How to Hook Up a Subwoofer System to a Car's Stock Stereo

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If you want to hype up the audio in your automobile, installing a subwoofer system is the best way to do it. There are different types of systems you can use to bring your car audio to the next level and holing up your car with one is easy enough if you have the proper tools and know-how.

Tools and Materials

  • Subwoofer
  • Subwoofer enclosure
  • Screwdriver
  • Amplifier wiring kit
  • Soldering iron
  • Speaker wire
  • Trim panel removal tool

Step 1: Installing the 12v Power Wire

In your amplifier wiring kit, generally a red in color wire is the longest one, which is the 12v power wire. You need to pass the wire through the firewall. Start from the battery and pass on to the amplifier. However, do not connect the wire to the amplifier or battery yet.

Step 2: Removing the Stock Stereo

Remove the stock car radio from the dashboard of your car. Make sure that you carefully remove the screws that hold the stereo in place ensuring that no wires are cut.

Step 3: Installing the Remote Wire

Once you remove the stock stereo, you will see a blue and white wire, which is basically your remote wire. This wire is located at the back of the stereo deck. Get the remote wire in your wiring kit. Once you splice it, solder this wire to the remote wire of your stock stereo. After this is done, run the remote wire through the dashboard and the door jam.

Step 4: Plugging the RCA plugs

While the stereo is out, plug in the RCA red and white plugs into the Subwoofer Output, which can be found at backside of the deck. Once this is done, you can now run the wires back into the amplifier.

Step 5: Connecting the Subwoofer to the Amplifier

With the speaker wires, connect the subwoofer system wiring to the amplifier. Make sure that you connect the speaker wires to the negative and positive outputs of your car’s amplifier. Route the speaker wires to where the subwoofer is located. If the amplifier is located away from the subwoofer, make sure that you run the wires under the carpeting of the car to keep it out of sight. To do this, take out the door opening’s trim panels from the floor using the trim panel removal tool. Once you are done running the wires, put the trim panels back.

Step 6: Connecting the Speaker Wires to the Subwoofer

You can now connect the speaker wires to the subwoofer. Make sure that the corresponding inputs in the subwoofer are paired correctly -- negative to negative and positive to positive.

Step 7: Connecting the Power Wire to the Battery

Connect the power wire to the battery of your car. Most amplifier wiring kits have ring connectors and new battery terminals. You can use this to provide a more solid connection between the subwoofer, amplifier and the battery.

Step 8: Connect the Battery to the Amplifier

The last thing you need to do is connect the cables of the battery to the amplifier. To do this, clamp the wire down to your car’s battery.

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