98 Outback - Amp wiring questions

[torxxx]

I've ran amps/stereo wiring in several EA82 wagons, but never in a EJ series body. I'm trying to avoid extra work (like pulling the inner fender on the drivers side to run the wiring next to the main wiring harness) and drilling holes in the firewall

 

How are you guys running your main power wire back from the engine bay? I saw a rubber plug in the firewall from the engine bay, but it appears to be behind the clutch pedal assembly under the dash.

 

Im sure someone's done one and found an easier way of running 2 gauge wire to the back of the car?

[CoupedUpSubie]

When I bought my impreza there was wiring for an amp and subs in it. It was run through the rubber plug you found and then down the drivers side under the plastic trim. The trim and everything comes out pretty easy.

[Fairtax4me]

I ran a few wires through the unused port of the rubber/silicone plug for the fuel lines in the upper corner of the firewall behind the strut tower. Very tight to get to. I managed to fit an x-acto knife in there and cut an X through the open one, and then wiggled my 4awg wire through from the inside after spraying it all with silicone. Also have an 8awg wire running through the same hole right alongside the 4awg now.

 

There are many hundreds of innuendos that could be used to describe trying to get that second wire through there. :-p

[nipper]

I ran mine through the firewall gromit for the gas pedal cable if I remeber correctly, I will have to look.

[torxxx]

yah, The more I look, I think I'm going to be drilling a hole. Using 2 gauge wire, and I'm thinking of putting a big D battery in the back so my amp has something to draw off of, other than my main Battery. So using an hole thats already got something through it rules it out.

 

I'll figure some way to get the cable to the back. Too bad they dont leave those nice spare wire holes like the old EA82 body styles.

[eulogious]

Just take the fender off and do it right. It only took me like 30 min total to run 0awg into the car. You don't have to take the whole fender off, you can get it done while keeping some of the bolts on, so it's not THAT bad.

 

Or use the methond fairtax used. That's the one I use for running smaller wires. But anything bigger than 8awg, I just run through the fender, I find it just easier to do it that way.

[crazyman03]

I ran mine through the grommet behind the petals and ran it along the door jams. Just pull the trim out, and run it under the carpet. no zip-ties needed it just sits there. put the carpet back and the trim and voila! you cant see it and it only took me ~5 minutes per door to do it.

 

before i bought mine, the previous owner had 2x 12's and 1500w. on zero gauge.. I ran it the same way. No pictures of her install though, but here's my little-bitty amp/sub

 

 

 

 

 

-Justin

Edited August 2, 2012 by crazyman03

[torxxx]

I ended up getting 2 gauge through the hole by the clutch master cylinder. Ran it down the tunnel between the carpet and the insulation pad. Good god, I must be getting old or something. That job seemed 10x harder than running the wires in my 86 wagon. But then again the 86 has 0 computers in it and you can squeeze 2 gauge up between the plastic and the seat lol.

 

Got my 1600 watt mono amp and a 12 in a Obcon box. Doesnt sound as good as the 86 did with the same amp/sub/ I think its time to upgrade the deck. Only one I could find in my storage was an old Kenwood from 2001. Didnt even had sub outputs off the back of the deck. Too much distortion @ high decibels, I'm thinking the deck starts to distort since it doesnt have a tuneable Sub output

[Fairtax4me]

Hi level inputs are bad for clean high power sound. Even with a mono amp and low-pass x-over, you really need that pre-amp RCA output for good sound from a sub. The higher the output voltage the better. Also helps to have a good quality head unit. A bottom end JVC or Dual is just going to sound like crap.