Has anyone here installed an amp/sub themselves and would be willing to write up a little DIY guide? I've done it on my last car, but don't want to go at it blind with the TL. I'm tempted to take it into a shop unless I can find something on here. Things I'm looking for are pics and/or descriptions of:

• Where you ran your power wire through the firewall and how you ran it back to the trunk
• Where you tapped into the signal (I'm hoping to be able to control the sub from the sub control in the HU)
• How you ran those wires back to the trunk.
• Tips and tricks on panel/seat removal to make that easier
• Any special equipment you used. My last HU had RCAs, so all I have are power wires and RCA cables. What else do I need? (taps, line converters, etc)

A step by step DIY guide would be awesome if someone feels like writing one up I'd be eternally grateful.

 

.. Anyone? I'm picking up my 05 TL this weekend and am interested in the same. I have read other posts about people being unhappy with the sound quality when they tapped into the factory sub's signal. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

 

1. i did the install but didnt run it thru the firewall, instead, i ran it thru the fender into the car...the wire is electrical taped to make sure no moisture gets into it. i have had no problems with it for almost a year now.

2. i tapped the signal from the factory amp(the amplified signal from the factory), or you can just tap the wires in the back where the stock sub is. they are the same exact wire, i did it in the front because there was room for the hi-low converter.

3. i ran those wires through the side panels, they pop off fairly easy, they are all clips. but first make sure the weather stripping is off. once i got into the back seat, i sneaked the wires thru whereever i could and i let my friend in the trunk stick his hand in there and find it.

4. i did not remove the seats, but if you want to, there are 5 bolts(i think), 2 near the headrest, 2 on the bottom corner of the seat, and one on the passenger side near armrest. search and you should find out.

5. get a regular amp wiring kit, then go out and buy a hi-low converter, it converts the factory signal into a RCA connector. they should be less than 50 dollars.

hope this helps,
Cliff

 

Cliff,

Thanks for the response. Not sure if I understand you correctly. How did you run the power through the fender? Would you be able to take some pics?

Also -- you tapped into the amplified signal (output from amp)? Is this better to do than tapping into the pre-amplified signal (input to the amp)? I understand if you tapped into the amplified signal it would be the same as tapping into the wire at the stock sub-woofer, but I had read some other threads where people were stating the sound quality from doing it this way was not up to par.

How easily accessible is the amp? I've read it's under the passengers seat but am wondering how I'm going to be able to get good access to it to see wire colors, etc.

What did you tap the remote wire into?

Thanks again!

Shawn

 

Cliff, thanks man! That is a big help. But I did have a few questions as well.

1) I'm also confused about running the power through the fender. I'm guessing you ran the wire from the engine bay to the fender, but how does it go from there to inside of the car? If you could take some pics that would be awesome.

2) It also seems to me that you are double amplifying the signal, which can produce poor audio quality.

3) Where did you tap your remote lead to? And how did you tap the wires? Just standard Y-taps from the hardware store that splice into one wire? Is that a good enough connection?

I think to access the amp under the seat, we're going to have to unbolt the seat and rock it backwards. I did that on my RSX and it was only 4 bolts...not too bad.