POWER AMPLIFIER A - BLACK 12 WAY

pin 1 - 18 BL RIGHT DOOR SPEAKER (-)
pin 2 - 18 BL/BR LEFT DOOR SPEAKER (+)
pin 3 - 18 BL/BR LEFT DOOR SPEAKER (+)
pin 4 - 16 BR GROUND
pin 5 - 18 BL/DG ENABLE SIGNAL TO AMPLIFIER
pin 6 - 18 YL/VT LEFT REAR SPEAKER (+)
pin 7 - 18 YL RIGHT REAR SPEAKER (-)
pin 8 - 18 BL RIGHT DOOR SPEAKER (-)
pin 9 - 18 YL/VT LEFT REAR SPEAKER (+)
pin 10 - 18 YL RIGHT REAR SPEAKER (-)
pin 11 - 16 BR GROUND
pin 12 - ---------------------------------
This is the diagram for the premium stereo, I believe base model is the same. These are unamplified signals for the best sound quality, you don't want to amplify an amplfied signal.
I did my install with a single sub run off a two channel amp. I know the diagram looks weird, and it is, I know why two + and no -? It's German, thats all I can say.
***I do not like scotch locks or butt connectors, however I recommend them for initial layout so you can test to see if your system works without completely hacking your harness.***
1 - Pull back the passenger side carpet where your feet set.
2 - Remove styrofoam block.
3 - Remove the 3 10mm nuts holding the metal bracket (amp.) 1 at the top center, 2 on the bottom left and right.
4 - There are two connectors side-by-side, one 12 pin and one 18 pin. Remove the 12 pin connector.
5 - Attatch your remote wire to pin 5 BL/DG Enable signal to amplifier.
6 - You will now need to create RCA's. You do this by getting theRCA with the RCA end on one side, and two open wires on the other.
7 - Take your Left and Right channel RCA - and connect it to pin 10 Right rear speacker negative.
8 - Take your Left and Right Channel RCA + and connect it to pin 9 Left rear speaker positive.
9 - Run your wires to your amp, There is a body ground just below the right rear quarter window that I recommend for a ground.
10 - Now refer to above where I stated I ran a 4 channel amp to one sub. The way that the factory head unit is set up, it seems that they bridged the headunit before they got to the amp. So I had to run my speaker wire from Left channel + to the positive terminal on the sub, and Right channel positive to the - terminal on the sub.

I know two +, but I scratched my head for an hour on this, because I wasn't getting sound untill I hooked it up like this. It sounds great even with the crappy box I have.
I hope this helps, and if there any questions feel free to ask.

Shawn

 

I dont care for my stereo system that much. But have to keep it for original condition of course. Is it possible to purchase a good systems and install it in the back. And have a remote control. I was thinking of this and placing the speakers on the top of the divider behind the seats? What do you think. Would it work? Would it sound good, or just mess up the value of the car?

 

Anything will work with the right ammount of money, and "space." Without going through a huge what I think article, I would say upgrade the origional speakers, add an aftermarket head unit. If you are concerned about resale, just keep the factory head unit and swap them.

 

Do yourself a favor and read the "biggest stereo bang for the buck" thread and do the mod. You won't be disapointed!

 

Understood, but this is for people who want to keep the stock look, and add a sub. I agree with adding bass filters also.

 

You will now need to create RCA's. You do this by getting theRCA with the RCA end on one side, and two open wires on the other.

by this do you mean that there is a specific cable to get or do i just need to cut the ends of one side of a length of rca wires

 

bump bump..

 

Sorry I though I replied to your question... There are specific cables you can buy that are split on one end and RCA's on the other end.

 

i've been to several shops around here radio shack, car stereo shops, best buy, etc and i have not seen any wires like that

by the way thanks for the quick response

 

Try cutting a set of regular rca wires, that aren't twisted together. I say wires because the wire you are going to splice off of are only 18awg.

 

To add an amp to the factory system, the best place to get the signal is from the radio, not the amp. It will be a lower voltage output, which will be better for the amp.

Heres a better solution, but I have not reied it with our radio. The crossfire radio actually used Blaupunkt plugs on the back. Go to a blaupunkt dealer and ask them for the RCA out connector for a blaupunkt radio, and plug it in. I had a base model radio, and i know that the factory system was not using this plug, but I don't know if it is working on the factory radio. If the plug is being used, reference the blaupunkt connector for the pins to use to solder a set of RCA's to the REAR outputs. If none of this will work, buy a high-low converter to conver speaker level to low level RCA for an amp to use.

 

This harness is before the amp, just on the amp side so its easier to get to

 

This is all you need.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VAL0R-HI-LO-CONV...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Yes, the high-low converter will work, but they do degrade the sound quality some. You are better off buying an active powered unit rather than a standard high-low converter. This is a cheap solution, and you get what you pay for.

 

well i just installed my amp/subs using this method, I took my sweet time doing everything(2-3 hours total) but if I'd of stayed right with it it would have only taken around an 1-1 1/2 hours.

i was a skeptic that this would work but so far no problems, im gonna go test it out later and run some freq tests to make sure everythings fine

p.s. shawnkey thanks for the great write-up

 

You should be fine, with low frequency of subs in the 40hz range, distortion isn't heard unless your really have a crappy amp and speakers. Adjust the gain so you have max clarity with your highs and then bring in the lows to blend in. It should sound pretty sweet. Have you put the capacitors on your mid door speakers? When you do, you will get more clarity at a higher volume allowing to adjust your bass even more. Boom Boom!!

 

Glad it worked out for you. Enjoy the tunes

 

So bringing this back from the dead...just tried an install using this method, and ran into a snag... Ground is good, Remote is good, power is good, so my amp will turn on with no problem... BUT:

Whenever I plug EITHER rca jack into EITHER port of the amp, the amp turns itself off. I had to cut a set of non-spiral RCA's...I know I used the correct wires on the Amp harness, but here are my thoughts.

I'm only running a 2-channel amp, so I ran the black RCA end to pin 10 and the red RCA to pin 9...Just cut and stripped, but when I stripped the RCA there were actually 2 wires, a smaller one inside...I stripped that as well and sliced them all together...wrong way to cut a set of RCA's maybe?

 

Yup, thats the wrong way to cut the RCA's. The RCA uses 2 wires for each channel, a + and a -. depending on the type of RCA you are using, the wires will be configured in one of a few ways. For a car, you should be using twisted pair RCA's. This means that the 2 conducters are twisted down the whole legnth of the RCA. When you strip the outer layer, you will be left with 2 wires. They will be insulated by different color insulation, and there are a lot of different combinations used. Commonly, black is usually negative, red is always positive, white will be the other of the 2. There are many RCA cables that will have a + center conducter and the - will be all around the + one. DO NOT use shielded RCA's. They are great at blocking RF interference (in a home) but are an antenna to electro-magnetic interference (in a car). I can't remember the pin-out of the crossfire radio, but if there is a left + and -, and a right + and -, connect them respectivly. If there is only a left +, a right +, and a common ground, connect the 2 - from the RCA cables to the ground.

The reason your amp is turning off is because it is going into protection mode when you plug in the RCA. The amp sees a short in the RCA input, so it turns it self off to prevent damage to anything.

 

hey i did this installation also and i am getting a hum from the subs. I got a ground loop isolator and when i plug it in i get no sound out of the subs. do you have any idea why.