Shop By Vehicle
Full System Installation Guide '07- '18 JK Wrangler
Welcome to your Jeep JK Wrangler full audio system upgrade.
The following will walk you through the entire installation which includes a video at the bottom of the page. The video is showing the installation of an amplifier and subwoofer into Jeep Gladiator which fundamentally is the same as the JK.
The location of the amp install, routing of the power, and cabling from the amp to the radio is primarily the same. If you have any questions at all, or need anything during the installation, we're only a phone call away and we're available Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm est for any support needed!
1) Remove Driver Seat-
Remove the driver seat using an 18MM socket for the four seat bolts and a T45.
2) Route Power and Ground-
- See video for power and ground routing which is identical for the JK as it is demonstrated in the Gladiator.
3) Remove Radio, Route Amp Harness, Route RCA's
This bundle is prepped to connect to an aftermarket radio via RCA's, if you're connecting to a factory JK radio, although not recommended, a PAC-CH21 is required to provide the necessary RCA connection points.
Note, there are 2 configurations depending on if your Jeep is equipped with the factory amplified system, or non-factory amplified system. To determine factory amplified vs. non-factory amplified, see the product page, "Factory Equipment" page.
Factory Amplified:
- See pic below for the connection configuration.
- Our amp by-pass harness will connect from the amplifier via the terminated ferrule leads to the factory amplifier location.
- The factory amp is located under the steering wheel column to the left
- You can reach under the column to the left to locate the 2 connectors which are attached to the bottom of the factory amplifier.
- This is covered in the below Gladiator video and will apply exactly as shown for the JK generation
- Route the blue remote wire with the male bullet connector up through the dash to connect to the radio remote wire connection.
Factory Amplifier Bypass Bundle:
Non-Factory Amplified:
If the radio and this bundle is purchased simultaneously, we can pre-wire our amp kit to connect directly into your radio connections which will then utilize the factory speaker wires.
If the radio is not purchased simultaneously, then our amp harness will provide pink/ red male bullet connectors terminated on the radio side of the harness. You will need to tap into the speaker wires at the back of the radio facing into the jeep, NOT INTO THE RADIO. You'll attach the provided female bullet connectors to the color matching speaker wires, and connect the male bullet connectors from the harness, like to like colors.
You will match, White to White, Grey to Grey, Green to Green, and Purple to Purple. Pay close attention to the wires with the black stripe to ensure that you're connecting the appropriate polarity (positive and negative) wires.
- Route the blue amp harness from under the driver seat, through the center arm rest/ transmission tunnel to the passenger side.
- Route the amp harness along the center console trim, up behind the glove box, to connect to the radio harness.
- Connect the bullet connectors as described above.
- Connect the Blue remote wire female bullet connector to your radios Amp On/ Remote Wire/ Trigger Wire connection.
- Route the RCA's from the new amp to the back of the radio following the same path as described above.
Non-Factory Amplifier Bypass Bundle:
4) 4 or 5 Channel Amplifier-
We have fully prepped the amp wires for an easy plug and play installation. All power, ground, remote, and speaker wires have been pre-terminated with ferrule connectors to easily attach to the appropriate ports on the amplifier. NOTE: proper speaker dedication is referred to as AMP1, AMP2, or SUB on some amplifiers. Amp1 is in reference to the front speakers, Amp2 is in reference to the rear speakers, and Sub is of course the subwoofer.
- Installation location- under driver seat.
- Set amp sideways with the RCA ports and adjustment controls facing towards the door.
- You do not need to remove the seat to complete this installation, however you will need to unbolt all 4 bolts to be able to tilt the seat backwards.
- You will need to pull the trim panel piece underneath the steering wheel off to access the space for wire management.
- A strip of velcro can be applied to the bottom of the amp which can prevent the amp from sliding around, if an amp bracket has been purchased.
- Ground, REM, and Power have all been prepped for an easy connection.
- Ground wire has been prepped with a ferrule connector to slide and fasten into the GROUND port on the amplifier.
- Amp on wire (blue wire), has been prepped with a ferrule connector to slide and fasten into the REM (AMP ON) port on the amplifier.
- Power wire has been prepped with a ferrule connector to slide and fasten into the +12V (POWER) port on the amplifier.
- Speaker wires from the Amp Harness.
- All the wires have been prepped with ferrules which will slide into the appropriate port on the amplifier.
- Follow the diagram below for proper wire termination location.
- The 8 speaker wires will fasten into their dedicated ports and the blue wire will fasten into the REM (AMP ON) power on the left which is between the ground and power port.
- RCA’s.
- The RCA’s will connect using the colors White and Red in conjunction with Amp1 (front speakers), Amp2 (rear speakers), and Sub.
- Connect from Amp to the RCA’s on your radio, or on the PAC Module if using a factory radio.
- NOTE: Certain RCA harnesses are directional. In the case when using a directional RCA, you will connect the the ends that point to signal to the amplifier RCA ports.
- Power wire.
- Route power wire from the amp, through the fire wall which is directly behind the driver footwell. You can drill a hole through the plastic cap to route the wire. Refer to our Kicker Powered Down-Firing Subwoofer installation for the power installation method. Link below- Power install section- 27:10- 33:10
- Ground.
- The ground mounting location is directly under the driver seat. You will notice the bolt which has factory grounding cables attached to it. You will remove the bolt and connect the ground wire from the amplifier.
- Adjustments.
- Fader-
- ON
- Input Level-
- LO
- Sub Input-
- SUB
- Amp1, Amp2, and Sub adjustments-
- Gain.
- A good starting position is at 9’oclock. This can be adjusted up or down based on personal preference and music type. It’s best to adjust gain with volume level set to ¾ high and gradually increase the gain. Once you notice the speakers sound distorted, back down the gain slightly. Gain is in relation to volume. The higher the gain, the higher the volume so the less you’ll need to increase the volume on your radio.
- X-over Freq.
- Starting position recommendation is just under 12’oclock.
- Bass Boost.
- Adjustment is based on personal preference.
5) Subwoofer-
- If you are installing a 5-Channel amplifier. The Subwoofer will connect using the provided yellow and black wire. Route the wire underneath the carpet to the sub location and connect with yellow being the positive and black being the negative from the amplifier to the subwoofer.
- Use subwoofer of your choice
6) Test the system-
- Prior to installing all the trim pieces and the seat, you will want to test the system. You will need to set the radio into the place and install the connections at the bottom trim piece to power on the Jeep.
- A good measure is to start with the amplifier adjustments as recommended above.
- Power on the Jeep and ensure that all speakers and the subwoofer (if installed), are reacting. Now is a good time to adjust the gain further if needed.
- Adjusting gain-
- Adjust all of the radio EQ settings to "0
- Lower the radio volume to "0"
- Lower all of the gains on the amp to "0"
- Crossover adjustments can be set to just below half
- Increase the volume on the radio to 75%
- Increase the gain knob slowly until you hear a distortion from the speakers.
- Slightly lower the gain knob and move on the next gain knob (if applicable)
- You can now use the radio's EQ settings to add a little bit adjustments based on sound preference.
- Bolt seat down, secure radio, replace trim pieces, etc.