Subwoofer

Last Updated on Saturday, 23 January 2010 22:42 Written by Rob Wednesday, 04 February 2009 17:00

**This was written before the DVD head unit was installed...**

Lets start with removing the stereo trim. Take a small flat blade screwdriver and *gently* put it in between the bezel and the dash. You should be able to loosen the bezel and pop it off. Reach in behind it and pull the quick-disconnects for the climate control and hazzard/airbag warning light.

Now the factory head unit. 4 screws will allow it to come straight out. It’s stock, and like most stock units, it has no RCA outputs.  I needed to get signal to the amp somehow. I bought a Scosche FAI-3A. It’s a “Speaker Level Converter Amplifier Interface” In the pictures it’s the blue box connected to the line outs from the headunit.

In the instructions it has a configuration that allows to add an amp as a High to Low converter- Signal Tap Method for adding subwoofers.  You basically tap into the existing wiring. I did it all without cutting any factory wiring- just used a female tap (blue) and the yellow male taps and followed the instructions.You only need the speaker wires- they are italicized and bold below. The rest is just a bonus.

2005 Dodge Magnum Car Stereo Wiring Diagram

Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Gray/Light Green
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12v+ Wire: The radio harness does not provide a switched power source. Run a wire to the fusebox for switched power.
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black/Light Green
Car Radio Illumination Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Amp Trigger Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Amplifier Location: N/A
Car Audio Front Speakers Size: N/A
Car Audio Front Speakers Location: N/A
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Gray/Violet
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Gray/Yellow
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Dark Green/Violet
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Dark Green/Yellow
Car Audio Rear Speakers Size: N/A
Car Audio Rear Speakers Location: N/A
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Dark Green/Tan
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Dark Green/Gray
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Dark Green/Brown
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Yellow/Gray

2: Put it all back in. Tuck it all in nice and neat and don’t be sloppy. After the front end work was done, my RCA cables were laid to the back of the car. I ran them under the dash down to the emergency brake. Then remove the door jam trim and lay the cable below it. The trip is also held in with clips, and it should just pop off. Run the RCA to the back. You can tuck the RCA under the "B" pillar trim (pretty easy) then remove the kick panel trim from the rear passenger door kick trim area. (sorry, lost for words). Run it up neatly to the back seat, and head to the amp. You should not see any RCA anywhere.

3: Add the Amp. My amp isn’t fancy, or expensive, but I’ve had it for a few years and I bought it brand new so I know it hasn’t been trashed and abused. It’s not super powerful (340) but it actually works really well. Later on, this will go in the Envoy when I get a 1000 watt unit in here someday. But for now, this is it. Just make your cabling neat and don’t be sloppy.

The blue remote lead can go as you see it in the photo. It’s a switched source for I believe the cigarette plug in the trunk. You'll see IGN stamped in the plastic next to it. The positive is, well, the positive. It's attached here in the photo on top of the lead that goes to the battery. And the same for the negative, it's bolted to the factory negative post on the body frame. I used some loom to neaten it all up.

I chose to use the Pioneer TS-SWX310. I read the online reviews and shopped around. I wanted something that hit hard, but I still need the trunk space in the back of the Dodge. I bought it and have to say- it’s very impressive. It hits HARD and does well handling the lows. You can see some details on it here.

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