QuestionWanted to know how and what do you need to hook up a amp 1000watt and speakers 12" to my 2004 pt Chrysler cruiser i wanted to keep the factory stereo but do not know how to hook the speakers up to the stereo. We also bought a output converter to hook up but can't figure out how to hook it up.
Thank you Teresa
AnswerHi Teresa,
The main obstacle in connecting an amplifier to a factory audio system is the lack of RCA pre-outs on the back of the factory head unit. You can get around this by using a line-out converter, or an amplifier with high-level inputs. In either case, you'd make connections to the factory speaker wiring.
In your vehicle, the easiest way to install an output converter is to connect it at the back of the factory radio. You can find all your speaker wires there.
Most line-output converters come with four wires for connecting to the factory speaker wiring, and sometimes also include one or two "ground" wires. In most cases, you don't need to connect the ground wires to anything; just tape them off and don't use them. The other wires will connect to a left and right speaker pair, so you'll be connecting to the left positive wire, left negative wire, right positive wire, and right negative wire. (You can use the front or rear wires; it doesn't really matter which).
Here's the professional way to make the speaker wire connections:
Start by removing about 1/2" of the insulation on the factory speaker wire, without cutting the wire. I have a special pair of wire strippers that do this very easily; they retail for about $15-$20 at most hardware stores. Without them, you'll probably just have to use a sharp penknife. Once the insulation is removed, poke a hole in the exposed wire with a pick. Strip away about 1" of the insulation from the end of the wire on the line-output converter, push it through the hole, and wrap it tightly around the factory wire so that you have a good connection. It doesn't hurt to solder the connection, but it's not strictly necessary. Finally, wrap the connection with good quality electrical tape, and secure it with a small cable tie. (I can't stress enough: don't use cheap electrical tape. It will eventually fall off. The professional standard tape is 3M Super 33+).
The less professional, but easier way to make connections to factory speaker wire is to use a type of connector called a Scotchlok. These are available at hardware stores, and allow you to make a connection to a wire without stripping away the insulation. However, it's a bulkier and less reliable connection than the method above.
Here's what I have listed for your vehicle's speaker wires:
Front left (+): dark green
Front left (-): brown/dark blue
Front right(+): violet
Front right(-): dark blue/red
Rear left (+): brown/yellow
Rear left (-): brown/light blue
Rear right (+): dark blue/white
Rear right (-): dark blue/black
Page 1 of this document (PDF) includes instructions for removing the factory radio from your PT Cruiser:
http://documents.victorytechnologies.com//documents/product/933.pdf
Hope this helps!
Brian
