1997 Civic Cx Amp Setup, I Need Help
 

hey guys i just setup my sub and amp today i have everything set, i need to know a few things, i cant find a spot to ground because the ring terminal on my ground cable can only fit 8mm or 10mm screws, so idk what to do there, and i have no idea if my amps turning on, i got a Pioneer GM-5500T and theres no lights, so i got no clue if my remote wire is hooked up to a proper spot, i know about this blue cable with a white line i connected it to that and i got nothing, could that have to do with the ground or is it the wrong cable, help would be appreciated

Re: 1997 Civic Cx Amp Setup, I Need Help
 

Remove the back seat and put your ground there. I believe I used a seat belt bolt. You may have to re crimp a larger ring terminal on the end to get it to fit. Once you have a proper ground then you can start troubleshooting why it may not be coming on. Do you have a volt meter? The remote wire should be hooked up to a 12v source when the key is turned to acc.

Re: 1997 Civic Cx Amp Setup, I Need Help
 

that sound possible to do i found that spot on the seatbelt bolt and i was about to put it on but it was to big for the terminal, ill try to get a larger one do you know where i can get one, im on ontario canada

Re: 1997 Civic Cx Amp Setup, I Need Help
 

also when you say acc what colour is that wire, cuz the cable im connected to says remote antena so idk if thats the right one, i believe i saw a acc and it was red, would i be correct?

Re: 1997 Civic Cx Amp Setup, I Need Help
 

Any auto parts or hardware store will have larger ring terminals. Make sure you sand down the metal under the seatbelt bolt so that you get a nice ground. You can cut a small slit in the ring terminal and then take pliers and widen it if you need too (redneck way) but it is ideal to get a new terminal.

Is the remote/antenna wire part of your radio harness? Some radios have a blue remote wire that is used to power up an amp. That wire that you are using might be meant for an external remote hookup or to power an antenna. **If you use this wire it is possible to power your amp but when you switch to a cd it may cut the 12V signal to this wire which would shut your amp down. If it can be used for an amp then it shouldn't shut off.

What I meant by acc was the position of your key. You want to find a wire that gives you 12V when you turn your key to position 1 (acc). If there is a acc wire on your radio harness it may be possible to tap into that.

Re: 1997 Civic Cx Amp Setup, I Need Help
 

there is a acc spot that hast been tapped into i could use that mabey, i dont have one of those meters but for grounding could i just make my own spot like use a self tap in screw and just do it from there

Re: 1997 Civic Cx Amp Setup, I Need Help
 

also i remeber the first time that i started the car it shot the cd out of the tray, idk if that has anything to do with it

Re: 1997 Civic Cx Amp Setup, I Need Help
 

Yes you can make your own grounding spot with a self tapping sheet metal screw. It might be difficult to get through with a large enough screw to fit your terminal.

It really helps to have a meter or a test light so you can see what the voltage is doing. It could be possible to tap into that acc wire but you want to make sure it only comes on when the key is turned on (so your amp doesn't stay on all the time). Since it is labeled acc it generally means that it will come on when the key is turned.

What kind of head unit do you have (brand and model)? Do you remember what color the remote/antenna wire was that you are using?

Not sure why it spit the CD out. Might tell you in owners manual.

Re: 1997 Civic Cx Amp Setup, I Need Help
 

i just grounded it to a good spot in the trunk, now coming from the head unit theres a blue and white cabel that is labeled power antenna, besides that theres nothing coming from the head unit thats blue

Re: 1997 Civic Cx Amp Setup, I Need Help
 

Ok, since you don't have a meter you can try that wire and see if it turns the amp on. Most likely it will turn the amp on when you have the radio selected but when you put in a cd it will turn the amp off. You can either try that wire, see if the amp works with the radio then put a cd in and see if the amp shuts off (if it doesn't turn off with a cd in then your done). Or tap into the acc wire that goes to the radio harness. This wire should be controlled with the key. So it will only show 12V when the key is in the ignition and turned to position 1 or when the car is running.

What color does the wire labeled acc go to on the factory harness?

Re: 1997 Civic Cx Amp Setup, I Need Help
 

yo man i did what u said with the grounding, i tested that "remote antena" wire coming from my head unit and it worked now thanks alot, the bass is droppin in my neighborhood

Re: 1997 Civic Cx Amp Setup, I Need Help
 

Cool! Glad to hear its working. Everyone should have great bass.

Does it work with a CD?