Drift Motion Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 So I put together a system myself, pretty much a noob when it come to audio stuff. Kenwood HU Rockford Fosgate Mono-Channel Amp (300W RMS) (mounted to the back of the rear seat in the trunk) Rockford Fosgate 12 inch sub (250W RMS) (in an enclosure already) 2005 LGT Limited Sedan 5MT The HU works no problem, just looking for a little more bass, thus I tried adding a simple amp/sub setup My car had some kind of audio from the previous owner, thus power cable, fuse, ground wire, remote, RCA cables were all existent. However, when the previous owner took out the audio stuff, they just left the ground cable chilling under the spare tire. I can't figure out where exactly did they ground the amplifier cable to before, thus I tried searching for my own. I tried using the fuel pump cover bolt(I feel it is kind of scary to use this bolt, only used it for couple of hours). It works, but randomly I won't be able to start my car? No crank, no turn over, no fuel pump priming, no beep, no lights, just one click and the car is completely dead. My battery is kind of old? but a multimeter showed 12.5V. When I take off the amp battery cable, car starts right away. Someone told me that improper grounding can lead to frying the ECU? As of right now the amp/sub system is uninstalled... cliff note: Where is the right place to ground my amplifier so that my car won't randomly not start? Rear strut bolt = good place? Thanks -David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubaruTim Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I drilled a very small hole in the trunk floor and put the ground in between the screw and the washer. Working great for me, no problems and out of sight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drift Motion Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 I really dont want to drill holes into the car :-/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FocuS Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I always used a seat mounting point for my grounds....big bolt that you can torque down on your ring connector for a solid connection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drift Motion Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 arent the seat bolt very big in diameter? where would I find a connector ring that big? i tried going to radio shack, they only have 8 or 10 gauge max, nothing for 4 or 6 gauge... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rakapur Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 arent the seat bolt very big in diameter? where would I find a connector ring that big? i tried going to radio shack, they only have 8 or 10 gauge max, nothing for 4 or 6 gauge... in my 2011 i popped off the tabs holding the carpet on the wall of the trunk i found a bolt i could ground the amp to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FocuS Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I usually use solid copper rings from the welding dept. ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drift Motion Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 I usually use solid copper rings from the welding dept. ... I assume I can find something like that at home depot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAC5.2 Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Or order from SonicElectronix or somewhere online. When I had the amp under the drivers seat in my Forester, I grounded off of the seat bolt. When it was in the trunk of my first and second Legacys, I grounded to the bumper beam bolt through the trunk. No holes drilled in either case. [URL="http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/proper-flip-key-interesti-159894.html"]Flip Key Development Thread[/URL] "Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped." - E. Hubbard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drift Motion Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 that reminds me...i ordered my sub box from them it came with some rips on the carpet...need to get some compensation from them...haa I didn't know you can get to the bumper beam from inside of the trunk without removing the rear bumper cover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FocuS Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I assume I can find something like that at home depot? Indeed... Or a welding supply store if you happen to have one around! As per SonicElectronics...I have had bad luck with them for product support...GL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drift Motion Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 thanks for the tip ill post updates when I get to this stuff... hopefully my car wont randomly not start anymore... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenva Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Rear seat bolt. The one that secures the back not the butt. As for the ring terminal, forget places like Radio Shack or Home Depot. Go to a car stereo installation place. They can supply you with one for a couple bucks. If it's still a little small don't worry, you can make a single cut in it to spread it. RIP 96 Legacy 2.2 4EAT lost reverse @ 374,000 miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monwells Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I grounded my amp to the trunk latch. I had to dremel the paint a little to get a good ground. Never had an issue with my ground this far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drift Motion Posted March 8, 2011 Author Share Posted March 8, 2011 just want to update I grounded the amp to the rear passenger seat as the rear seat cushion is easily removable. Seems like after the proper grounding, I have not experience any problem with the car not starting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subi_snipe223 Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 quick piggyback on your thread: I have an amp in the trunk and I just busted one of my RCA cable pins. How long of an RCA cable do I need to run to the trunk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garbo41610 Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 There is no specific place to ground the amp. I'm surprised at the number of responses of people just using seat bolts etc, and I am assuming not removing paint to bare metal... Find an inconspicuous place under some carpet, sand back the paint to bare metal and secure, you won't have any problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markc0220k Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 remove psg side seat, right at the middle of two front seat-mounts, you'll see a bolt there, it's also for stock h/k amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lardo420 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Every time I have installed an audio system in the trunk I always use one of the bolts that holds the trunk latch down and have never encountered any problems with this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheerio Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Found a bolt some where in ur trunk (assuming that u are mounting it in your trunk) and sand down there area around it. I didnt use anything special, just made the wiring into like a ring shape and place under the bolt and bolted back tightly... let me know if u need pix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dotson78 Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 what about the humming noise. how do i get rid of it? I grounded the amp to the rear passenger seat. put still get the noise. where is should the power wire be ran. my is centered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbl_D718 Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 You can run your wires wherever you want to; down the center is fine. Make sure your ground is to clean, bare metal and not a painted seat bracket. You have to sand the paint off your grounding point. MODS: PW TMIC, Cobb catted DP, HKS cat-back, AVO filter, Bren e-tune; Konis/Epics, Advan RCII Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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