Replacement for Factory Sub. (with poll)

[geckoboy86]

EDIT 8/10: Looking to replace my Sub now that I have money. I think I have 2 options.

Option 1. Get an Earthquake SWS 6.5" sub and trim my factory box to accomindate it.
---The mounting depth is almost the same a factory

Option 2. Make a new custom box for a Pioneer Shallow 8 " sub and then attach and protect the original subs circuitry.
---Custom box needed due to the 3" mounting depth.


I never heard of Earthquake but researching them, I found out they did work for both Mercedes and BMW.
Pioneer is 500w/120w RMS. Earthquake is 200w/100w RMS. Factory Subaru System is only a 120w max.



-----Old Post------
The head unit is a P-123 from and 02 WRX. The subwoofer is the OEM one from the same car.

The subwoofer is currently not working at all but the Headunit is. Any advice?
Do I need to change a fuse to a higher rated one?

EDIT: The fuse in the harness to the subwoofer is fine. The radio fuse is also fine.

[GTDrifter]

how do you have it wired in?

[geckoboy86]

Its a Subaru OEM Subwoofer from a 02 WRX. I got the wire harness with it. Using that to wire it up.

[mycargoesvroom]

Stupid question, but have you messed with the gain/level on the amp at all? Might be turned down all the way.

[geckoboy86]

They are in the middle

[mycargoesvroom]

They are in the middle

Ok, just checking lol. Sometimes we over think things and forget about the little stuff.

Sounds to me like you have a loose wire. Have you checked the harness to make sure all of the wires are seated properly?

[geckoboy86]

Just checked the wires...All felt solid.
Did a speaker test and the connections are fine.

For those who don't know, the car side factory harness plugs into the subwoofer harness which then splits some wires to goto the sub and then the other half plugs right into the back of the head unit.

[geckoboy86]

Here is what I am messing with.

Here is some instructions I found (LINK)

On the right side of the pic, the top cable connects to the factory harness. The bottom half connects to the head unit and has a cable that connects to the unit as an additional ground. The pink thing contains a 10A fuse, which is fine.

I think the issue is either the ground or maybe not enough power getting to it.

[racingking951]

Do you have the metal bracket bolted to a good solid ground? The sub is probably using that for a ground, so if you have it just sitting there and bolted down it wouldn't work. also turn up the radio loud and try to "feel" the sub vibrating, if it is then its an issue with the radio not supplying the proper outputs for the sub.

[geckoboy86]

As per the directions, it is bolted down on the rear right bolt of the passenger side seat. I tried both on top of the seat mount as well below the seat mount.
Volume was tested from 8 up to 25. Nothing. Only vibrations were from bass from other speakers. To confirm the vibrations were not from the unit, I unplugged it and repeated the test. The unit was only vibrating from the bass produced by the other speakers.

[racingking951]

http://www.scoobymods.com/oem-underseat ... &t=199
^^^I guess its time to grab a volt meter and start testing that the ground and power wires are good, heres the wiring layout.

[GTDrifter]

Yeah probably don't have the ground write in a good location

If it doesn't work bring it up to pottsville and I'll see if we can make it work

[geckoboy86]

Im gonna do a test of grounding it to the battery later today. Can't beat that ground.

[geckoboy86]

Ok...Grounding the extra ground in the harness to the battery. nothing.

I decided to do some tests.
Tested the power before fuse, after fuse and other end of harness with a spare headlight to battery ground. Its good.
Tested both speaker lines with an old factory speaker. good.

[geckoboy86]

Ok...hooked the old factory speakers up to the innards of the sub. It works. So, Does that mean a bad sub woofer?

[GTDrifter]

yes...if you push on it does it move back and forth?

if not then your sub is seized

what size if the sub?

[geckoboy86]

It moves but no on its own.
its only a 6" woofer.

[racingking951]

can you take the sub out and see if the wiring in the box is bad?

[geckoboy86]

I have it apart. Sub is bad. The one wire that runs though the cone is badly burnt up.

EDIT:
Anyone know where I can get a 6" woofer that is only 1 3/4" deep.

[racingking951]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Subaru-8 ... _500wt_924

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Subaru-F ... _500wt_924

[geckoboy86]

Restarting this thread.
Look at first post and help me decide. Plz vote.
---------------
Looking to replace my Sub now that I have money. I think I have 2 options.

Option 1. Get an Earthquake SWS 6.5" sub and trim my factory box to accomindate it.
---The mounting depth is almost the same a factory

Option 2. Make a new custom box for a Pioneer Shallow 8 " sub and then attach and protect the original subs circuitry.
---Custom box needed due to the 3" mounting depth.


I never heard of Earthquake but researching them, I found out they did work for both Mercedes and BMW.
Pioneer is 500w/120w RMS. Earthquake is 200w/100w RMS. Factory Subaru System is only a 120w max.

[Wiscon_Mark]

I had some earthquake speakers that I got as replacements for some JL Audio speakers that gave up after 10 years....wasn't terribly impressed, although they always seem to be rated for an enormous amount of power...

It would probably be better than stock either way.

[Grafton]

you'll want the earthquake sub because it's RMS rating is likely closer to the RMS output of the stock head-unit which mean it will be able to preform better

[chrish8r]

hey man.....did you ever end up getting either of these subs???? just wondering cause the cone in mine is shot and i am looking for a way to use the stock sub box without buying the whole sub and amp sepertately

[geckoboy86]

I did go with the earthquake.



The amp is still the factory amp but I have that under the driver seat in a custom enclosure.

[chrish8r]

does it not fit in the factorty amp box or did you just opt to build a custom one???

[geckoboy86]

I got fearful of the measurements so I went with my own box. I was more so worried about the electronics in the factory box.

[chrish8r]

yeah....i took mine apart and lo and behold the cone is obliterated. so i pay take a path similar or buy a used on off ebay

[chrish8r]

Okay, I know this is old but you said you used the factory amp?? Is the amp a seperate part in the factory box?? Thank you

[geckoboy86]

I took the factory amp out of the box with the factory woofer and made its own enclosure. Its under my driver seat and it powers the sub under the passenger seat.