Another "How do I run the Amp wire" thread

[ilz]

Hi all,

Been doing a stack of researching online regarding the best way to run an amp wire from the battery to inside the 9n3 cabin after picking up a JL 12" with box and a JL 4 chan amp that I intend on bridging to drive it.

I've found a stack of guides and can see four ways of doing this:

1, via the ABS grommet under the ECU
2, Vwthunders method - via the front left wing
3, Remove the front wipers and water tray to access grommets
4, go balls out and drill a fresh hole

none of the above mentioned methods are good for me 2 & 3 seem like far too much work and I dont want to have to pull out the glove box and pull of the wipers.. 4 is hardly OEM but with a fresh grommet it could be the best option..

My first preference would be the abs grommet but being a GTI theres far more in the engine compartment from any other polo i've seen a guide for and that grommet is very hard to get to - would I have to remove the air filter to get access to it for starters and if so what about the grommet itself - it seems to be moulded to the cable within the engine bay if I pull it out from the bay side theres no way it will go back in with the other cable i'd most likely have to re silicone the hole around the new cables.. again not an OEM looking job

I guess my question is how did you guys with aftermarket audio gear do it?

[vwthunder]

2, Vwthunders method - via the front left wing

I actually have the battery in the boot now, so i want all out and drilled a nice big hole in the passenger footwell

[ilz]

location & pics??

[noone]

If you feed the wire from the cabin into the engine bay, its not too hard to spot.

I'd remove the airbox regardless, its not much work (unless you have a strut brace, then you should do a pod-in-the-box so its accessible. I have a few trim removal tools if you want to borrow them, makes getting the panels off easier and less likely to damage / loose them.

Whilst you're at it, remove the battery container rubbish, you can get rid of all of it and use a few cable ties to stop things rattling around.

[ilz]

pod-in-the-box? what can of worms am I opening??

[ilz]

also, I take it its advisable to run audio cabling down the other side of the car from the power cabling?

Can anyone that has run both down one side comment on interference noise??

Ive read mixed options some people say its fine and have zero issues.. half the work seems like the better option to me

[noone]

I do AV for a living, IMO its not an issue. If you were going to do a high quality system, I would think more about it, but its just a sub. If you're not too fussy about the cable I can give you some that will do the job.

As for the theory side of things, the audio feed is a shielded design, signal shilded by an grounded cable. The power is DC
If it was domestic 50Hz AC, then you can get a 50Hz hum. interference relates to expanding and colapsing RF fields which again is more relevant with AC.

If you want good bass, make sure the box is rigid and its designed for the speaker, not just some box (esp if ported)

[ilz]

Cheers mate,

Yeah its just a sub, amp and headunit upgrade ATM, I'm hoping it sounds good enough with the 4x50w from the kenwood head unit driving the factory front and rear's but if not I'll be swapping those out asap.

The reason for doing this upgrade is to be able to check my beat mixes on a bass heavy system while commuting so I want to get it sounding solid.

Yes, the box and sub are matched thats the reason i went for this particular one, its a single 12" version of this: Car Audio - Subwoofer Systems - BassWedgeâ„¢ and stuck with a JL amp to keep it all matched

[flat6]

Mate I went through the grommet in the passenger door, so far my setup has worked great, if you like pain, stealth audio installs are for you lol

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f78/polo-gti-9n-stealth-audio-upgrade-guide-stealth-amp-78592.html

[ilz]

I went to a local Installer today.. advise given was "drill it"

[kaanage]

I went to a local Installer today.. advise given was "drill it"

They'd say that 'cos it's quick and easy - they also clip into the harness when they do installs.

Mate I went through the grommet in the passenger door, so far my setup has worked great,

Ditto I found the easiest way was to start in the middle and work from the arch to the engine compartment and to the passenger footwell

[ilz]

Ive been away so I have not finished this, I found a guide on a 9N Polo Group on Facebook, i'm going for the spare bonnet release grommet a guy there has shown me how to do it without taking the wipers off, looks dead easy

[fojumdk]

Windshield is the easiest one thouygh. nm3

Hi all,

Been doing a stack of researching online regarding the best way to run an amp wire from the battery to inside the 9n3 cabin after picking up a JL 12" with box and a JL 4 chan amp that I intend on bridging to drive it.

I've found a stack of guides and can see four ways of doing this:

1, via the ABS grommet under the ECU
2, Vwthunders method - via the front left wing
3, Remove the front wipers and water tray to access grommets
4, go balls out and drill a fresh hole

none of the above mentioned methods are good for me 2 & 3 seem like far too much work and I dont want to have to pull out the glove box and pull of the wipers.. 4 is hardly OEM but with a fresh grommet it could be the best option..

My first preference would be the abs grommet but being a GTI theres far more in the engine compartment from any other polo i've seen a guide for and that grommet is very hard to get to - would I have to remove the air filter to get access to it for starters and if so what about the grommet itself - it seems to be moulded to the cable within the engine bay if I pull it out from the bay side theres no way it will go back in with the other cable i'd most likely have to re silicone the hole around the new cables.. again not an OEM looking job

I guess my question is how did you guys with aftermarket audio gear do it?

Replying to this incase anyone still needs help when they google just like i did.

So you dont have to remove the windshield wiper actually.
My method takes around an hour maybe more or less.


Start by going out in the engine bay and look on the left side. just like on the right side where the hood release cable is, there will be exactly the same entrances on the other side if the car is made for LHD driving.

Start by removing the grommets. its these black rubber things. There will be 2. So look where the release cable is on the right side. Same exact spot on the left side. They should be able to just be pulled out.
Now shine a bright light through that hole.
So here comes the tricky part. on my 9n3 i accidentaly cracked the rain tip so it can be lifted up. Try gently lifting it up without breaking it, or remove the whole windshield wiper thing.
Now you can see all the way in the bottom, that there is one more grommet. Take a long plier and pull it out. It takes a bit of force but it can be done. When that is out you can see through the hole that there is some issolation there blocking the hole.

Now go inside and remove the glove compartment. There is 9 screws that has to be removed. Find a guide on google.

When the glove compartment is removed you can begin searching for the hole.

If you have big hands/fingers this might get hard.

So put your hand under all the issolation on the wall up at the top. You can guide yourself by looking outside at where the hole is and then it is the exact spot inside. Put your hand under the issolation stuff and feel around. it is a little tight here.
You should be able to find the hole near the top.

Now you can just put the cable in your hand and carefully try to wiggle your hand back there again and feed the cable.

(That might take 30 min)

Now you got the cable trough. Take your pliers outside again and shine a light through the outer grommet where you frist took out the grommet plug.
You should be able to see your cable and now you can take your pliers and pull it through.

You can cut the rubber grommet to size so you can fit it over the cable so its sealed.


This process took me around 1-2 hours, as its first time im trying.