installing subwoofers with stock stereo system

[theradischad]

Hello,

I have a four door 1997 chevy Tahoe and I want to install two subwoofers. They are kicker 10" comps and I already have a box and generic 1000w amp. I have installed this system in a car before but this truck is a little trickier. My main question is where can I get a good output from the stereo to input into the amp? on another note I have found the stock amp, but it is under carpet, do I have to take the seats out to access it?

thanks and I look forward to your responses

 

[SunlitComet]

Use some speaker level input converters and maybe tap into the real lines that enter the external amp under the seat. It is a tight fit but you should be able to get it out after disconnecting plug. Not surprised if you had to trim the carpet back a small bit under there. Oh if factory stereo you will not find line level outputs anywhere on it hence needing adapters.

 

[theradischad]

That's what I was thinking, I was hoping to avoid cutting the carpet. Thanks for the response

 

[livingez_123]

I thought someone made a plug in harness just for that. try here....http://www.caraudioforless.net/serv...lation-Products-cln-Wire-Harnesses/Categories

 

[SunlitComet]

that is what the converter is. since he is using another amp it might just be easier to hook up the to existing amp under the seat and run wire from there as opposed to tearing into the dash and finding room for the converter in there and then snaking the wires from there.

 

[theradischad]

I appreciate the response. I will probably take the input to the amp. Do you know what colors ill be after?

 

[SunlitComet]

Factory amp.

left:
+ = brown
- = yellow

right:
+ = Dark blue
- = Light blue

Hook up your new amp trigger only wire to orange.

In this setup the levels are tapped the same way the under-seat amp already is, off the factory radio outputs instead of the factory amp outputs. And the power that runs the factory amp will trigger the new amp. Still need its own power supply wire tho.

 

[theradischad]

So I cut the carpet under the seat and all I found was an airbag detection unit, no signs of an amp. I have a center console, could it be under there? I bought the converter unit but can not find a place to hook it up to, I'm very lost.

 

[SunlitComet]

Crap you might have had the one where they moved stuff around. The other place to look is up into dash from below on left half side but to the right of steering column. I think in 1997 they swapped locations of the SRS and amplifier.

---------- Post added at 01:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:26 PM ----------

Sorry about that.

 

[theradischad]

No worries, I appreciate any help I receive. I'll look, how big is the amp roughly? Like as big as a deck of cards, paperback novel, textbook, etc. Not go get too off topic; are there any service manuals (online or book) that you recommend?