Hi guys, first post on the forum.

I own a 2002 Ford Focus MK1 hatchback and I have just purchased a subwoofer with a built in amplifier.

Now, I know how to wire this in, however I do not know the best (easiest) way to route this. I know the power and remote cable go on the left (closest to the battery) with the RCA cables on the otherside, but which panels do I remove, etc without stripping the car naked and probably not drilling it?

Cheers for any input,

Grumps

Hi Rob and welcome to the forum,

If your looking to purchase some 8AWG Amp power supply cables i have some brand new for sale:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171491081930?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

These threads may help regarding routing the cables:

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/43874-amplifier-wiring/

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/50263-running-power-for-a-sub-focus-mk1/

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/32629-installing-an-amp-advice-needed/

Hope they help mate,

If it was a mk2 i could instruct you personally however I've not been near a mk1 to know the layout,

See my profile page for guide on front & rear footwell lighting

Additional boot light and illuminated ignition ring light installation.

Hi welcome :)

Thanks for the reply lads. I managed to route the sub today.

I routed the power cable along the left-hand side of the car. I fed the cable down from the engine bay, then after removing the wheel and arch lining, (to route it under) punched a hole through the lowest blank grommet (the one that sits where the door closes) and into the cab like that. I also had to remove the glove box so I could stick my fingers (tee hee) right in there to grab the cable. Then routed it under the trim panels and then into the boot.

The ground cable is more of a pain in the !Removed!. There isn't anywhere that I can see to screw it near the rear seats so I screwed it under the boot latch trim panel. I may have to move it because I want the sub to face the tail not towards the seat. If I want to position it that way, the power cable may need extending (just the case of buying a foot of 12 gauge cable and connecting the two ends with a male and female connector). With the sub facing the rear seat as it is now, the connection panel faces to the left of the car so turning it around could be a pain in the !Removed!.

Thanks for the reply lads. I managed to route the sub today.

I routed the power cable along the left-hand side of the car. I fed the cable down from the engine bay, then after removing the wheel and arch lining, (to route it under) punched a hole through the lowest blank grommet (the one that sits where the door closes) and into the cab like that. I also had to remove the glove box so I could stick my fingers (tee hee) right in there to grab the cable. Then routed it under the trim panels and then into the boot.

The ground cable is more of a pain in the !Removed!. There isn't anywhere that I can see to screw it near the rear seats so I screwed it under the boot latch trim panel. I may have to move it because I want the sub to face the tail not towards the seat. If I want to position it that way, the power cable may need extending (just the case of buying a foot of 12 gauge cable and connecting the two ends with a male and female connector). With the sub facing the rear seat as it is now, the connection panel faces to the left of the car so turning it around could be a pain in the !Removed!.

Just a case of extending them mate,

Once you have the connections well insulated should be fine,

Have a look at the hinge bolts for the rear seat,

If you have to get a bigger ring terminal for the earth in order for it to fit the bolt its easier than extending,

If you have to get a bigger ring terminal for the earth in order for it to fit the bolt its easier than extending,

That's a thought. A trip to Maplin sounds like a plan. However it's the power cable being too short not the ground. I'd like to keep the ground as short as possible. Changing the ring connector on the earth sounds logical as it's stupidly small.

What's the best way to anchor the sub so it won't move when I thrash the car 'round a corner steer the car? There are literally no hooks that I can see in a Mk1 boot!

That's a thought. A trip to Maplin sounds like a plan. However it's the power cable being too short not the ground. I'd like to keep the ground as short as possible. Changing the ring connector on the earth sounds logical as it's stupidly small.

What's the best way to anchor the sub so it won't move when I thrash the car 'round a corner steer the car? There are literally no hooks that I can see in a Mk1 boot!

Ive got three ideas for that,

1.

Fit some big magnet 6x9's to the parcel shelf,

They will hang low either side of the sub box like these in my first car sub bocx wont slide,

2.

You could try lots of velcro on the underside of the sub box to grip the carpet,

3.

Fit a sheet of mdf under the carpet,

Then drill two screws half way down in to the mdf through the carpet,

So the screws sit raised preventing the sub box from sliding,

Cosmetically there the only three i can think of mate,

I'd like to keep the ground as short as possible.

That can be a mistake. (And, I didn't say is, but can be.) If there is any voltage difference between earth at the back of the car and earth where the HU connects (and there will be), this can be seen as noise on the input to the amplifier. Then, it comes down to the frequency spectrum of that noise, any attenuation on the input (to what extent you are using high level inputs) and the response of the sub at the frequencies in question.

So, once you;ve got it hooked up, have a listen and see if any strange noises (ignition/injection, alternator, switching on and off, eg, the heated rear window, etc) are making their way through to the acoustic output. If not, you are good to go, if so, you've got a bit more to do.

The 'electrically correct' place to connect is as a start ground, to the same place that the HU gets its ground, but there may well be other places that work, depending on how critical you are and the characteristics of the various bits in your system.