Determine whether the radio has RCA pre-outs before you begin.
Installing an amplifier in a Chevrolet Silverado, whether a regular or extended cab, is a fairly simple procedure that will breathe new life into your vehicle's stereo system. An audio amplifier receives the signal from the Silverado's stereo deck, increasing its power which in turn allows the signal to be broadcast louder without distortion. Popular amplifier applications for the Chevrolet Silverado include powering subwoofers and aftermarket speakers. The amplifier installation will vary slightly depending upon whether the Silverado's radio has RCA pre-outs.
Instructions
Figuring Out Whether the Radio has RCA Pre-outs
1. Locate the battery in the Silverado's engine compartment and disconnect the black wire connected to negative ("-") battery terminal using a crescent wrench.
2. Remove the radio from the dash of the Silverado. This procedure will involve removing the plastic pieces surrounding the radio and climate controls. The radio will be secured by six bolts which will need to be removed with a socket wrench. Due to differences in model years consult the vehicle's owner's manual for the exact specifics of removing the truck's radio. Do not disconnect any of the radio's wiring.
3. Look at the back of the radio to determine if the radio was manufactured with RCA pre-outs.
Installation without RCA pre-outs
4. Set the amplifier in its desired location, open the amplifier wiring kit and locate the solid blue wire coming from the rear of the radio. Remove a small section of the plastic protective coating using wire cutters.
5. Strip the plastic protective coating from the end of the matching blue wire in the amplifier kit and wrap it around the bare section of solid blue wire coming from the back of the stereo. Wrap the connection in electrical tape covering all bare wire.
6. Locate the rear speaker wires coming from the plastic wiring harness that the Silverado's radio is connected to. The two right rear speaker wires are normally purple, and purple and black in color. The two left rear speaker wires are normally green, and green and black in color. Black indicates which wire is connected to the negative speaker terminal.
7. Connect the matching colored speaker wire from the amplifier kit to the speaker-level inputs on the amplifier using grommets provided in the amplifier wiring kit. Route the speaker wire from the amplifier to the rear of the Silverado's radio.
8. Strip the plastic protective coating for a small section of the speaker wire coming from the radio's plastic wiring harness using wire cutters. Wrap the bare wire ends of the speaker wire from the amplifier around the bare section of speaker wire from the wiring harness and wrap with electric tape covering all exposed wire.
9. Connect the red power wire with in-line fuse to the positive terminal on the Silverado's battery using a crescent wrench. Keep the in-line fuse as close the battery as possible. Route the red power wire through an existing hole in the vehicle's fire-wall to the amplifier. Cut off any excess wire. Connect the power wire to the amplifier using the grommet from the amplifier wiring kit.
10. Secure the amplifier to the Silverado by pre-drilling holes and using the provided hardware. Connect the ground wire from the amplifier to an area of exposed metal in the Silverado using the provided self-tapping screw and a screwdriver.
11. Reinstall the radio into the Silverado's dashboard and reconnect the black negative battery cable to the battery. The amplifier is now installed and ready to be connected to speakers or a subwoofer.
Installation with RCA pre-outs
12. Set the amplifier in its desired location, open the amplifier wiring kit and locate the solid blue wire coming from the rear of the radio. Remove a small section of the plastic protective coating using wire cutters.
13. Strip the plastic protective coating from the end of the matching blue wire in the amplifier kit and wrap it around the bare section of solid blue wire coming from the back of the stereo. Wrap the connection in electrical tape covering all bare wire.
14. Match the colored ends of the RCA cable included in the amplifier wiring kit to the RCA pre-outs on the back of the radio and connect them by pushing them together. Run the RCA cable from the radio to the amplifier. Plug the RCA cable ends into the amplifier's signal inputs.
15. Connect the red power wire with in-line fuse to the positive terminal on the Silverado's battery using a crescent wrench. Keep the in-line fuse as close the battery as possible. Route the red power wire through an existing hole in the vehicle's fire-wall to the amplifier. Cut off any excess wire. Connect the power wire to the amplifier using the grommet from the amplifier wiring kit.
16. Secure the amplifier to the Silverado by pre-drilling holes and using the provided hardware. Connect the ground wire from the amplifier to an area of exposed metal in the Silverado using the provided self-tapping screw and a screwdriver.
17.Reinstall the radio into the Silverado's dashboard and reconnect the black negative battery cable to the battery. The amplifier is now installed and ready to be connected to speakers or a subwoofer.
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