Basic Amp and Stereo Install DIY (all cable runs needed)

[templedogg]

Best Buy and Circuit City all wanted over $200 to install the Amp I got from my friend. I thought that was ridiculous, so with the help of the earlier ElantraXD forums and other research I decided to give it a try myself. I had never installed a stereo or amp and was really nervous, but it was actually pretty easy. I documented it pretty well so the next guy will have an even easier time, but still even with documenting it, it only took a couple hours. Anyone could do this, don’t waste your money on an install. Plus you don’t know what they would do to get the cable in.

I plan to get an aftermarket deck soon, so I ran Remote power and RCA both now, spliced the remote power into the Factory deck and left the RCA there for when I am ready for them. I decided to go with the upper grommet install location. It will have way less water and debris ever pass by it, and it barely shows at all. I got a great deal on an Amp install kit from Radio Shack of all places, it is a true Monster Cable kit 8 gauge kit and was only $19.99. It had everything you will see but the RCA cables; I bought Monster of those as well for $12 from Radio Shack. This was way cheaper than anywhere else.

I have an 06 GLS, but I am sure this would be the same for all models.

Amp Power Cable
Location of grommet is in the pillar right in front of the driver door. You need to open the door to see it.
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0019.jpg

With the door open carefully pull out the grommet with a long pair of needle nose pliers. Take you time so you do not scratch the paint. It comes out very easily.
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Picture of Grommet out of the car.
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Straighten out a coat hanger and slowly insert it through the hole. Tap the ends so they do not scratch anything.
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Once the coat hanger is on the other side tape the power cable to it.
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Pull the cable through.
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The 8 gauge is 1/4 inch. Grab a drill bit and drill it, do not cut it. It will fit nice and tight this way. (my other toys in the background)
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Beer boxes make great drill benches…..
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Slide the grommet back onto cable. It will be good and snug. Make sure you put it on the right way to reinsert it!!!
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0029.jpg

Pull out the amount of cable you think you will need to go through the fender and put split tubing on it. (Spiral tape the tubing so the cable can not fall out.)
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Bring the cable back to inside the door side and feed the coat hanger straight through the gap inside the fender like shown to towards the front of the car. (notice my mistake of going over the door latch, go under it!!! I had to unbolt the damn thing to get the cable below it.)
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Look next to the battery and you will see the coat hanger way down below. Use long needle nose pliers and grab it.
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Pull the cable up.
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Now start pulling on the cable from inside the car until you reach the grommet. (notice the cable is below the damn door latch thing now…..idiot!)
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0035.jpg

It is actually pretty easy to push the grommet back in with your finger like below. Make sure it is all the way back in. Then put some black silicon on your finger tip and put a little around the cable. This will insure no water can get in. I doubt any would anyways though.
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0036.jpg

Even up close you can not see the cable through the gap when the door is closed. Sweet!
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0037.jpg

Unscrew the one screw for the kick board and easily just pry up a little bit on the side molding, there is no need to take it off. Continue to run the cable along the side moldings until you reach the rear seat.
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Fish your trusty coat hanger from the top down in the corner like the pictures out the bottom corner.
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Attach the cable to the coat hanger and pull it back through.
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You now have power to the trunk, you can easily hide cable anywhere once you are here.
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Now run the ground cable. It is super easy. Just attach it to the gold colored bolt right next to where your power cable came up. Done.
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0046.jpg

Attach you fuse box, (styles may vary) and attach to the positive terminal on battery. DO NOT put in the fuse until the cable is actually attached to the amp.
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0047.jpg



Remote on cable and RCA cable
Remove the dash. I read the DIY on this and it is a lot simpler than I thought it would be. Just remove the two screws above the gauges and the two behind the ashtray. Then just firmly pull out at varies locations like the pocket to the left of the gauges, vents, etc. It will come out pretty easily. I did not fully remove it, just pulled it down, the only electrical connection I had to disconnect was the one to the left of the gauges for the dimmer.
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Remove the one screw holding the lower panel on the right.
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Take out the deck; you need to remove the four deck screws and the two pocket screws. They come out together. Use the coat hanger again to fish through the middle of the back frame down to the panel opening. Like before just attach your cables to the hanger and pull them through.
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This is where you would simply attach the Remote On, RCA’s, and Wire Harness adapters to a new aftermarket deck if you bought one. I did not at this time so I spliced to the factory cables for Remote ON. (I later found out choosing the gray/orange so called Amp on/Power antenna cable like the schematic shows was not the right choice, it only works with Radio and not CDs, thus meaning it is purely an antenna cable. Pick something else. Since I am getting a new deck soon I am OK for now.)
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0053.jpg

Pull cables down and reinstall deck and dash in reverse order. Put a piece of split tubing around cables and zip tie them to another cable under the dash.
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0054.jpg

Reattach panels.
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0056.jpg

Now just run the cables down the moldings like the power cable. Using the coat hanger again (and for the last time….it has served you well!) when you reach the rear seat.
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Now install the cables to the amp and the amp to the subs, and enjoy the bass. :abovelol:

[only1db]

thats one way to do it...yup...

another way is that there is a protected rubber seal in the engine compartement that you run it through...and saves you time...i ran my wire in my tib like you did...and man what a PITA...but with the xd you run it through the firewall...not to shabby.

amps and stuff are not hard at all...just have to know the basic principles of it.

[n0c]

Perfect timing! I am going to install amp soon and been looking for the best way to run the power wire and this seems to be the best way. I have a sunroof so can't us the one in the wheel well and did not want to drill a hole.

Very nice detailed write up! Thx a lot!

Nice truck too!

[templedogg]

I had read a couple places on the net that people complained about smell getting into the car if you went through the firewall and did not seal it up properly. I felt around for the bolts to take off the center unit on the firewall an actually thought if would be more work, it would have been a longer cable run, plus I thought it had a higher risk factor. I am sure a lot have done it that way with no problem, but being my first time I thought this was the way to go. This was actually very easy and the cable comes out at the perfect spot to hide it. My LONG needle nose pliers helped a lot. I suggest getting them.

Glad to hear it n0c, I was hoping the write up would save others some money. There is too many things we can do to these cars to improve them. I now have sway bar money myself!!! :D

[tricked03gls]

what did u use for a ground?

[Tx_boy]

I used the bolt the bolts down the back seats in the trunk. If you fold the back seats down and lift up the cover you will see a big bolt just loosen it and put your ground there!!!!!!!!!!

[tricked03gls]

tried that, no idea whats wrong with my system :(

[Tx_boy]

Was it working and just went out or did it never work

[KeWLKaT]

I just have ONE question

Why did you do a COMPLETE duplicate of a DIY we already have, LOL

[tricked03gls]

Was it working and just went out or did it never work
it worked for a long time, then one day went in to safe mode, so i bought anouther amp thinkin i fried the one i got and the other one does the same thing , could this have to do with rca wires? i tried grounding in multi spots and still no luck the power wire is perfect i dont know what the deal is

[KeWLKaT]

P.S.

Guys don't be lazy, hide the cable under the plastic moldings!!! it will look much nicer!

[Tx_boy]

did you bridge the amp?

[tricked03gls]

tried both bridge and regular (what ever the hell that is called) still nothing goes in to red light (safe) mode

[Tx_boy]

try turning your amp down all the way than turning it on. When an amp goes into safe mode it is getting hot. It should turn on than just dont turn it up as far as you had it before and that should keep it from turning into safe mode

[KeWLKaT]

did you try replacing the fuses on your amp

[tricked03gls]

yeah did both of those ideas

[Tx_boy]

????? you think he is getting too much power

[KeWLKaT]

where are you mounting your amps?

youre in the friggin desert so over there overheating an amp might be a very easy task

[tricked03gls]

it wont even hit once and it goes in to safe, amp is in trunk with seat folded down , and na onthe to much power im only running 8GA

[Tx_boy]

I have mine mounted on the back seat and just put the seat down when you are driving to get air on it. He probably just has his amp too high because mine was doing that when it would run for a while I had it bridged. Just unbridged it and turned it down a little and it is fine now. You just have it turned up to high and are overloading the amp. You might want to get an amp with a built in fan.

[KeWLKaT]

a fan would be really good. Turning the seats down means exposing your amp to the sun, so i guess thats where your problem is coming from man

just use a 12vdc fan from a mobo

[tricked03gls]

i have a fan for it and everything i had it turned all the way down and it did it



btw

:threadjac :threadjac safe to say

[Tx_boy]

the amp might be shorted out some how.

[tricked03gls]

both of them? i got two amps thats what i thought at first

so tx u gonna show up at one of our saturday get togathers?

[templedogg]

Use a stab light and make sure you are getting power from the remote on cable, etc. Use a meter and make sure your power cable is giving enough juice. The RCAs or the Remote on could be cut somehow causing a short. Places like Circuit City have amps, decks, etc in their back install bays. (I used them to test systems actually in my car, you just turn to the same radio station) If you faked like you might buy something there, they could run RCA's and Remote on cable from their unit on the wall to your amp. That would rule those two out at least.

[tricked03gls]

or i could go use tx boys system for a day lol thanks man knew youd step up for a elantra brother lol

[templedogg]

I know there was already DIYs like this keWLKaT, but I could not find one for the upper grommet install, and there was not one that covered everything start to finish. It was also a good exercise for me. I imagined best case it helps someone someday, worse case I just slammed for making it.

[Tx_boy]

You know my b-day is on Thursday so I might hit it up this weekend before we go to the club becuase we have a babysitter.

If the amp is going into safe mode than the remote is working and the RCA should not have anything to do with that. If I do go out I might just take a look at it for you and also I dont think you want to borrow my system it was a cheap one at pep boys cause my girl drives the elantra and she does not like it too loud. Now the one I am putting in my Caddi you might like cause I am putting two 1500 watt solo baric L5 and a 2000 watt kenwood. Getting everything for $700 brand new. Oh forgot to tell you I have a couple of hookups on systems her in Phoenix if you are interested.

[tricked03gls]

**** man i liked the idea, alot better then where im running it, i give ya two thumbs up

[templedogg]

Thanks tricked, hope you get your system up soon without too much work. I know the pain of once you hear good music with subs and then have to go without it. It is way easier to live with never having it in the first place!!!

[tricked03gls]

You know my b-day is on Thursday so I might hit it up this weekend before we go to the club becuase we have a babysitter.

If the amp is going into safe mode than the remote is working and the RCA should not have anything to do with that. If I do go out I might just take a look at it for you and also I dont think you want to borrow my system it was a cheap one at pep boys cause my girl drives the elantra and she does not like it too loud. Now the one I am putting in my Caddi you might like cause I am putting two 1500 watt solo baric L5 and a 2000 watt kenwood. Getting everything for $700 brand new. Oh forgot to tell you I have a couple of hookups on systems her in Phoenix if you are interested.
i need audiobahn immortals with a big old amp

[Tx_boy]

**** I had two 10" Kicker inpulse with a 500 watt DHD amp and it used to hit hard as hell. Matter of fact it hit so hard it sharded the back window of my moms 96 Cutlas.
Damn I miss that system. Only cost me $150 and hit harder than a lot of 12"

[templedogg]

I think 10"s do hit harder. The hardest hitting system I ever heard was 4 8"s in a push-pull setup with a lot of juice going to them. Not the best for rap, but a single bass drum beat in rock music felt like a sharp dagger just hit your back. So fast and so tight too.

[Tx_boy]

Those solobaric L5 are the hardest hittin 12 I have ever heard

[Vampyrate]

i have 2 10" RF punch subs running to a cheap 460w Dual amp and that thing hit so hard that i had to reinforce the trunk latch on my sedan to keep it closed... and i was only running about 200w to each sub

[templedogg]

Seriously you had to reinforce the latch!!! That is hitting hard. Was it too much though? That is about the set-up I am looking at getting in the near future. Maybe I will just get one 10" that can take 250 to 300 watts. I just want a good clean quick snap! All subs will rumble, but not all will punch your heart!

[templedogg]

I finally got my new HU and dash kit. Here is the before and after. It looks better than I thought it would and kicks butt.

HU is a Kenwood KDC-X590 with OEM deck kit 00271-84004 - I would recommend both.

Before
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0059.jpg

After
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0061.jpg

With door open to show USB connection. (sorry it is a little blurry)
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1pjbz/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pict0062.jpg

[Vampyrate]

i got the sub at best buy for about 120 with tax. i got it right before they closed the day before driving to a NY meet with 04gtboyva. me and rob (03silverbullet) had it installed and tuned in about an hour, maybe less (20mins or so for the actual install and the rest just dialing it in).

that looks like the HU that i installed in my mom's 99 rodeo. she still doesnt know how to turn off demo mode, and i havent seen the instruction book since i installed it back in november

[templedogg]

On Kenwoods to turn off Demo mode.

1. Select Standby by pressing SRC button
2. Press Menu button for one or two seconds until Menu is displayed
3. Push the joystick to left or right until you see Demo Mode
4. Push in on the joystick for two seconds until Demo off is displayed.

Hope that helps.

[Vampyrate]

ill do it when i get home from school... thanks. now i just have to get something for my car so i can hook the subs up in my hatch... i need bass hits! and the paper speakers will be fine until i can get everything else setup

[templedogg]

I am really amazed with how good the factory papers sound! I have an 06', so I am not sure if they ungraded them in 06 or not. But they sound better than the factory Bose speakers I had in my Audi S4! I have a 8" SoundStream sub in a bandpass box my friend gave me with an older two channel bridged Alpine amp and it kicks great. I will most likely get a better amp and sealed 10 or 10s, but I think I will keep the papers until they blow!

I ran the amp off the factory deck for awhile and bought a RCA adaptor to Speaker level in adaptor. It sound good, but the RCA connection sounds way better.

This deal looks good. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=999953400050002&type=product&id=pcmprd53600050002 Was this the 10's you had Vamp?

Out of money though, will have to wait.

[Vampyrate]

i read on the ebay sub choice that bandpass hit best for rap, metal, and anything with a lot of hard bass or double bass. sealed is best for jazz and classical. i have a sealed box, and i listened to everything... and i must say that sealed do a great job for even the most bass heavy trance... but bandpass would be best (there is a slight difference if you have an ear for music... ie a musician like me)

[mike3132]

I have an 05 sedan and am having trouble getting from the gromet hole to the inside of the cabin. My coat hanger and fish tape both want to go straight down and then bottom out after about a foot. Any ideas?

[bhouse1587]

how can i mount my box in the trunk i have a 2002 elantra gls its sliding around everywhere and im scared to just make L brackets and screw it in.. any suggestions??