Alpine SWD 1600 Install - Smartz Smart Car Forum

Alpine SWD 1600 Install
Ok all, here’s my first attempt at a “how to”. I hope it proves useful!
Below, you can see what you get in the box
I.E. The Sub, power, earth and ground cables and speaker level input cables.
The speaker level cables are to be disregarded as I am connecting directly to a
sub preout.
The next picture shows the addition bits and bobs I bought from my local car parts
store:
RCA Cable
Velcro
Electrical tape
Crimp on bullet connectors
Step one, remove the front boot liner by unscrewing the four retaining clips with a
coin or other similar flat end (like a Smart keyring ☺)
Locate the battery and identify the positive (+) terminal. Here it is below. The
positive (+) is the bit under the red cover – this will need removing. Just give it a
gentle tug upwards and it should come off.
Locate a suitable entrance through the bulkhead. I used the existing grommet shown
in the piccie below.
Here you can see where the ducting enters the passenger footwell. I un-bent a coat
hanger and used this as a “fish” to route the power cable. The puncture kit and carpet
have been removed.
Here you can see the power cable in place.
Now for some reason my digicam decided not to focus but you can just make out a
nut on the right. I used this as the earthing point. It is located in the left corner of the
passenger footwell.
Loosen this bolt on the battery terminal, slide the connector under and re-tighten.
Also, don’t forget to put the plastic cover back on!
Now for an awkward job. Remove the stereo and feed the remote lead into the wiring
housing from behind. There is plenty of room on the left hand side.
Attach this lead to the remote power lead of you stereo. If you do not have one, the
switched power lead will work also.
I also fed the RCA lead in through this opening, but fed it back behind my trip
computer and down the drivers side of the car, under the carpets, as I couldn’t get the
lead in from the right hand side!
Now you should have the POWER, GROUND and REMOTE ON wired up, so off
with the door seals and under the carpet (passenger side) with those and pop them out
behind the passenger seat.
Autofocus on the cam went wrong again " but you can see where I attach the RCA
cables for the sub – Marked “sub woofer”. I like helpful kit!
With all the cabling in place this is what you should have at your install location.
Unfortunately the batteries on my cam died " I’m sure it’s got it in for me today!
All that was left to do was connect the leads up and Viola! One installed Alpine Sub!
As is favourite with our little smarties, the Velcro was used on the back of the sub to
attach it to the carpet… Perfect ☺
NOTES
Here are all the things that went wrong "
1) Installed sub – fuses kept blowing. Checked all wiring – OK. Resorted to
calling tech from supplier (v helpful!!). It seems a percentage of Alpine subs
have the accessory loom wired wrong. Mine was too. When you hook it onto
the unit you’ll notice black goes to yellow and vice versa. Swapped these
cables over and all was well – With the fuses!
2) Still no bass? Hmm… Checked all the wiring again. Still OK. Pulled the
stereo out. No prob there. Put the sub onto the rear channel preouts and the
was sound.. Intriguing…. Resorted to the manual for the stereo and after
scouring found that you have to tell the stereo to turn the preouts on! “hold
the AM switch for two seconds” – Well OBVIOUSLY!
3) Nowt else went wrong. It works. Huzzah!
Smallprint:
Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please be careful when pulling your car
to bits and mucking around with the electrics as things can go wrong very quickly! Also I take no responsibility for any damage
caused while following this info, directly or implied – yadda yadda yadda!! Most of all, Have fun!
Regards
John Tirocchi (japester)