Subwoofer Wiring Question

I currently have the stock subwoofer that comes with the 2011 TRD OR and would like to replace it. I am looking at a Kicker sub and was wondering if I can use the existing wiring from the stock sub for the new sub? ANY help is appreciated.. I am not a very skilled electrician. lol

 

Bump. Anybody?

 

Maybe try posting in the audio/video forum, might have better luck.

 

I dont believe the stock amp will push a real sub. You can run the wires to the new one but would better off buying a new amp also.

 

Disclaimer:I haven't touched a car stereo beyond a new head unit in years, but have installed many systems in the past. I also don't know what the factory wiring looks with the factory sub, but my first question is will you be upgrading the amp also or trying to run off whatever existing one is there? Are you, or have you upgraded to a better head unit with a sub woofer RCA output? (doubt the factory one has it) Back in my day (I sound old) to do it "right" you needed aftermarket head unit, preferred with an RCA output specific for a Sub. Then id run a minimum 4GA fused wire from the battery to the amp (with a CAP in line), beefed up 4ga ground to the chassis, RCA cable from the head unit to the amp. Then your normal speaker wire from the amp to the sub.. I wouldn't have tried to use any factory wiring.. If your just simply replacing one sub for another, then in theory I don't see why you couldn't used the factory stuff, but that's assuming the factory amp can even handle the new sub in terms of power output. Factory stuff has come a long way since the mid 00's when I messed with this stuff.

 

I sort of went the other way b/c I didn't want to have to run new speaker wires from behind the back seat to the doors or to the sub. I have the JBL system, and replaced the door speakers, and added anew amp to run the new door speakers and the factory sub. I cut the speaker wires coming out of the factory amp, spliced new wire onto that, and ran that over to the new amp.

You can use the existing speaker wire that goes to the sub, but I don't know that using the stock amp with an aftermarket sub is going to help much. If the stock amp doesn't have enough power for the new sub, it's not going to sound any better/louder, and may sound worse.

 

Unless you are running serious amperage to your amp (as in, lights dimming, 1000+ Watts) a capacitor isn't needed. It won't hurt (unless you short it or touch the contacts, even with the truck off, the cap will store energy even when you turn the truck off), but isn't needed. You absolutely want a fuse inline with the 12V power cable, placed as close to the battery as possible.

 

Yeah again this was back 10-15 years ago, even my old JL 500X1 used to dim my lights bad, I'm sure newer amps run more efficiently, I always used to run them just to help take the hit but you are correct on a lower power system its not needed.

 

A line out converter after the factory amp to a mono amp, to a replacement sub. That’s what I am probably going to end up with myself.

 

Thank guys! I think I will just not use the factory wiring. I do have one question still though and that is can I hook my new wiring up to my stereo without replacing the head unit?

 

Short answer is no. What I said above is really the easiest way to put a bigger amp on the sub and still maintain the mids and highs.

 

My truck is an access cab that came with the biggest piece of crap stock subwoofer ever. Does this change anything about the wiring to the head unit?

 

Unless I have missed something along the way, that is not a stock sub..... for the record I don’t know what that is lol.

 

No, it's stock. hahahahah It only came in some of the AC.

 

I’m going to go ahead and stop giving advice because I know nothing about this, good luck!

 

Ok you may not be able to answer this but it is worth a try... Why can't you wire an aftermarket subwoofer to the stock head unit?

 

After looking it up you are correct. Still the easiest way since it was a power sub would be to use the inputs to it, to a line out converter, to a mono amp, to a new sub.

 

Ok do you think you could put that in a little bit of simpler terms. I am just a teenager looking for some good bass.Thank you for all of your help.

 

Lol, ok, I’ll do my best. Your sub that you have has the amp built in. It uses “standard” speaker signal on a pair of wires to get its signal. If you want a new sub, you will need a converter to make it rca outputs to plug into an amp that will power a new sub, in a new box obviously. You might be able to sell your current sub to offset some of the cost.

 

I am not really worried about cost I just want to add a sub the easiest way possible. If I have to wire a completely new one I will. The only thing I am worried about is wiring the remote wire to the head unit and not having it fit. So you are saying that I could use the pre-exsiting wiring then? Thanks so much for putting up with me!