When upgrading a Saturn audio system, there are three areas of immediate concern: the stereo deck, the speakers and the amplifier. The stereo deck and speakers require changes in hardware at a fixed location. To upgrade the amplifier (or add one) requires wiring procedures that take careful attention. Saturn owners can opt for an installation by a technician at an aftermarket retailer, or you can perform the installation yourself and save the cost of labor.
Disconnect the negative battery cable (or grounding cable) from the Saturn's battery. The grounding cable is the black cable that connects the battery to the frame or chassis of the Saturn. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the clamp holding the grounding wire to the negative battery lead.
Connect the amplifier's ring terminal to the positive lead of the battery. Remove the fuse from the ring terminal before connecting to the battery.
Drill an opening from the engine compartment to the interior cabin of the Saturn.
Drill an opening from the stereo dock to the passenger side floor area.
Mount the amplifier in the trunk of the Saturn. You can also choose to stow the amp under a seat.
Remove the panels that hold the carpeting to the bottoms of the door openings. Use a trim removal tool to pry the plastic strips from the Saturn.
Run the power cable on the left side of the Saturn, from the opening in the front, all the way to the rear.
Drill holes on either sides of the cabin to the trunk compartment. Place rubber grommets in the holes to protect the wiring.
Run the signal cable from the opening to the stereo deck to the opening at the trunk.
Remove the stereo from the dock. Using a trim pry tool, remove the dash panel around the stereo. Unscrew the four Phillips-head screws that secure the stereo in its dock. Pull the stereo out just far enough to reach the connections in the rear.
Connect the signal cable and the amplifier "turn on" lead to the stereo. Feed the wires through the opening created at the stereo dock site and insert them into the appropriate outlets.
Place the "turn on" lead wires and the signal cables along the Saturn beneath the carpeting and connect them to the amplifier mounted in the trunk.
Place the power wire from the engine compartment near the battery, through the firewall at the created opening, along the length of the Saturn, and into the trunk through the created opening.
Connect the power wire to the amplifier.
Reattach the carpeting to the interior floor of the Saturn. Lay the carpeting and fasten the plastic panels at the door openings. Replacing the panels can be done by hand with a moderate amount of force.
Replace the stereo in its dock. Screw the four screws in to secure the deck. Replace the trim paneling by hand.
Insert the fuse into the amplifier's ring terminal.
Reattach the grounding cable to the Saturn's battery. Place the clamp around the negative lead, then tighten the screw with a Phillips-head screwdriver. The clamp will be tight enough when the clamp cannot be moved around the negative lead by hand.
