Where do i run amp wires through the firewall?

[Wrxs4]

I am currently installing a sound system in my b5 S4 and i was wondering if there is any convenient places in the firewall i can run my amp power through. Thanks

[pipemitten]

Yes, and also very simple. You can run it the same place your PCM runs the main harness.
Remove the plastic over your battery, you will have to remove your wiper arms to do so, and open your pcm computer enclosure. REMOVE YOUR NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE!!! Be carefully not to damage any wiring or components. I would even go as far as not using any magnet tip screwdrivers because magnets can f up your pcm hardcore. There is already a good sized openning for the wire harnes to go into your living compartment. Run the power cable through the enclosure and into your car this yeah. Maybe adding a small hole into the rubber grommet where the harness comes out to lead to your engine will help.

[Wrxs4]

Thanks alot, i will check it out tomorrow and see what i can find

[alpinestar180]

just so you know the easiest place for the cable on the other side would be to come out and go under the dash and follow the console back. thats what i did. its easiest to grab the cable if you look back behind the slot that ur owner's manual is in.

[Wrxs4]

Is there a factory amp in this car, or is it built in to the headunit itself? Because if there is then i can just run the power and remote wire to that correct? Thanks

[Cobrakiller08]

Is there a factory amp in this car, or is it built in to the headunit itself? Because if there is then i can just run the power and remote wire to that correct? Thanks

The factory amp is located on the drives side of the car in the trunck on the drives side quarter panel. The amp is separate from the head unit. You need to remove the rear trunk pannel to get to it.. or are you only putting in a amp and box / keeping the factory head unit and speakers?

[NOTORIOUS VR]

I just ran my amp's power wire this weekend. I drilled a hole in the side of the ECM box, and put a proper fitting grommet that seals around the power wire. Easy as pie.

[Wrxs4]

What im going to do is i installed a line out converter into my car on the rear speakers, so i can hook up my rca's now to my amp. Run the power and remote to the factory amp then connect ground and walaa. Well im hoping itll work

[Slave IV]

I've heard some people say they get electrical interference problems when routing on the driver side by the ECU...There is an opening below the pollen filter that many have reported using and that's where I would go. Either way, use good cable that is rated to handle the power of whatever amp you are using.

[danothegrate2]

I ran it through the passenger side of the firewall right where there was a nice gap and custom fabbed it so it looked like it wasn't even there.

[8520]

Depending on how big of an amp you are pushing, you can get away with using the underdash lug on fusebox that is 4gauge directly from the battery.

[CONTROL ONE]

The factory amp is located on the drives side of the car in the trunck on the drives side quarter panel. The amp is separate from the head unit. You need to remove the rear trunk pannel to get to it.. or are you only putting in a amp and box / keeping the factory head unit and speakers?

Are you positive about that? Is it behind the cd changer then?

From the DIY on a4mods I found, they said it was on the passenger side.

[CONTROL ONE]

Depending on how big of an amp you are pushing, you can get away with using the underdash lug on fusebox that is 4gauge directly from the battery.

Which one is this?

I would be running a JBL BP 600.1 amp and 8 gauge wire.

[8520]

Which one is this?

I would be running a JBL BP 600.1 amp and 8 gauge wire.

I can't remember the specific lug, but if you take off the drivers knee panel, it is pretty obvious which one is the 4gauge run as it's the thickest red wire going to the fusebox.

[CONTROL ONE]

I can't remember the specific lug, but if you take off the drivers knee panel, it is pretty obvious which one is the 4gauge run as it's the thickest red wire going to the fusebox.

Would I be safe doing that with an inline fuse for a 600w amp and single 12"?

[8520]

Personally, I don't see a problem with it, and I've been installing for about 5 years. Just make sure you use the fuse that goes inline on your power kit.

It's kind of "cheating" but I've done it on a few cars without issues. Hell, I did it on my c5 before I upgraded that four gauge run to 2 gauge and upgraded my battery ground.

[Slave IV]

You should be OK but I always run my amps directly to the battery with min 4 gauge...

[CONTROL ONE]

Ya, I'll go directly from the battery. I've done it before with the boost gauge / turbo timer anyways.

[B5BiTurboS4]

My friend asked me this too but I dont know why it seems like Im the only guy that found a place that was as if it was made for this...?

If you pull of the cover that is over the batt and the whole space behind the firewall there is a triangle grommet that has no wires running through it but it goes right through to the cabin. Pull it and cut a slit to wrap it around the wire once its fished through. Its like it was made for it and you didnt have to pull the wipers or drill your ecu box or some crazy shit...

The hole is on the drivers side. If you pull the weather stripping that holds that cover down off then you can lift it and see the grommet easy..

Good luck man...

[jibberjive]

I've heard some people say they get electrical interference problems when routing on the driver side by the ECU...

I've heard the same. I'd personally be weary of running the big power wire through there.

There is an opening below the pollen filter that many have reported using and that's where I would go. Either way, use good cable that is rated to handle the power of whatever amp you are using.

I don't know if it is, but if it's the same one I tried on my B6, then that was a complete pain. I tried to fish it through there for hours, then gave up and put it through an unused grommet on the driver's side which came out just above and to the left of the pedal cluster (looking at it from the driver's seat forward).

Are you positive about that? Is it behind the cd changer then?

From the DIY on a4mods I found, they said it was on the passenger side.

a4mods.com is for the B6. I did the install on my B6 a few years ago, however, and I thought that I remember the amp being on the driver's side too. I'm not too sure though, but you drive a B5 anyways, right? I haven't personally done any installing on my B5 yet, but I'm pretty sure it is indeed under or behind the CD changer on the driver's side.

My friend asked me this too but I dont know why it seems like Im the only guy that found a place that was as if it was made for this...?

If you pull of the cover that is over the batt and the whole space behind the firewall there is a triangle grommet that has no wires running through it but it goes right through to the cabin. Pull it and cut a slit to wrap it around the wire once its fished through. Its like it was made for it and you didnt have to pull the wipers or drill your ecu box or some crazy shit...

The hole is on the drivers side. If you pull the weather stripping that holds that cover down off then you can lift it and see the grommet easy..

Good luck man...

I didn't do the install on my B5, but this is likely the same grommet the people who previously did the install used. It looks super simple (and it might be the same grommet that I used on my B6), and when I run my 0ga I'm going to use that same grommet again. This seems like the best place. If my car was around I'd take some pics of it. I might actually be down there over the next couple of days, so I'll try to take some pics if so.

[2ndEngineS4]

. . . there is a triangle grommet that has no wires running through it but it goes right through to the cabin. Pull it and cut a slit to wrap it around the wire once its fished through. Its like it was made for it and you didnt have to pull the wipers or drill your ecu box or some crazy shit...

The hole is on the drivers side. If you pull the weather stripping that holds that cover down off then you can lift it and see the grommet easy..

Ding Ding Ding. Winnar.

Are you positive about that? Is it behind the cd changer then?

From the DIY on a4mods I found, they said it was on the passenger side.

Definitely on the driver's side (in front of) the changer or the bracket, if you don't have a changer.

[Wrxs4]

Well the factory amp wiring is just a massive harness plugged into the amp so throw out me tapping into the power of the factory amp that seems a little risky. I am going to try that triangle grommet

[S4 Dan]

Are you positive about that? Is it behind the cd changer then?

From the DIY on a4mods I found, they said it was on the passenger side.

Posative... Its not behind the cd changer, its closer to the back seat, on the left hand side, it sits at a 45º angle, and its black... one big connector that is brown going into it with roughly 30 wires... cant miss it...

also, op, depending on what size amp wire your running (8gauges is the largest id go with) you can catch it under the dash at the electrical junction box. depends on what size amp, and what style amp(ex. 4 ch, 2 ch, monoblock... im assuming its a 2ch or monoblock). either way, good luck, and make sure you fuse it!

[CONTROL ONE]

Thanks for the clarification. Saves me the disappointment of removing the passenger side first.

I'm still going to go in from the battery (I'm using 8 gauge for a 600w 2ch amp) for the power.

[S4 Dan]

Thanks for the clarification. Saves me the disappointment of removing the passenger side first.

I'm still going to go in from the battery (I'm using 8 gauge for a 600w 2ch amp) for the power.

What is the RMS rating on the amp wattage? 600w is the max rating, but you wont ever hit that... id be willing to bet your RMS rating is around 300 - 400 watts... either way, the post will be fine... but if you want to be extra safe, you can go in through the ECU housing.. just make sure you have some black silicon so it matches and you wont see it, and mainly so it wont let moisture into the ecu and start a whole new set of problems. Also, before you drill, as stupid as it sounds, make sure you dont drill a hole where the wire wont fit after the ecu is reinstalled. good luck

[damnthemansam]

you fools..

this is 4g

[DaveS4]

That's the right one

Belmont NH, or another one? I used to live there as a kid, loved it there :)

[damnthemansam]

That's the right one

Belmont NH, or another one? I used to live there as a kid, loved it there :)

haha damn how many belmonts are there?? im in cali, also been confused with belmont, ma

[B5BiTurboS4]

Ding Ding Ding. Winnar.


Definitely on the driver's side (in front of) the changer or the bracket, if you don't have a changer.

What do I win!!

Seriously guys... This hole looks like Audi put it there for you to run yor power wire to your amp...
I think if I would read German that one of the labels under the hood says this...
haha

That is a good pic. I didnt want to take a pic cause I thought you guys would be able to find it but thanks to that guy for the pic. Those are the heatercore hoses on the left, just to make it clear...

[damnthemansam]

its the hole for the throttle cable before DBW came out

[jibberjive]

Yup, that's the one I was talking about as well.

[jeproks]

If you have not bought wires, I highly recommend getting this kit: Monster® High-Performance 1000 Watt Connection Kit for $24.97 + tax shipped to your nearest RS store. It got everything that you need to do a multi amp install. Even come with speaker wires which was not mentioned on the link.

[CONTROL ONE]

If you have not bought wires, I highly recommend getting this kit: Monster® High-Performance 1000 Watt Connection Kit for $24.97 + tax shipped to your nearest RS store. It got everything that you need to do a multi amp install. Even come with speaker wires which was not mentioned on the link.

That's basically what I bought, but local. Radioshack is all The Source here and the kit is way more money. I got mine for $40.

[CONTROL ONE]

What is the RMS rating on the amp wattage? 600w is the max rating, but you wont ever hit that... id be willing to bet your RMS rating is around 300 - 400 watts... either way, the post will be fine... but if you want to be extra safe, you can go in through the ECU housing.. just make sure you have some black silicon so it matches and you wont see it, and mainly so it wont let moisture into the ecu and start a whole new set of problems. Also, before you drill, as stupid as it sounds, make sure you dont drill a hole where the wire wont fit after the ecu is reinstalled. good luck

Here it is here: http://www.jbl.com/resources/Brands/...nual/bp_om.pdf

I've already done this once for the boost vacuum tube so it should be ok. I'll make sure to silicone it up after.

[jeproks]

That's basically what I bought, but local. Radioshack is all The Source here and the kit is way more money. I got mine for $40.

Ordered it online and RS shipped it for free to their store which I picked up 3 days after I placed the order.

[CONTROL ONE]

Ordered it online and RS shipped it for free to their store which I picked up 3 days after I placed the order.

We don't have RS's here though, we have the source and the closest I can come to that is this: http://www.thesource.ca/estore/Produ...roduct=1219432

[shorterthanrich]

Skip the radioshack kit. You don't want to use smaller wires for your ground.

www.knukonceptz.com and be done with it. Extremely flexible high quality wire, sick prices, fast shipping, good customer service. I've used their stuff on all of my installs since I tried them first 5 years ago.

For your setup, it depends on if you're running @ 2ohms or 4ohms. If it were me, I would go with 4AWG rather than 8. If you're only doing 300W RMS then 8AWG should be alright. If you're doing 600W RMS then you're pushing it. I was doing 1000W RMS with 4AWG and that was pretty much the limit for the length that I had.

It's not much more for 4AWG. Do it once and do it right.

[S4 Dan]

How many subs are you going to run CONTROL ONE? and give me some specs... are they dual voice coil, 2 ohm, or 4 ohm.... how do you plan on running them, in series, or parallel?

[CONTROL ONE]

How many subs are you going to run CONTROL ONE? and give me some specs... are they dual voice coil, 2 ohm, or 4 ohm.... how do you plan on running them, in series, or parallel?

Just 1 sub. 12" Dual voice coil. How I had it setup before was 4 wires from the sub going into two posts on the amp (1 +, 1 -). Not sure what that is considered.

[shorterthanrich]

Just 1 sub. 12" Dual voice coil. How I had it setup before was 4 wires from the sub going into two posts on the amp (1 +, 1 -). Not sure what that is considered.

What ohm DVC? What is the model of the sub.