2020 Key Amp and Hideaway Installation Complete

I’m not even sure I’d want them to remove it. They use crimp caps instead of butt connectors which is the biggest sign of laziness. You can fix their mess easy enough

 

Yeah, I’d say cut your loss. If that’s what they did when they were getting paid, what kind of hatchet job do you think they’ll do when they aren’t?

 

@destin_meeks, the manual for the Kicker Key amp suggests keeping the ground wire to a length of 2 feet or under. How critical is this? And if it isn’t critical, I’d like to ground the amp behind the driver’s side kick panel, but I’m not sure which bolt behind it is the best place for a ground.

 

It’s not critical at all AS LONG AS your extension is large enough wire. You typically want to keep all wire runs as short as possible, but you also want the install as clean and serviceable as possible.

 

@destin_meeks, here are a few pics of the area where I would like to have my ground. Is there a bolt in either pic that would be suitable?

I am using 12 gauge wire included in the Crutchfield kit that you recommended earlier in the thread.

 

This bolt is a factory ground. If you ever see a bunch of white/black wires, that is Toyotas color for ground wires.



I believe there is one behind the head unit as well

 

@destin_meeks, will a 12 gauge ground wire, ran to that ground bolt location inside the driver’s kick panel, be ok?

 

I ran the same 12g ground and power for mine. I just used the passenger kick panel ground instead of the driver. My driver kick panel ground bolt has my remote start ground on it

 

@Integerdy, thanks for the reply. I think I will semi-mimic your install and use the grounding point at the driver’s kick panel. I’ll then run it upward to meet the positive coming through the firewall grommet and then run both wires together over and behind the head unit.

 

ya my power comes in through driver side grommet closest to battery, and my ground comes from passenger kick panel. All tucked up high and tight, out of sight. I keep the microphone hooked up too. I ran the microphone down right side of the dash and through a tiny hole/gap near the air filter inside the glove box. So I have access to it anytime I want.

 

Hey Dustin I talked to the shop and he said the sub has to wired in on the output side or there would be nothing coming from it, can u just write me a dm or reply saying what this guys needs to do to fix this

 

gosh that guy is an idiot

With the hideaway tapped into the Key's output, all of the EQ the key is doing is affecting the signal being sent to the sub. You dont want that.
Tapping the hideaway on the input side means it gets its signal directly from the radio without any eq affecting it. how on earth does he think the sub wouldn't get a signal on the same wires the key is getting a signal from...

the fact that he doesnt get that is mind-blowing to me. thats like install 101

He doesn't need to do anything to fix it. he needs to give you your parts and your money back and I can tell you what to do to fix it. he already cut your factory harness in half after you literally have him the part he needed to NOT do that

 

This guy wants advice on how to do his job? Get it wired back to factory yourself or from them, and definately get your money back. The fact they cut your factory wiring is so negligent. They took 0 time to research anything.

 

I got the Kicker Key amp fully installed today.

Due to user error, it took me 3 times with the test tones to successfully set it up. The first time I didn’t have the volume set high enough. The 2nd time the mic fell off the top of the headrest. The 3rd time proved to be the charm.

When buttoned up, the amp fits comfortably underneath the head unit.

A huge thanks to @destin_meeks and @Integerdy with providing their help, patience, and answering all my questions. It is greatly appreciated.

 

Further extend my thanks to Destin for getting me across that finish line when I installed mine. Glad I can help in some way to pay it forward

 

Where did you install, behind the HU or somewhere else?

 

It will drop in right underneath the head unit.

 

Can someone tell me if I'm on the right path? I have the Alpine version of the Kicker Key, I've been reading through 3 threads about this. But there is so much information and it's so widely spread. I have a 2023 with the 8" entune hu. I bought the redwolf harness and I'm hoping this is the correct orientation. Blue wires remain unused, yellow and black on the speaker side harness are power and ground respectively, and I have a power kit that will go to the battery and a chassis ground. Other than that, connect colors directly to their counterparts on the other side of the splice (grey to grey, grey/black to grey/black, etc). I'm about to start soldering these, so please let me know if I'm using the wrong harness or my setup seems off.

 

Yep, match the colors and you’re all set.

you may want to consider extending the input side a bit. Those wires are super short and it will be a struggle to get that power pack in there

 

Alright, I can do that. Thank you!