Sub W/ Factory Headunit Help

[Solorange]

Hey I have a 8" MTX Thunder4000 sub a friend gave me. What are the parts I would need to hook this up to the factory head unit? Any suggestions on amp? Just looking for something cheap that will get the job done. It doesn't have to be extremely powerful. Also whats the best way to wire this?

I did this 10years ago, and I don't remember much. If I remember correctly I hook a power cable from the battery to the amp. A ground wire from the Amp to a metal surface on the car like the body or frame. Then hook speaker wire up from the amp to the sub per the amps instructions. Then run a RCA cable from the amp to the headunit. Is this right?

Thanks for the help!

[PaulR]

Solorange,

You are correct about the installation. There is also a trigger wire that should be wired to the headunit or, if you wanted, to a 12V source that comes on with the ignition. The easiest way to install it is with an amp install kit, which will set you back about $15. Here is an example of an install kit (I have used this kit before, works well, plenty of wire):

http://www.amazon.com/KIT-2-Complete-Ga ... 144&sr=1-1

Do you have an aftermarket headunit? If you don't, it will get a little more complicated. Did you have the JBL system stock?

[Solorange]

I have the factory head unit and it is not the jbl one.

[1gSE]

does the factory radio have RCA outputs?

[Solorange]

I would imagine it doesn't, but I have a spare radio sitting around I can check when I get home.

[enz1ey]

The stock head unit likely will not have RCA outputs, as most do not. However, rather than buying or installing a whole new head unit, the simplest and easiest route to go is to grab this:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=w ... YnBAFp0ZZw

And just splice that with your rear deck speaker inputs, and viola! You now have RCA outputs from your head unit. I've done this a few times for some friends who liked their stock receivers, and it works just fine. It even has separate gain adjustments for each channel. That should solve your problem. Other than that, the basic wiring of the amp is done just as you thought. A decent wiring kit runs about $50, but you may want to get one with an included capacitor to ease the load on your battery. They only run maybe $30 more than the basic kits.