Powered woofer install w/ pics n instructions

[chrisspaulding]

.
I bought everything (audio) from Crutchfield.com because they rock!
* 30 day satisfaction guarantee
* Free shipping to me and back (if I return the products)
* Free tech support for every question I have


WHAT YOU'LL NEED (and what I used)


Powered subwoofer: Alpine PLT-5 LAT



Wiring kit: EFX Amplifier Wiring Kit



Car: 2008 Prius Touring Package 6 w/nav w/JBL



* A few rolls of automotive wire. I chose black 16 gauge


* Some wire taps (get a bunch and practice)
((( DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE I DID. MATCH YOUR TAP GAUGE AND WIRE GAUGE! )))
When my taps didn't work I was so excited [and my battery was unplugged already] I just said F-it, spliced my speaker wires old school and capped them with a wire nuts till I can get back and redo them with heat shrink.



* And whatever tools you use for wiring stuff.



WHAT TO DO FIRST

* Get your components/tools ready

I chose to tap (well, splice) into my Pri's rear speaker wires, so I did not have to use all these parts - since I didn't even touch my JBL amp.
I only used the power cable(dark blue), ground cable(gray), remote(black phone cord), and the sub's wiring plug
(all four plug wires on the sub were conveniently labeled right+ right- left+ left-
--make sure to screw in your power cable fuse if your's uses one. In my kit it fit inside the clear plastic housing on the power cord near the eye connector.


*Disconnect the negative terminal from your 12v battery
(this should be the 1st thing then last thing you do for this install)
p.s. your battery is hiding in the right-rear-bottom of your cargo area


* Hook the thick dark blue power cable to the positive terminal
(it won't fit over the terminal. I tried! LOL Unscrew the bolt on the positive terminal then hook the power cable eye there)

* Hook your gray ground cable to a bolt nearby
(make sure it has direct contact to car metal - no paint in between)

* Strip the other ends of these two cables (power and ground) and screw them into the powered sub.

* Now, on the inside of your car - between the front and rear seats, on the sides, pull off (unsnap) the interior plastic trim.
(that's where the rear speaker wires are!! - they pass through that rubbery conduit between the door and the columns)

Toyota was nice enough to tape the two you need together within the bundle of all the other wires, but even if you don't see that, just keep to the colors you need. If there are two of the same color either one is fine.

The 2008 Prius w/ nav w/JBL wire colors you want are:

left rear + = black
left rear - = yellow

right rear + = red
right rear - = white




* Tap (or splice) these wires so you can run a wire back to your powered sub



((( I know, it's ugly. Like I said, my taps were too small. The store was closed. I was too excited/far into the project to quit, so I used some wire nuts I had in the garage and spliced mine! I'll go back and heat shrink these to look/hold way better )))

* Hide your wires, run two from each side (the positive and negative) and connect them to the sub's wire harness ends, snap the interior plastic trim pieces back on and that's it!

Remember, if yours comes with a remote dial, run that from the sub, along the side (under the trim) up front to your seat so you can adjust the powered sub's output. The dial is very helpful!

*Oh yeah... Reconnect the negative battery terminal

ALL DONE!



Funny story.
Half way through, with my battery disconnected, I shut my hatch door.
Had no idea it was electric only to open (figured there was a latch or key hole). That made for a cramped rest of the project.

I installed mine in the spare tire well - made it BOOM more in there!



BACK TO NORMAL




EVERYTHING PUT BACK
(I used my cargo bin on top as a handy collector for my goodies - since it wouldn't fit underneath anymore due to the sub's height)


BOOM BOOM BOOM and out of site!

took about 6 hours because I didn't know what the heck I was doing!!!

.

[MacDude]

Thanks for the write up.

So, no spare? I hope you have AAA.

[chrisspaulding]

Originally Posted by MacDude

Thanks for the write up.

So, no spare? I hope you have AAA.

I do, and fix a flat!

[LOVL1TE]

Chris - Thank you for the detailed write up and pictures. I have yet to modify the stock sound system and gave up a nice upgrade in my ‘old’ car including a sealed 12” JL Audio sub with a ridiculous amp. I could control the volume and crossover from the front and the difference with the sub on or off cannot be described in words. I can see thinking giving up your spare tire is a bit extreme, but the tradeoff can be much more than worth it for those like me who have been known to sweat blood listening to music that has the power to blow minds.

EnjoyJ

[chrisspaulding]

Originally Posted by LOVL1TE

Chris - Thank you for the detailed write up and pictures. I have yet to modify the stock sound system and gave up a nice upgrade in my ‘old’ car including a sealed 12” JL Audio sub with a ridiculous amp. I could control the volume and crossover from the front and the difference with the sub on or off cannot be described in words. I can see thinking giving up your spare tire is a bit extreme, but the tradeoff can be much more than worth it for those like me who have been known to sweat blood listening to music that has the power to blow minds.

EnjoyJ

your welcome.
It's for the people like me who are audio first timers and like pictures!

"sweat blood listening to music" - nice!
I love to feel the bass, like when it makes my head/hair vibrate.

Rocking out to Pure Octane (Sirius channel 20) with my powered sub in the car is da bomb! But I'm nice and turn it down in residential areas.
.

[b11101100]

Originally Posted by chrisspaulding

I do, and fix a flat!

I recommend anyone considering the use of fix a flat for their Prius to do a search here about it first. There are many threads about damage to the tire pressure sensors when fix a flat was used.

The owner's manual states:
"To avoid damaging the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters Do not use liquid sealants on flat tires."

[chrisspaulding]

Originally Posted by b11101100

I recommend anyone considering the use of fix a flat for their Prius to do a search here about it first. There are many threads about damage to the tire pressure sensors when fix a flat was used.

The owner's manual states:
"To avoid damaging the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters Do not use liquid sealants on flat tires."

crud, didn't think of that. Guess I better get those patch plugs instead!

Thanks for the heads up.
.

[abra]

nice pics

have you tackled the oem speakers?

im working on a box to insert in the tray, sub firing into the spare tire area.

todate
kicker 350.4 amp
dimond D6 in doors

inboxes
kicker 400.1
D6 10 sub

[chrisspaulding]

Originally Posted by abra

nice pics

have you tackled the oem speakers?

im working on a box to insert in the tray, sub firing into the spare tire area.

todate
kicker 350.4 amp
dimond D6 in doors

inboxes
kicker 400.1
D6 10 sub

That should look/sound cool! Make sure to post pics.

No, haven't tackled the oem speakers. Guess I'm too inexperienced to tell they suck(as a lot of people say), because to me it sounds good!
Ignorance is bliss? LOL

[bayareakirk]

Great write up. Thanks.

I wonder how it sounds?

Also, did you try putting the sub behind the seat to see how it fits. I'm considering this sub and it looks like it might fit up against the back seat nicely?