Aftermarket Amp install for dummies

[UrbanCowboy]

I just got done doing this and it took me a few days to figure out where everything need to go so I thought I'd post the down and dirty on adding an amp to an OEM headunit. I have an 06 DC but this should work for all years.

What I installed:
RF 325.2 2 channel amp
2 RF 8" subs under seat (4.2" mounting depth)

Installing the amp:
1. Disconnect the Battery

2. Power lead: From the battery to the amp with inline fuse no more than 18" from the battery terminal. If you look into the engine bay on the driverside firewall (Top right) You will see a huge grommet with wires running through it. There is a "nipple" on the top that you can snip the top off of and snake a coat hanger through. I attached the lead to the hanger with tape and then rubbed dish soap on the wire and it slide right through into the cab (Drivers side kick panel). DO NOT install the inline fuse yet. Attache the lead to the positive terminal of the battery and the amp.

3. GROUND: I put my amp under the seat so I just unbolted the seat and sanded the paint off of the floor, attached the ground wire and torgued the seat back down. Ground is a big thing so make sure you do it right.

4. REMOTE: turn on wire. If you have an OEM basic radio it does not have an amp turn on output. So I ran the remote turn on to the positive line on the cigarette lighter. You can either attach it at the back of the lighter (PITA) or just run it up to the interior fuse box.

5: Speakers: If you have an amp with high level input just splice into your rear channel wires and run speaker wire from there to the amp. If not splice into the rear speaker channels and add a Line Out convertor (Switches speaker wire to RCAs $20 @ bestbuy). I used the LOC. From there I ran RCAs to the amp. NOTE: Don't run your RCAs near your power leads. I ran them on the other side of the truck. After that run speaker wire from the amp to you new speakers/subs.

OEM Non JBL wire diagram
Battery RED OR RED/GREEN (+) RADIO HARNESS
Accessory GRAY (+) RADIO HARNESS
Ground BROWN (-) RADIO HARNESS
Illumination GREEN (+) RADIO HARNESS
Amp Turn On BLACK/RED (+) RADIO HARNESS
LF Speaker (+) PINK
LF Speaker (-) VIOLET
RF Speaker (+) GREEN
RF Speaker (-) BLUE
LR Speaker (+) BLACK
LR Speaker (-) YELLOW
RR Speaker (+) RED
RR Speaker (-) WHITE

Viola! Make sure you have everything nice an dtight, check for frayed wires at the amp and if all looks good, install the inline fuse and reconnect the battery.

I am not a master installer... this was only the 2nd time doing this for me but I know getting answers to questions were far and few so I thought I'd throw this out there for anyone interested. Thanks to all that helped me get it done. Sounds great! Also a great resouce for stereo and nav installs is Car Alarm, Car Stereo, Mobile Video, and Cruise Control Info for Installers

You can see my gear here: http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forum...ealth-install/

[zero_chances]

Yea, grinding off the paint is very important for the ground. I figured that out the hard way.
And why is it so important that power and rca's be so far away from eachother? What about rca's and remote turn on? Cause i have the remote turn on cable wrapped around the rca's to make running them easier, and all the wires go thruough the same hole in the carpet under the seat, so at atleast one point, they are all really close if not touching each other. How bad is this?

[UrbanCowboy]

The idea is to keep the power away from the signal. The power lead and the remote can be run together but you should keep both away from you rca and speaker wires. Can cause interferance.....

[zero_chances]

Hmm, i dont seem to hear any interference in the subs, but im no where near an expert on this stuff. I guess the sheilding on the Monster cables is pretty good, if ive got them ran the way i do and dont hear any interference.

[UrbanCowboy]

good deal then. I saw your post with pics.... nice job

[42GAMI]

good write up.

[zero_chances]

Originally Posted by UrbanCowboy

good deal then. I saw your post with pics.... nice job

Thanks