Trunk Sub and Amp Install - Need Some Help

[hendric5]

This forum has been a life-saver for the few upgrades of done on the car over the past several years. I have been upgrading the stereo system piecemeal over time. Kenwood DDX-419 installed January 2013, now I've got the sub and amp waiting to go into the trunk with a Zenclosures.com sealed box.

Following the advice of several posts, I've got my power, remote amp power, and Punch EQ lines running down the drivers side under the kick panel and the RCA running down the passenger side. For now the wires are lying in the rear floor near the seat belt bases.

What I need help with is this (and I can't find doing a search): do I need to remove the rear seat or side trim panels in the back to get the wires into the trunk? The side kick panels pop off easily but at the seat belt bases, it seems to be a bit more difficult. I wonder if I can simply tuck the wires under the rear trim or is there a trick to removing the panels? Any help here is greatly appreciated!!!

[AlexN09]

I got away with removing as little as I possibly could. Try just removing the carpeting from the trunk and the rear cupholders. You can tuck the wire under the hard plastic trim of the back seat and use the holes from the cup holders to view and fish the wire through. Then find a way to run it under the trunk carpet and up to where your amp will be. Don't be afraid to run a razor blade through a discreet part of the trunk carpet to run your wires if needed.

[hendric5]

Alex, thanks for the advice. Got all wires run relatively easily once I took the rear bench seat out.

Then, it was time the glorious moment of truth. All wires hooked up and connected. Negative terminal back on to the battery, and BAM - the main fuse closest to the battery blows immediately. I'm not sure the reason. The doors were all shut and all lights off. The radio was not turned on. Could the remote amp on wire possibly have been miswired? Poor ground? Everything seemed to be right, so I'm pretty bummed.

[AlexN09]

Wow! That's really unfortunate. The only reason it would blow is if the positive cable shorted on the body somewhere (or shorted at or in the amp-unlikely). It is possible that your power wire might be stripped at the firewall??

[hendric5]

I doubt its contacting the firewall as I wend through a very thick stock grommet. I didn't know if the remote amp on wire could have been miswired but since the radio was not on (I tapped in to the switched 12V wire supplying power to radio - maybe bad idea?). I'll have to sleep on it tonight and maybe it'll come to me in a dream. Thanks again for your help and advice!

[DJ_B_Easy]

BAM - the main fuse closest to the battery blows immediately.

Elaborate on main fuse. The fuse (you should) have inline on your battery to amp power cable? Or another in the engine bay grid?

[AlexN09]

I doubt its contacting the firewall as I wend through a very thick stock grommet. I didn't know if the remote amp on wire could have been miswired but since the radio was not on (I tapped in to the switched 12V wire supplying power to radio - maybe bad idea?). I'll have to sleep on it tonight and maybe it'll come to me in a dream. Thanks again for your help and advice!

I think your radio power wire is the problem. My buddy did an install where he thought he was using switchable radio power for his remote on wire. Instead the 12V wire was always on or something and his subs would just play loud distortion. I know this seems unlikely but I wonder if that could have over loaded the amp and pulled too much current?

You could check by disconnecting the remote wire, replacing the main fuse, turning on radio, and then connecting the remote to see what happens.