Kicker Hideaway 8

Hey everyone,

As many other threads, I am currently working on installing a kicker hs8 on a 2021 non jbl OR.

I’m trying to discern if I have a bad unit, or if I’m just wonky.

Any help would be appreciated. I’ve combed threads and threads to learn and find info out and have reached no positive results.


Kicker mounted under driver side seat.

-Power to battery. Re checked fuses with meter, etc all good.
-not using remote line because I’m splicing directly in (though I got desperate and even tried this method with no success)
-white/ WB to left driver kicker panel, followed @destin_meeks thread on which lines to splice into. (Just to make sure tested them and confirmed they were front left) did the same to front right. (I initially tried splicing into rears).
-ground to multiple different ground points to ensure we were rocking with it.


So the issue. I’m getting power, turns on, turns off. All the good stuff. But no output. I’ve traced wires, I’ve switched polarity, I’ve tried fading.... everything. But nothing. At one point I ran all to just my left side inputs and had a little bit of feedback. Tried all sorts of different settings and so forth and only get an occasional rebound of bass when I’m turning the gain up and down but nothing else.

to me it is screaming bad product.... at least I hope that I haven’t gone the past three days just completely off my rocker and wired it wrong.

if you guys have any tips or pointers please let me know.

as of right now I’m looking at returning and relaxing the Unit. But maybe you guys have a better idea or some Hail Mary for me to try?


Thanks

K



UPDATE

returned unit and got a new one. Quickly tied into my old connections and wallah. Works great! Thank you everyone for your help and comments

finished:

 

Re check your wiring. Why not just run a amp, box/sub, I get the reasoning behind the powered sub idea, but you’d be happier with a traditional system.

Welcome to TW!

 

Auto turn on set to 12v or dc?

Auto turn on with out blue remote wire used should be set to DC

 

It is on DC

 

I am starting to realize this

 

Set it to 12v and feed 12v+ to the blue remote on wire, just to test it turns on and stays on. Play music if you get sound, the dc setting without the blue remote on is not working.

 

Stays on and turns on. No Bass


Thank you

 

Get a spare speaker and hook it to the speaker inputs. Verify that you have signal to both. If you have signal, and the unit is turning on, it's possible you have a bad unit.


Edit: you do have it set to Line In?

 

In between a move right now and don't have that ability at this very moment. However, after doing some more empirical testingI still haven't been able to resolve the issue.

The harness that comes with the Hideaway only has the speaker wires +/-, ground, pos, and a remote turn on.

 

Have you not reached out to Kicker? They do have pretty good customer service.

 

My edit was referring to this switch. If you are using speaker level in, then the switch needs to be set 'HI'. If you are using RCA then it needs to be set to 'LO'.

 

Thank you,

yes set it on hi. And tried lo even.

 

I plan to tomorrow.

I’m thinking maybe something funky with the ‘21s?

 

Back in the cd walkmen/ ipod /mp3 player age i would use a 'line in to rca' adapter to test amps on a bench.

Just play song on device and run the line to the amp. The amp would have 12v+ power and grond w a jumper wire from the 12v+ to the remote turn on.

Sime way to test amp input.

 

I have the same set up. The only thing I can think of is your wiring, especially to your speakers. If you're 100% that's all good, then I'd say you have a defective unit

 

how is your wiring (do you have it spliced behind the head unit? Or by the kicker panel?) and how are the settings set up on the unit if you don’t mind, what year taco?

I was able to switch it out real quick at my local Best Buy. If I have time I’ll try and set it up tonight.

Thank you to everyone who has replied so far

 

I'm hoping your problem was solved and if you have any install tips please share. If I get some free time this weekend, I'm hoping to install my hideaway. I talked to customer service at crutchfield before I ordered my sub and was told the only thing I would need for install were wire connectors that tap into the lead wire.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_669PP605/Posi-Products-Wire-Connectors.html

I see you mounted yours under the seat. Any specific reason why you chose under the seat as opposed to behind the back seat? Just curious because I don't have a plan yet. LOL

 

I am not a fan of t-tapping or scotchlock connectors. I have seen so many failures caused from them.

When I 'tapped' into the wires for sub input, I went behind the head unit and made a jumper harness that plugged into the back of the deck and then plugged into the factory harness. In the harness, I used butt connectors and heat shrink for the connections.

 

Appreciate your comment!

The problem was solved when I replaced the hideaway. I was scratching my head thinking everything (the limited knowledge of) I knew of electrical.

once that was done I quickly tied into my old connections and immediately saw the difference.


When I realized I was good to go I actually soldered my connections together, heat shrink etc etc. tied in left to left and right to right.

I mounted it under the driver seat mainly for the massage feature hideaway forgets to mention , but in reality just because I wanted it to be easy access there with a shorter run. Not to mention I may be removing my back seats to build a platform. I already had conduit running pretty close to my drivers seat anyways because of my center console switch panel I installed so essentially... just an easier run. I definitely love the hideaway so far. It’s pretty great, ran the bass knob to that same switch panel and it’s pretty solid. I think it’s perfect for the amount of bass if you want just that little umph. But that’s it. Definitely switching our for some kicker door speakers.

Reach out if you need any help or anything!

 

Initially I felt weird about doing this.... after nothing was working I said “IT MUST BE THOSE DAMN T TAPS” hence why I spent the time to solder and do everything that route