How do I Wire Components w/Factory Stereo

Hey guys. I'm generally pretty handy with car audio stuff but I have some questions about how to wire front components with the factory stereo in my 08 DC. I tried to use the factory wiring because I had the little adapters that allow you to plug into the factory harness and then connect to aftermarket speakers. This worked as planned on the rears but up front I figured I would use the adapters (plugged into the woofer harness) and cut off the connectors so I could connect the wires to the component crossovers. I got everything hooked up fine but got no sound from the speakers.

Apparently, if both the woofer and tweeter are not plugged in you won't get any sound. Of course I didn't have the tweeter wires plugged in because I was only using the woofer plug to connect to the crossover. Obviously, you can't use the woofer and tweeter plugs when using a crossover which only needs one positive and one negative input.

So, my real question is what wires should I use to connect to the crossover. I assume I might have to tap into the stock speaker wire (somewhere before it splits into woofer and tweeter) and run new wire to the crossover. Anyone have any helpful hints on this?

 

pretty sure on those, you need to clip them. cut the oem wires before the "y" to the compents and keep them incase you decide to put the stock stuff in. then like you said, run those to your xover box.
i did this on my 08 and put the stock stuff in just fine when i sold it.

 

Thanks Anthony. Two questions:

1) Where will I find the wires before they "Y"? Will this be right there on the door, down in the kick panel, or at the back of the head unit?

2) Do I need to cut the wires or can I use a wire tap to tap into them?

 

I honestly dont remember exactly but im pretty sure theyre within inches of the speakers themselves and very easy to access. I simply cut mine giving ample room to make a good splice on either end for when i put the stocks in. Id imagine a good splice will be more secure then a tap in.

 

That's basically what I did except with the woofer wires only. Obviously, I need to go a little further back to a spot prior to the split into woofer and tweeter.

Thanks guys.