How to Install the Subwoofer for a Cadillac CTS
by Jule Pamplin
The creation of the Cadillac CTS was part of the manufacturer's re-dedication to performance and a shift in the target buyer. The CTS, with its aggressive styling and performance, was intended to appeal to younger car buyers as well as those who have grown to know Cadillac as the gold standard for American automobiles. To take full advantage of the Cadillac CTS sound system, add a sub-woofer to provide a full sound, including powerful bass response.
Step 1
Remove the negative battery cable from the CTS battery. Unscrew the bolt on the clamp with a Phillips heads screwdriver and remove the cable from the negative battery lead.
Step 2
Place the ring terminal of the power supply cable from the amplifier wiring kit around the positive battery lead. Tighten the ring terminal clamp with the screwdriver. Feed the power supply cable through the opening in the firewall to the inside of the cabin.
Step 3
Detach the bottom of the vent dash panel above the stereo. Fold the panel upward and out of the way.
Step 4
Open the ashtray and remove the bolt in the back of the compartment, using an 8-mm socket wrench.
Step 5
Pull the climate control panel from the dash by hand.
Step 6
Remove the two bolts on either side of the stereo mounting bracket, using a 10-mm socket wrench. Pull the stereo from the dash.
Step 7
Pull the wire connections from the back of the stereo. Attach the wiring connection binders to the wiring harness adapter. Connect the wiring harness adapter to the stereo. Connect the turn-on lead and signal cable, from the amplifier wiring kit, to the wiring harness adapter. Feed the two cables through the back of the stereo dock and down to the passenger footwell.
Step 8
Replace the stereo into the dash. Replace the bolts on either side. Replace the climate control panel. Use the magnetized socket to replace the 8-mm bolt into the ashtray compartment. Fold the vent panel down and snap it back into place by hand.
Step 9
Open the CTS doors. Remove the trim panels at the bottom of the door openings with the trim panel removal tool. Lift the carpeting and run the cables to the trunk, past the fold-down rear seats. The power supply cable from the battery (now inside the Cadillac in the driver's footwell) will be routed on the left side of the vehicle; the signal and turn-on lead cables will follow a similar path on the right side.
Step 10
Replace the door panels by hand, securing the carpet with the cables tucked beneath.
Step 11
Connect the turn-on lead and signal cable to the powered sub-woofer in the trunk. Connect the power supply cable to the outlet marked "POWER" on the sub.
Step 12
Connect the grounding wire from the amp wiring kit to the sub-woofer's grounding lead. Connect the wire to a bolt in the trunk. (The bolt should be connected to the frame of the CTS.)
Step 13
Replace the negative lead cable to the battery's negative lead post. Tighten the clamp with the Phillips head screwdriver.
References
Tips
- The powered sub-woofer can be mounted in the trunk (ideal) unless you opt for a low profile sub that can be mounted beneath a seat.
Things You'll Need
- Wiring harness adapter
- Amplifier wiring kit
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Trim panel removal tool
- 10-mm socket wrench
- 8-mm magnetized socket
Warnings
- The signal cable and power supply cable should be on opposite sides of the Cadillac to avoid interference.
Writer Bio
Jule Pamplin has been a copywriter for more than seven years. As a financial sales consultant, Pamplin produced sales copy for two of the largest banks in the United States. He attended Carnegie-Mellon University, winning a meritorious scholarship for the Careers in Applied Science and Technology program, and later served in the 1st Tank Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps.
