Factory Kicker Subwoofer Help

[NSBcruiser]

Picked up a factory kicker sub from a buddy the other day! He put a huge system in his 2011 WRX, and hooked me up with it, real cheap.

Anyway, the stereo shop that put it in for him hacked up the original, so I am in search for a harness for it.

I have a 2010 WRX sedan with the factory 6-disk HU, SWC, and media hub. I think all I need is a 20-pin T-harness, the sub harness, some wire, and I can recreate a "factory" sub harness.

Anyone know where I can acquire these?

Thanks for the help guys.

[CSVT_2004]

Originally Posted by NSBcruiser

Picked up a factory kicker sub from a buddy the other day! He put a huge system in his 2011 WRX, and hooked me up with it, real cheap.

Anyway, the stereo shop that put it in for him hacked up the original, so I am in search for a harness for it.

I have a 2010 WRX sedan with the factory 6-disk HU, SWC, and media hub. I think all I need is a 20-pin T-harness, the sub harness, some wire, and I can recreate a "factory" sub harness.

Anyone know where I can acquire these?

Thanks for the help guys.

Order the factory and reverse factory plug from an aftermarket retailer/online, build T harness. Seems to be the easiest way to do it.

[SVXdc]

A 20-pin T-harness for Subaru's under-seat subs won't work -- the Kicker sub uses a different pin-out for the 8-pin plug (in particular, the power and ground leads are on different pins). Plus, the harnesses for under-seat subs are way too short.

The OEM harness for the Kicker sub has high-pass filters for all of the speaker lines going out to the door speakers. Do you still have any of that wiring, or did your friend not give you any part of the original harness?

Read through this thread:

New 2011 11" Trunk Mounted Subwoofer

The best way to go would be to see if Subaru sells the Kicker harness as a replacement part. Check the many online Subaru parts vendors for better prices than your local dealer (or even ask your dealer if they'll match an online price with shipping -- some will).

If you want to roll your own harness, see my homepage (click on my username). Harnesses from anywhere else will be missing several crucial wires you need for your OEM radio (dimmer, SWCs, CAN bus).

BTW, have you looked inside the Kicker's amp module?

[NSBcruiser]

Originally Posted by SVXdc

BTW, have you looked inside the Kicker's amp module?

I did take the entire sub box (painted fiberglass and sealed) and amp apart. The amp is a mono 100 watt unit, it doesn't have any adjustably (gain...), which stinks, but I think the HU will control the amount of bass, b/c it has that high pass filter on the wire harness. It's just a aluminum box with a circuit board, very basic. There is a constant 12V, ground, and two sets of speaker wire going to it, they are the same color as the front speakers. Also from the amp there is a black and gray wire that goes to the "+" and "-" terminals of the sub through a sealed port on the back of the box.

I can get some pictures if you want. It's still apart, b/c I plan on painting the speaker mounting trim red to match the car's other red accents.

[SVXdc]

Originally Posted by NSBcruiser

I can get some pictures if you want.

Yes, please do -- both front and back. Also pics of the harness, especially the filter block (I know it's covered in heat-shrink, but that will still give people a better idea of what gets installed behind the HU).

Is the long section of the wires shielded, or is there just a vinyl sheath (like for the under-seat subs)?

Thanks for getting the part number. The online vendors have it a bit cheaper. For example, SubaruGenuineParts shows:

List Price: $123.07
Your Price: $90.08 [plus $9.01 UPS ground to the continental US]

ShopSubaruParts has it for $87.13 (plus $11.94 shipping).

I suggest picking one that is closer to you, to shorten the shipping time. Most are in WA, but several are in the NE US. And remember to ask your local dealer if they'll match the online shipped price.

[NSBcruiser]

I'll take some pictures this weekend of the box, sub, and amp. I'm going to order a wire harness soon and will post pictures of it when it comes in.

[NSBcruiser]

Originally Posted by SVXdc

The online vendors have it a bit cheaper. For example, SubaruGenuineParts shows:

List Price: $123.07
Your Price: $90.08 [plus $9.01 UPS ground to the continental US]

ShopSubaruParts has it for $87.13 (plus $11.94 shipping).

Have you ordered things from these vendors before (ie: are they trustworthy)?

[NSBcruiser]

Update:

Talked with my local Subaru place, they couldn't find a replacement harness for the sub.

So I called Kicker and they do have the harness along with all the replacement parts, but Subaru will not let them sell individual parts from the kit. But Kicker did have the part number that Subaru uses. Called five Subaru dealerships in upstate NY and the cheapest I've found it for was $129.00.

'08-'11 Sedan w/o NAV

Part#: H630SFG130

I got the sub for next to nothing, so I figure $129.00 is a great deal a genuine Subaru accessory that retails for a MSRP of $499.99. Would have liked to make my own harness, but the factory harness has the correct high pass filter in-line, is plug and play, and up to Subaru's quality standards (most likely better than I would have made).

I wasn't ever planning on getting subs for the car, but when a good deal on a factory upgrade part comes along it's hard to say no. Especially since I just installed Subaru's media hub and new poke 6 1/2" component front door speakers and poke 6 1/2" rear door speakers.

[Liquid_IQ]

Originally Posted by NSBcruiser

Update:

Talked with my local Subaru place, they couldn't find a replacement harness for the sub.

So I called Kicker and they do have the harness along with all the replacement parts, but Subaru will not let them sell individual parts from the kit. But Kicker did have the part number that Subaru uses. Called five Subaru dealerships in upstate NY and the cheapest I've found it for was $129.00.

'08-'11 Sedan w/o NAV

Part#: H630SFG130

I got the sub for next to nothing, so I figure $129.00 is a great deal a genuine Subaru accessory that retails for a MSRP of $499.99. Would have liked to make my own harness, but the factory harness has the correct high pass filter in-line, is plug and play, and up to Subaru's quality standards (most likely better than I would have made).

I wasn't ever planning on getting subs for the car, but when a good deal on a factory upgrade part comes along it's hard to say no. Especially since I just installed Subaru's media hub and new poke 6 1/2" component front door speakers and poke 6 1/2" rear door speakers.

I realize this is an old thread but does anyone have the part number for the wiring harness for the sedan - 2008+ with Navigation? The harness looks completely different, with only one small box.

[SVXdc]

I've ordered from SGP and one or two of the others, without any problems. SGP offers both UPS and Priority Mail for smaller items.

Here's a list of the online / phone order vendors that I know of:

Subaru Parts Mail Order Vendors

* 1stSubaruParts.com      WA, Renton       Walker's Renton Subaru

* (Annapolis Subaru)      MD, Annapolis    Annapolis Subaru ('SubaruPartsGirl' on SubaruForester.org)

* FredBeansParts.com      PA, Doylestown   Fred Beans Subaru  [NASIOC vendor]

* ShopSubaruParts.com     AZ  Chandler     Subaru Superstore of Chandler

* SubaruGenuineParts.com  WA, Bellevue     Chaplin's Subaru

* SubaruOnlineParts.com   NY, Hicksville   Grand Prix Subaru ?

* SubaruParts.com         WA, Tacoma       Tacoma Subaru

* SubaruPartsCenter.com   ?                ?  (also SubaruPartsPro.com)

* SubaruPartsForYou.com   CT, Milford      Dan Perkins Subaru

* SubaruPartsOutlet.com   WI, Milwaukee    Schlossmann's Subaru City

* SubaruPartsPeople.com   "Pacific NW"     site: Carter Subaru Ballard Seattle, WA

You should check parts availability, shipping rates/times, return policies/restocking fees before ordering.

Be aware that all of them (just like your local dealerships) don't stock most items -- they'll need to order from their regional Subaru warehouse. Sometimes, parts will have to come from Japan.

[NSBcruiser]

Update: Pictures

Sub box with attached amp









Amp wires









Sub box







Sub (I scratched up the silver trim the other day, so I painted it)








Will add more pictures of the wire harness that goes from the HU to the sub when it arrives.

[SVXdc]

Thanks! Still looking forward to seeing pictures of the amp's circuit board.

[NSBcruiser]

Originally Posted by SVXdc

Thanks! Still looking forward to seeing pictures of the amp's circuit board.

Actually I'm uploading them now.

[NSBcruiser]

Amp case: Top (attached to sub box)




Amp case: Bottom plate





Amp case: inside top portion





Amp circuit board: Top








Amp circuit board: bottom

[SVXdc]

Excellent! Thanks!

Can you read the numbers printed on the 5 large transistors?

[NSBcruiser]

Originally Posted by SVXdc

Excellent! Thank!

Can you read the numbers printed on the 5 large transistors?

I already put it back together. but, I do have a few other pictues of the circuit board, I'll see if I can read them and I'll upload the pictures.

[NSBcruiser]

Update: Got the wire harness in the mail, here are a few pictures

Part Number


Wire harness crossover and 20 AMP fuse


Wire harness

[SVXdc]

Originally Posted by NSBcruiser

Update: Got the wire harness in the mail, here are a few pictures
...

Great pics! Thanks for taking and posting those!

I think you got the wrong harness, though -- that one is for "Rhimpreza" models (must be a Chinese model)

(see 5th picture, the one w/ the ground lead)

[ADDED: Just to be clear, what I said about it being the wrong harness was a joke, referring to that label]

[NSBcruiser]

Originally Posted by SVXdc

Great pics! Thanks for taking and posting those!

I think you got the wrong harness, though -- that one is for "Rhimpreza" models (must be a Chinese model)

(see 5th picture, the one w/ the ground lead)

I noticed that also, but I got the part number when I called Kicker trying to find the wire harness, the guy on the phone told me that Kicker makes them in-house and ships them to Subaru when they need them. He also said it's the same harness for the sedan or hatch and he couldn't sell me on directly because of their deal with Subaru.

I installed the sub the other night and it works great, the harness fit perfectly and had just enough slack to have a smooth install.

[zeblax02]

I'm guessing there are no adjustments on the crossover unit as well, as I'm sure it's already been reported there is a bit of a dead spot at the higher bass frequencies, which I assume is a disparity from where the crossover cuts off to the sub and what the door speakers will actually handle? or is it the sub itself perhaps?

[SVXdc]

No, there aren't any controls to adjust the cutoff frequencies. The "crossover" at the HU end has a simple high-pass filter (just a resistor and capacitor) on each of the positive lines going to the 4 speakers. Someone mentioned the values in the thread on IWSTI (so it should be possible to calculate the cutoff frequency).

The harness sends full range to the sub. The sub obviously has its own low-pass (and no means to change whatever frequency that is).

[ngordon28]

Has anyone upgraded the amp on the factory sub-woofer with positive results? I am thinking about usingRockford Fosgate Punch PBR300X1 Car Amplifier - 75 W @ 4 Ohm to power the kicker sub. Any thoughts?

I just don't like the way the factory sub sounds. It's way too muddy. I'm hoping that the Rockford amp controls will help, if not then new sub in the factory same box. This is my wife's car but I regret buying the sub and want to see if I can make the best of it. Didn't expect that I wouldn't be able to control the way the sub sounds.

[fzel07wrx]

What is the correct way to hook up the OEM Kicker sub to an aftermarket headunit? I have a Pioneer AVH-P3400BH. I have the SVXdc 20 pin and Axxess SWC all soldered up.

If I have to order another harness and re-solder some things, so be it.

[NSBcruiser]

Originally Posted by fzel07wrx

What is the correct way to hook up the OEM Kicker sub to an aftermarket headunit? I have a Pioneer AVH-P3400BH. I have the SVXdc 20 pin and Axxess SWC all soldered up.

If I have to order another harness and re-solder some things, so be it.

All you have to do is use the sub's t-harness on the car's harness. Basically, hook it up like the instructions say.

I cut out the crossover and attached the leads to the rear speakers (it's wired to the front speakers by default). It only needs the positive leads hooked up. You don't have to cut out the crossover (save an extra step and the wires are short and difficult to work with), but it's a passive crossover and I think an aftermarket HU does a better job.

Now I have more control over the sub using the new HU and the sub won't cut out when you crank up the volume and it's a lot deeper/tighter/less muddy sounding now.

You could always used a line out converter to change the speaker leads to RCA and use the HU's sub RCA to gain total control over the sub. (I didn't because of ease of install and didn't want to spent anymore money on my stereo system)

Hope this helps, PM me if you need further help. I can walk you through it.

[SVXdc]

Originally Posted by fzel07wrx

What is the correct way to hook up the OEM Kicker sub to an aftermarket headunit? I have a Pioneer AVH-P3400BH. I have the SVXdc 20 pin and Axxess SWC all soldered up.

The Kicker subs are similar to the OEM underseat subs -- they have a T-harness that you plug in between the factory radio harness and the radio. The sub passes through all of the wires and taps the front speakers and +12V. The Kicker sub also inserts simple high-pass filters between the HU and your main speakers.

As NSBcruiser said, you connect the Kicker the same way as you do with an OEM HU.

One thing to beware of: If your new HU has high-power amps, the OEM sub may not work so well (could start sounding distorted, or even be damaged).