bend the metal a little. Then run your wire all the way down the drivers side, and then you can cross over under the passenger seat or carpeting. Its best to always run your power wire on the opposite side of the RCA cables, but seeing how you dont have any and might be getting the signal from the back, its no big deal, but still easier. Im sure this will work for you since slickroger has a 3.5 pathy and routed it this way. I didnt have to remove any panels up front to get the wire through, just the gasket. And i have no issues with leakage or water, the fit was so tight that there isnt much space for anything to get in.

2. always take the path of less resistance, the less wire the better so i would rather wire it to the back speakers...thats where your getting the signal from anyways, why add more resistance/wiring.

3. my factory headunit had an included remote turn on, but i think the 01+ head units had an internal amp? not sure. For good measure you could just wire it to your antenna power on wire at the factory harness. I see no problem with using that 12V jack, that whole circuit is indeed only on with the ignition.

your really flying through this, good work man

[NickD85]

thanks so much qxxx, you're always a big help much appreciated.ps,In that pic of your truck there are these weird orange things in the corners the headlights- idk if you noticed. what are they for?

[Qxxx4]

LOL your a prick. im too scared to stab them with a screw driver like fueler did but i might do it some day.

btw it appears i contradicted myself, going down the drivers side uses more power cable, hahaah sorry but I'm sure 0.04 ohms per foot wont bother you as much as the extra work youd put into finding a path through the passenger side of the firewall.

[NickD85]

Yeah, it ended up being the same length either way; I stayed on the driver's side all the way back... thanks again for letting me know about that little gasket- I would've drilled a hole in the firewall before guessing to pop that thing off.

Anyway, at the end of the day I've got my amp ground established, power chord running from the positive battery terminal all the way back, and the remote turn on tapped into that twelve volt plug wiring in the trunk. Only one thing remains, and I'm still looking for an answer- the rca conversion. Can anyone fill me in more on what goes into installing one of those converters/ answer my question about whether or not I can install it in the back by wiring it right into one of the speakers?thanks again,-Nick

[NickD85]

so everything's squared away except #2.... anyone?

[korbeano89]

i have the factory stereo hooked to a 1000 watt amp and what you do is tap in to the back passenger side speaker, my amp is stored away in side my passenger seat. and i also wired a switch from the remote to the power side of the amp and wired a nice green lighted switch so i caN Turn it on or off if i want
Modified by korbeano89 at 3:11 PM 6/23/2009

[Qxxx4]

you had number 2 right from the getgo "bra". get to your local car parts place, pick up an inline converter, splice wires from your rear speaker, hook'er up to y'er amp, and get'r'done!

[NickD85]

man you have no idea how much i want to "get'r done"... the problem is I owe my parents $360 (I went skydiving last week) and I have nothing to spare on a sub and amp. Anddddd I have two subs and an amp that I can't use (Someone pleaseee buy themmm!! 160 watt amp and two 100w eight inch kicker subs). So right now I'm just focused on work and selling these goddamn subs and amp

[UndeGuy]

...3. ... For good measure you could just wire it to your antenna power on wire at the factory harness...

Um... I don't know about the QX4... but if you wire it to the power antenna... wouldn't that mean it would only get power when the radio is on? If you play CDs, wouldn't it STOP getting power?

The 99.5 PF lowers the antenna when you switch to CD or any source other than radio (I assume that it lowers when it doesn't receive power).

I was trying to figure out an alternative... but I haven't a clue...

the closest thing I can think off... remote line at the amp (scroll to middle chart for the AMP itself). But, not being experienced with car audio... I think it'll be better if someone else can confirm whether that's usable.

[NickD85]

I just wired the remote turn on to the 12v outlet in the trunk... It's only on with the car in "accessory" mode or on so it was perfect

[miamiheat3332]

Ok for this whole thing, i did a kind of same setup as your doing last august, in keeping the factory head unit, and running all that s***, but what you need to do for the line output converter

is order this if you dont have it, the line output converter.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1...=2001

thats the same one i have, then you use

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_6...p=990

with those, what you do, is take off the bottom panel in your trunk on the left side, and there you will find the bose, amp, use the posi products taps link, you use those to tap into the wires, then get a spool of wire, and run them from the posi products taps to the line output converter, than your RCA cables from there to your amp.

i ran my power wires on the passenger side because i could never find a way to get the wire in, so i just drilled through the firewall.

The remote turn on lead i ran on the drivers side, along with the remote gain a adjuster and i just plugged in the remote turn on lead into the windshield wiper fuse up front on the left, and it works fine when the key is in the 2nd postion, 3rd i think is when all the electric turns on and 4th obviously is when its running.

I found a really good deal on my stuff. 4 Gauge Wiring kit, 350 rms blaupunkt amp, and the 2 mtx 12" subs in the enclosure, the posi products taps, and the line output converter all for about 290$ from crutchfield. It slaps really good, and im probably going to upgrade the amp, but thats when i get the money. Probably a Hifonics, cheap and very good quality.

and heres the subs i have http://www.crutchfield.com/p_2...p=112

heres some pics.

AMP under the mat.



Mtx subs





My remote turn on lead.



How it looks on the dash.



and sorry but im too lazy to take off the left sidepanel to show you the line output converter.

By the way, this isn't my car, its my dads, im only 15, but i know my stuff. And im also getting it when i get my permit

[UndeGuy]

I just wired the remote turn on to the 12v outlet in the trunk... It's only on with the car in "accessory" mode or on so it was perfect

I know I'm being nitpicky... but wouldn't it also mean that it'll always be on (when the key is in accessory/on) even when the radio is off? To me, it's like having my antenna up when listening to CDs/ipod when I first installed the Alpine HU... I'm not using the antenna, so why is it up?!? Which is why I fixed it to the way it was with the old HU. It only goes up when I switch on the FM/AM radio.

Does the sub have a relay or remote on wire?

[NickD85]

thanks miami... that seems a lot easier than tapping into one of the door speakers- the bose amp is right next to where my amp is going (same place yours is). It's also super accessible.

and Undeguy, I've seen output converters with a remote turn on cable built in... that way the amp is only on when the speakers are. That would be ideal. But I'm not really worried about the amp always being on- rarely am I in the car without music playing. And no, neither sub that I'm looking at has a remote turn on

[miamiheat3332]

no problem, if you run into any problems with the line output converter, i might take the panel off for you

[K03sport]

I'm still looking for an answer- the rca conversion. Can anyone fill me in more on what goes into installing one of those converters/ answer my question about whether or not I can install it in the back by wiring it right into one of the speakers?

The conversion box only needs one speaker wire pair. Remember, if you are connecting to the right rear, your RCAs (sub) will be dependant on the fade and balance adjustments that affect the right rear.

The connection can happen anywhere long the speaker wire length. If it is like one I have, you will need the right and left wires and then there is a single brown wire (ground) to help with noise.

All this box is doing is taking high level signal and turning it into low level signal. This is how I ran my first sub amp with the factory stereo.

Just make sure you get + and - correct.

[Adnan]

for the power wire i didnt bother busting my back looking for a hole,i just made my own wide enough for 0 ga wiring then ran it to the battery like Qxx4's diagram.

As for line in converter i didnt feel like popping door panels and since the Bose amp is mounted in the rear quarter panel I just spliced with the speaker wire from there.

For the remote turn on i didnt stress much i just tapped it to the power wire then ran a switch in the center console.....i later found out I could of simply used the same remote as the Bose amp

[nissandoms47]

In my r50 I just ran the power wire (a huge one, 1ga) from the battery down the frame rail following the fuel lines, then you can either drill a hole just to the left of the right rear door sill or go through the fuel tank access panel. At first i was skeptical but its worked out pretty well so far in the pathfinder and also in my titan.

For the remote turn on wire, i just looked up the wiring diagram for the factory bose, mine was an 02 SE with bose, found the remote turn on wire and tapped into that factory bose amp in the back left quarter panel.