haganwalker
New member
Hey everyone, I know that this issue has been talked about before and that ARK_SWAMP_RIDER has a post on how he changed his sub and added an amp, but I haven't found anyone that did the setup quite like I did. Also, I am new to the forums and wanted to contribute the best way I knew how, so I grabbed the bull by the horns and did this.
Whereas ARK_SWAMP_RIDER had to put his amp under the passenger seat, mine is hidden under the rear panel with the sub, which I like a whole lot more because you don't have to worry about people kicking your amp when they are in the back seat, etc. I also used a KICKER Comp 8 subwoofer because KICKER seems to be a well-known and good brand around these parts, and that little 8 inch sub has some surprising sound. (and it was only $50.00 off eBay with free shipping)
Removing the rear plastic to get to the sub is somewhat of a pain. Don't be afraid to pull the plastic, but make sure that you have found all of the hidden screws that need to be unscrewed (including the seat belt buckle on the right rear seat. I ran my positive battery wire straight from the battery through the firewall and under the door panels to the back seat, then under the carpet under the rear seats to the passenger side, where it connects to the amp itself. everything else needed is located in that area, which makes it extremely easy because extra wires do not need to be run. I used the wires that the existing sub plugged into and connected them to the high speaker inputs on my amp. green and black are left I believe and red and yellow wires are right. Don't quote me on that. For the ground, I undid a screw that held the JBL preexisting amp into place and wound the wire around that. The remote wire was the hardest part, as I ran it under the carpet to the center console. The end product was a satisfying sound of bass, but everything looks factory. I lost absolutely no space in the car, and I don't have to worry about someone getting dirty feet on my amp or spilling a drink on it because it is totally discrete and out of the way.
The amp I used was one from my first setup in my old 1998 4Runner...a Fusion 300 watt peak amp...nothing great, but with 150 watts RMS, it was enough to power the 8" KICKER and was small enough to fit in the rear panel also (it is placed upside down, because that is how it fit best). Take a look at the pictures, the amp fits UNDER where the factory NAV DVD thingy goes, so even if you have that, this setup should still work for you. If you have any questions, let me know. Overall I am completely pleased. My remote for my amp stays almost at a minimum, just enough to accompany some songs with some bass...something my JBL sub sucked at, but not enough to be overpowering....turning the remote up all the way will shake my rear-view mirror and people can hear (feel the bass) as i'm coming down the road. I am super pleased with this setup and love that everything is discrete and out of the way. I hope it helps!
Whereas ARK_SWAMP_RIDER had to put his amp under the passenger seat, mine is hidden under the rear panel with the sub, which I like a whole lot more because you don't have to worry about people kicking your amp when they are in the back seat, etc. I also used a KICKER Comp 8 subwoofer because KICKER seems to be a well-known and good brand around these parts, and that little 8 inch sub has some surprising sound. (and it was only $50.00 off eBay with free shipping)
Removing the rear plastic to get to the sub is somewhat of a pain. Don't be afraid to pull the plastic, but make sure that you have found all of the hidden screws that need to be unscrewed (including the seat belt buckle on the right rear seat. I ran my positive battery wire straight from the battery through the firewall and under the door panels to the back seat, then under the carpet under the rear seats to the passenger side, where it connects to the amp itself. everything else needed is located in that area, which makes it extremely easy because extra wires do not need to be run. I used the wires that the existing sub plugged into and connected them to the high speaker inputs on my amp. green and black are left I believe and red and yellow wires are right. Don't quote me on that. For the ground, I undid a screw that held the JBL preexisting amp into place and wound the wire around that. The remote wire was the hardest part, as I ran it under the carpet to the center console. The end product was a satisfying sound of bass, but everything looks factory. I lost absolutely no space in the car, and I don't have to worry about someone getting dirty feet on my amp or spilling a drink on it because it is totally discrete and out of the way.
The amp I used was one from my first setup in my old 1998 4Runner...a Fusion 300 watt peak amp...nothing great, but with 150 watts RMS, it was enough to power the 8" KICKER and was small enough to fit in the rear panel also (it is placed upside down, because that is how it fit best). Take a look at the pictures, the amp fits UNDER where the factory NAV DVD thingy goes, so even if you have that, this setup should still work for you. If you have any questions, let me know. Overall I am completely pleased. My remote for my amp stays almost at a minimum, just enough to accompany some songs with some bass...something my JBL sub sucked at, but not enough to be overpowering....turning the remote up all the way will shake my rear-view mirror and people can hear (feel the bass) as i'm coming down the road. I am super pleased with this setup and love that everything is discrete and out of the way. I hope it helps!
