Car Stereos: where to run wires, self tapping screw, rca cables

Question
hi there...i have a 99 dodge stratus and i am trying to figure out where to run my power wire through the fire wall...also where to run the rca cables to run from the deck to the amp which is in the trunk. can you help me?

Answer
Hi Tyler,

Running the RCA cables from the head unit to the rear is fairly easy.  You'll want to remove the bottom part of the rear seat; you should be able to unsnap it by pulling up on the front edge of the seat.  

I've always found it easiest to run the RCA cables from the rear to the front.  From the mounting location in the trunk, you can slip the cables under the rear seat back and to one side of the car or the other.  There is a plastic "sill" panel along the bottom of each door opening; you can sometimes just push the RCA cable under the edge of the sill panel so that it's hidden.  Otherwise, you should be able to pull the panels right off, so that you can push the RCA cable under the edge of the carpet along the side of the car.  At the front, you can either tuck the cable under the front edge of the carpet, and up to the back of the head unit; or you can route it up behind the  kick panel, and run it under the glove box or the driver's side dash to the radio cavity (securing it with cable ties).

The power cable can be run from the trunk to the front in the same way, but getting it through the firewall can be tricky.  If you inspect the firewall, you'll usually see a large rubber grommet where the main vehicle wiring harness runs through.  Often you can punch a hole in the grommet (taking care not to damage any of the stock wiring) and run your power wire through.  If there's no large grommet, though, you may need to find an open spot on the firewall and drill a hole.  Check carefully to make sure you have clearance on both sides of the firewall, then make a small hole from the inside with a self-tapping screw.  (This is safer than using a drill bit, because the screw won't penetrate as far once it's through the firewall metal).  If you can find the hole on the other side, and it's clear of obstructions, then you can enlarge the hole using a "step bit" (also known as a uni-bit).  Make sure you use a bushing or grommet in the hole to protect the wire from the sharp metal edges.

Hope this helps!

Brian