Where to run wire from the trunk?

[LookAtThatSHO]

I'm installing 2 subwoofers in a box in the trunk. I'm trying to figure out the best route to run the 12V wire up to the battery and the remote wire and RCA cables that will go to the back of the aftermarket receiver. Anyone have any suggestions considering the back seat does not fold down? One thing I'm thinking is taking off the bench seat part and running everything under that then in to the side panels that run along the floor on each side. And then running the 12V cable through the firewall. Would anyone know where there is a hole in the firewall to gain access in to the engine bay? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

-Mike

 

[SuperHO]

I usually run my 12v source under the car alongside the fuel lines on the passenger side. That keeps it out of the cabin and keeps me from having to find a hole in the firewall.

 

[LookAtThatSHO]

I usually run my 12v source under the car alongside the fuel lines on the passenger side. That keeps it out of the cabin and keeps me from having to find a hole in the firewall.

That doesn't seem like a bad idea, except they do sometimes salt the road up here in NY and considering it's still snowing on occasion. I'd worry the wire would somehow get chewed and bare wire would be exposed and short the system. Anyone run theirs under the back seat? I'm wondering if I have to take off the bench seat to get under there...

 

[cmz829]

you can run it thru the top of the back seat in the left corner or right corner i have did it without removing the seat but it is alot easier if you remove it

 

[SuperHO]

They use salt here in Michigan, too. Since I put my first system in a SHO back in 2002, i've always run the power wire under the car. I've never once had a problem with corrosion or anything. Just make sure everything's good and zip-tied securely, and you'll be fine.

 

[spazmoid]

if you pop off the back seat bottom you can send the cables right through from the trunk, in the bottom corners. They'll snake right through. I ran my power cable down the drivers side and through the firewall at a grommet a little above the brake pedal and the audio cables are goin down the passenger side. You want to keep the power and sound cables on different sides of the car to avoid interference. And just take the side sill covers off to run the cables under them.

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

if you pop off the back seat bottom you can send the cables right through from the trunk, in the bottom corners. They'll snake right through. I ran my power cable down the drivers side and through the firewall at a grommet a little above the brake pedal and the audio cables are goin down the passenger side. You want to keep the power and sound cables on different sides of the car to avoid interference. And just take the side sill covers off to run the cables under them.

I've never installed a stereo in a SHO but have in many other cars. This is always the route I take...

 

[kurtis adum]

just move your battery to the trunk, IMO

 

[jthod]

if you pop off the back seat bottom you can send the cables right through from the trunk, in the bottom corners. They'll snake right through. I ran my power cable down the drivers side and through the firewall at a grommet a little above the brake pedal and the audio cables are goin down the passenger side. You want to keep the power and sound cables on different sides of the car to avoid interference. And just take the side sill covers off to run the cables under them.

X2,X2,X2. I also just ran the wire by the side of the seat, I didn't even have to take it off or losen it. I also found a grommet with a wire running through it with enough room for the power wire also. I don't remember where, but I think it was right by the speedo cable. And make sure those cables a run on separate sides, unless you like a little white noise with your tunes.

 

[shocar]

Just wired my son's 92 for an amp and subwoofer set up I had the seat out already and the center console. I ran the power cable in through the speedometer hole in the fire wall and then under the carpet so it pop upped around the the shifter, then to the rear bracket for bolting the console, under the carpet from there to the under the back seat insulation material. From there, have some one reach down at the base of the back seat from inside the trunk and pull the wires through. Make sure to run all the wires at the same time. I had 4 to run from the trunk to the stereo head unit plus the power wire.

 

[LookAtThatSHO]

Thanks for everyones' input! I finally got the system installed yesterday with some help from my dad. He actually removed the bottom part of the back seat, which exposed a big enough spot in the corner of the trunk to run the wires through. I ended up running all of the wires down the passenger side and can hear a little winding noise the more I accelerate on the gas. This may be in part because all of the wires and the wiring harness are quite jammed behind the receiver. Not a big deal though, for now at least... Also, I ended up running the 12V wire up to the front passenger door and directly through the area where the door closes and in to the engine bay to the battery. The wire does not seem to crimp at all when the door shuts, but the wire is most definitely exposed. I will have to see about maybe running the wire down the driver's side and through the hole in the firewall above the brake pedal, as other members have mentioned in this post. Something else I did that I didn't do in my white SHO, is position the subs so that they are pointing AWAY from the back seat. WOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! :woohoo:

Thanks again everyone!
Mike

 

[kurtis adum]

the noise as stated by a few people is caused by running your main power wire and ur rca wires on the same side. i would run the power wire seperate then the rest

 

[SuperHO]

Have at least a foot of clearance between the power wire and the signal wire (RCAs) to get rid of that noise. Also check your ground, make sure it's less than 3ft (preferably less than 18") and make sure it's a metal-to-metal contact with no paint on it.

 

[ManySHOs]

I would also encase the power wire in plastic loom no matter where you run it. It's a good idea to encase the RCA stuff as well.

I used to run my power from the battery, through the firewall (between the heater core connections), into the cabin and down the passenger side (under the carpet). With the battery in the trunk and the absence of a power antenna, I now run it between the fender liner and the fender (zip tied into place), through the hole where the antenna cables used to be, and straight back to the trunk. I prefer to have my power cable inside of the car instead of outside, especially with the fuel lines on that side. It's completely encased in plastic loom and is probably the shortest and most direct route you can run power cable on an SHO. With the battery in the trunk, I upgraded from 4 gauge to 2 gauge cable everywhere. This includes all + and - battery connections, grounds and the run between the starter and the fusebox.

Ian

 

[ryan95shomtx]

i ran mine underneath the car, no problems with salt and what not its tucked in there pretty good, then i found a spot with a rubber stopper in the hole in my truck and ran the wire through there, took me 20 minutes to run the wire if that.... works well no leaks either she is tight!

 

[Pro*banshee]

i ran mine underneath the car, no problems with salt and what not its tucked in there pretty good, then i found a spot with a rubber stopper in the hole in my truck and ran the wire through there, took me 20 minutes to run the wire if that.... works well no leaks either she is tight!

I did the same thing! I cut a little slit in that plug and ran my big 0 gauge wire through that and attached it to the battery back there

Drain plugs FTW

 

[93rev2sev]

Power: Under the back seat, passenger side...running along the rocker under the carpet. Signal wires are run under the back seat, also, but towards the center of the car...yes, I've temporarily removed the passenger seat to gain access to the floor under the seat. It only takes about 10 minutes and allows for shorter cable to be used.