Hey guys, I'm on the last step of my amplifier installation and all that is left is grounding the amplifier to something metal in the trunk. I really want to try out my sound system, so I'm just looking for a quick and easy ground location, even if it is temporary.

So my question is, is the long metal screw that holds the spare tire into the car good for a ground location? If someone can confirm that this is an ok ground location, I would really appreciate it.

What would happen if I chose a bad ground location and no connection was made? Would the amp break? (probably a stupid question)

So that's it. Please reply if you know the answer to my question, I am really eager to try my sound system out!

Thanks

 

sheet metal screw straight to the rear upper deck

 

But will the spare tire screw be good temporarily?

 

I dont think the spare tire screw will do it properly. I wired mine to the screw that holds the trunk catch for the hook. Right above the bumper under the plastic. As long as you groung to the actual frame of the car you should be fine.

 

Can I at least try it though? Or would it screw something up?

 

use one of the bolts to the mystery cylinder in the trunk as your ground...that's what i did
the way i see, that cylinder has to be used for something.

 

i just scraped off any paint at the grounding point and used a self taping screw for my ground wire

 

Same here..

 

ditto, i just found the easiest place to drill so i could test it out, and since then it been a good place.

you can also attach it to the rst from what ive herd

 

Hey thanks guys, I took swowlinc's advice and wired it to the trunk catch screw. Easy to access, and no drilling required.

Installation was a success, I now have some great sound in my car

 

i grounded my amp to that black plate or whatever the hell that is.. its right under the rear taillight inside the trunk - the plate with 2 14mm bolts

 

remember guys to scrape the paint off plz. paint does not conduct eletricity. i get customers all the time that blow up there amps with bad grounds. (how annoying)

 

isnt that thing a vibration dampening type of thing....also be careful because those bolts are under the car so if oyu drop it its a ***** to get them back on...especially without a jack and proper lighting...but its makes a good ground point for hiding wires as you can fold the cover back down and run the wires out the back of it...

 

take a wire brush brush some paint of the trunk floor and the take a self tapper and put that thing in.

 

Meh... do it right...
http://www.mattblehm.com/pics/car/st...wer_wire_3.jpg
that's about a 3/8" hole.. once I got it bolted through the car, I sealed over the bottom with RTV and undercoater spray, so it won't have any problems with water/rust.
also used some dielectric grease on the connection itself and then painted over the whole thing with clear lacquer to prevent any oxidation over time.

 

bah, thats' just too much trouble Matt