Dealing with shitty aftermarket audio installations.

[fumanchu182]

So I knew that my Hellcat being used when purchased was a dice roll... So far it has been 75% in my favor and I wanted a project car so I can't complain...10.7x in the quarter stock and still with more room to grow with new toys, I'll take it. Since April the audio has not worked properly, speakers kicking in and out, low volumes at time and here is a journal of the fuckery from aftermarket audio places that should be banished to the shadow realms... Exhibit A: massacred harness at the amplifier.

So I got to using my new tool:

Remediation: cleaned up the harness as good as I could, proper connections, heat shrinking and the harness was tested for continuity. All worked except one speaker...

So at the speaker I'm getting 0, nada, ziltch... Scratching my head I noticed that there was another harness at play at the amp... of course fuckery ensued.

I said fuck it, whole sale cut it out and just rebuilt the harness.

There's two great grey/orange wires... cause fuck you, that's why... I figured out which goes where in the end but it seems like donkey doo doo to do that. Fixed harness... All speakers are working, still low volume and some fuckery from the tweeters. Diving deeper... The speakers in the car are from DD Audio, don't know anything about the brand but know damn well the stock amp can't power them after looking up the specs. One trip later to best buy and I have a whole new set of Kicker KS series for the rear deck and the doors. They sound amazing and were a breeze to install:

So after dealing with the speakers and getting good sound still having to deal with some fucker afoot with the tweeters in the rear panels, of course... the fabricobbled bullshit plastic whatever audio installer billy bob used was shatterd and just flopping around like a you know what in the breeze...

So time to fabricate new mounts, out of lexan, that won't break and are amazing...


Now when on my leisurly strolls to the supermarket I can blast all the music I want, as loud as I want and try my damn hardest to drown out the motor/superchargers/exhaust (never works). I'm glad it's fixed and figured I'd share either you're going to laugh or you're going to cry... Also I'm not getting shocked by rando wires grounding against the body now so that is a plus.

 

[fumanchu182]

Bonus time! Found these two wires here just dangling, they were initially hooked up to the rear left speaker in the deck (amazing the car didn't catch on fire)... Anyone know what they are:


And shout out to @Diboblo for helping me navigate the wiring harness diagrams.

 

[Diboblo]

Nice work, brother.

The service manuals, available for download, have very good wiring diagrams, in them. I'll take a look and see if they lead to any revelations. Looked through all the rear deck speaker combos and didn't see any pairs of wires, with those color combos, for premium, or base systems.



Bob

 

[Paladin06]

Sounds like you know your way around wire world. Great job.

 

[1971demon]

Sounds like you know your way around wire world. Great job.

Rarely do i listen to the radio in my HC's...in my DDers...it always on...in the HC's almost never...

 

[fumanchu182]

Nice work, brother.
The service manuals, available for download, have very good wiring diagrams, in them. I'll take a look and see if they lead to any revelations. Looked through all the rear deck speaker combos and didn't see any pairs of wires, with those color combos, for premium, or base systems.
Bob

Yeah went through the pages again and still scratching my head...

Sounds like you know your way around wire world. Great job.

Wire world is a wacky place full of colors and sometimes angry pixies if you connect the wrong two wires of have your forearm brush against both the positive and negative in a cramped space while doing work...

Rarely do i listen to the radio in my HC's...in my DDers...it always on...in the HC's almost never...

I do enjoy the rippage, sometimes I just wanna rock out tho to tunes on the highway or during the morning commute.

 

[vortecd]

Rarely do i listen to the radio in my HC's...in my DDers...it always on...in the HC's almost never...

my Hellcat is my daily so it is rocking

 

[vortecd]

I wouldn't think a 70K car would have some janky audio wiring job. Did it come with the base Alpine system?

 

[fumanchu182]

I wouldn't think a 70K car would have some janky audio wiring job. Did it come with the base Alpine system?

HK but like I said it was massacred by the previous owner. This cars daily driven days are numbered. When I get to Florida, it will probably be gutted and turned into "racecar"...

 

[Temporarily Insane]

Geezus Christ, it looks like I installed that stereo system with a pair of sidecutters, Channel Locks, and a crimping tool from the Dollar Store ......smg

 

[Magnified]

So I knew that my Hellcat being used when purchased was a dice roll... So far it has been 75% in my favor and I wanted a project car so I can't complain...10.7x in the quarter stock and still with more room to grow with new toys, I'll take it. Since April the audio has not worked properly, speakers kicking in and out, low volumes at time and here is a journal of the fuckery from aftermarket audio places that should be banished to the shadow realms... Exhibit A: massacred harness at the amplifier.
View attachment 33481
So I got to using my new tool:
View attachment 33482
Remediation: cleaned up the harness as good as I could, proper connections, heat shrinking and the harness was tested for continuity. All worked except one speaker...
View attachment 33483
So at the speaker I'm getting 0, nada, ziltch... Scratching my head I noticed that there was another harness at play at the amp... of course fuckery ensued.
View attachment 33484
I said fuck it, whole sale cut it out and just rebuilt the harness.
View attachment 33490
There's two great grey/orange wires... cause fuck you, that's why... I figured out which goes where in the end but it seems like donkey doo doo to do that. Fixed harness... All speakers are working, still low volume and some fuckery from the tweeters. Diving deeper... The speakers in the car are from DD Audio, don't know anything about the brand but know damn well the stock amp can't power them after looking up the specs. One trip later to best buy and I have a whole new set of Kicker KS series for the rear deck and the doors. They sound amazing and were a breeze to install:
View attachment 33485
So after dealing with the speakers and getting good sound still having to deal with some fucker afoot with the tweeters in the rear panels, of course... the fabricobbled bullshit plastic whatever audio installer billy bob used was shatterd and just flopping around like a you know what in the breeze...
View attachment 33486
So time to fabricate new mounts, out of lexan, that won't break and are amazing...
View attachment 33488
View attachment 33489
Now when on my leisurly strolls to the supermarket I can blast all the music I want, as loud as I want and try my damn hardest to drown out the motor/superchargers/exhaust (never works). I'm glad it's fixed and figured I'd share either you're going to laugh or you're going to cry... Also I'm not getting shocked by rando wires grounding against the body now so that is a plus.

Aw come on man, all you need is some balled up electrical tape on those connections.... lol

 

[vortecd]

HK but like I said it was massacred by the previous owner. This cars daily driven days are numbered. When I get to Florida, it will probably be gutted and turned into "racecar"...

I'm pretty happy with the HK and would not modify it other then a speaker change at most. Our Challenger has the Alpine and it does need some help

 

[fumanchu182]

Geezus Christ, it looks like I installed that stereo system with a pair of sidecutters, Channel Locks, and a crimping tool from the Dollar Store ......smg

Aw come on man, all you need is some balled up electrical tape on those connections.... lol

I'm pretty happy with the HK and would not modify it other then a speaker change at most. Our Challenger has the Alpine and it does need some help

A lot of my friends say it is good. I was in a WB Redeye and it does sound nice. He heard mine after the fix and says it has more bass.

 

[Temporarily Insane]

^^^LOL^^^

 

[Grape Ape]

Dang! I was laughing so hard I almost cried. Talk about a dumpster fire. WTH were they thinking? That wiring job looked about as good as a 350 pound woman in yoga pants!

 

[fumanchu182]

Bonus time! Found these two wires here just dangling, they were initially hooked up to the rear left speaker in the deck (amazing the car didn't catch on fire)... Anyone know what they are:
View attachment 33492

And shout out to @Diboblo for helping me navigate the wiring harness diagrams.

Today is the day. Today is the fooking day I finally found out what these wires are! Only almost a year later…

Are you ready?
.
.
.
.
.

The god damn trunk light that I don’t have…

Was in the friends shop while he was working on something. Asked him if we could trace the wires in his car. Since I don’t have the liner or light just going to get a nice led strip and attach it.

 

[Diboblo]

Today is the day. Today is the fooking day I finally found out what these wires are! Only almost a year later…

Are you ready?
.
.
.
.
.
View attachment 55182
The god damn trunk light that I don’t have…

Was in the friends shop while he was working on something. Asked him if we could trace the wires in his car. Since I don’t have the liner or light just going to get a nice led strip and attach it.

Good find!

I have a spare light I can send you.

I also have led light strips, I can send.

Lemme know what color and I'll make it happen

Bob

 

[Hickster]

What kinda butcher did this hatchet job,, pre owner ought to be hung by testicles. Just plain stupidity. Talkin about time consuming?? Hats off to ya bro for hanging in there and Bob on your side is a great asss et. Damn good job. I have the factory installed HK up grade system . There is that Bob dude homeing in.

 

[fumanchu182]

Good find!

I have a spare light I can send you.

I also have led light strips, I can send.

Lemme know what color and I'll make it happen

Bob

Bob! I thought I sent a reply. I have to get the voltage from the wire as I don't think it is a true 12v dc but then again it has a dedicated ground., I think it is 5v from the PCM. I'll verify and then we can go from there. The trunk is pretty empty right now 🤫 but I think white would be good, need the sticky of the icky backing too. Most of the led strips I've purchased the backing has been poop. I'll get you a voltage reading tomorrow!

 

[Diboblo]

Bob! I thought I sent a reply. I have to get the voltage from the wire as I don't think it is a true 12v dc but then again it has a dedicated ground., I think it is 5v from the PCM. I'll verify and then we can go from there. The trunk is pretty empty right now but I think white would be good, need the sticky of the icky backing too. Most of the led strips I've purchased the backing has been poop. I'll get you a voltage reading tomorrow!

No problem, brother.

If it is the trunk courtesy light, it is 12v. That's what I tap into, for my Hellcatteunk light kit.

Either way, lemme know.

I apply 3M VHT foam tape, to the back of all my led strip kits. should work well for you.

Standing by.



Bob