I looked around in my 94 maxima gxe on both the driver and passenger side and just can't decide where to run the 10 gauge wire for my head unit (I bought an Alpine 60w x 4, it wants its own power wire) through the firewall. Where did everyone else run it through? Thanks,

Jack

 

I have a 91 GXE, and I also have a 60w by 4 alpine head unit. I had to drill a hole very carefully through the fire wall. If you are looking at the engine I put it on the right side behind the strut, it was closest to the battery that way. I was able to run a 4 guage and an 8 guage through the hole I drilled. The 8 went to the head unit and the 4 went to the back for the sub. Just be carefull not to hit your break line.

 

Take off the driver's side fender wall for the front wheel. You will see where all the wires from the engine go thru the firewall into the cabin. Use something to ream a hole in the rubber that surrounds the wires, and pass the power cable through that. I did it last saturday, no drilling required.

 

When wiring Maxima's from 1989 to 2003 (dont know any newer), I have always removed the inner fender, ran the wire threw the same hole as the hood release, and brought the power wire in threw the same route as the rest of the wiring harness. It keeps an ultra clean look inside the engine bay, you know you havent hacked your firewall at all, and its much easier to punch threw an existing gromment than it is to get out a drill, and go at it. It's just higher quality work and provides a better seal.
anything more than 4 gauge however...........

 

why are you guys running power wire to your radios anyway. im an installer at cc and install the alpines all day long and we have never had a problem with using factory wiring

 

 

I would like to know this also. I've installed plenty of systems and the only reason you should be power wires to your battery is if you are running amps also.

 

i remember going through my crutchfield magazine and seeing a high power alpine head unit. think it requires a power cable. but don't mark my words, i'm not sure.

 

CC. hahahahahha.

 

i will restrain myself and not say anything mean but what is your problem

 

The 9815 is a 240 watt (60w x 4) unit, you can't use the standard under the dash power wire. It will burn up. It says directly on the wiring harness do not install to the under the dash power, so you have to run power directly to the unit from the battery.

 

All Alpine V-Drive Head units Require the use of 10guage or thicker power wire. I now have some worries about Circuit City.

Thats not to say you cant get away with doing a ****ty job and using stock wiring, but I certianly wouldnt recommend doing it that route, especially if you stand behind your work.

 

Mizeree_X and MrGone have it. A month ago I ran a 4G from the battery to teh trunk and the path was from under the fender liner.

 

I ran mine for my amp through the firewall boot on the passenger side.

 

i would bet that circiut city isnt the only chain not runing power wire from the battery to these radios because i know other places sell them but i might stop in a couple and ask if they do besides 80% of the people that spend that much on a head unit wont use the biult in amp do to having a component amp for the speakers in which case there would be no reson to run thicker wire