Need advice on how to get this setup running

[Virolo_g]

I recently bought a used 2001 Mustang and it came with a sub woofer and amp setup, but the head unit was dead and none of the audio was working at all.

I just had the head unit replaced today and I was able to get it to turn on and so far at least have sound in the passenger door speaker. The wiring for how the rear speakers and amp/subs is setup is beyond my current level of knowledge. As far as I can tell the rear speakers are wired into the amp and the factory wiring for the rear speakers to the head unit was removed.

Cartoys told me that the wiring was really poor and that it would cost me $1,000 to get it all redone and setup and if I were to run the setup as is, it would be a fire hazard. The amp is missing its fuse as well supposedly. There is also a blue wire that is hanging disconnected in the hood, which I assume is the power wire for the amp. I just want advice on what should be done here and would like to know if $1,000 is really necessary to fix this, or if I could do it myself for cheaper. I do have some level of knowledge regarding audio wiring and could likely figure it out with some direction.

I've included pictures to help you guys.

Let me know if I need to get pictures of anything else or if there's any additional information you need. Thank you!

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[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

Hey the butthole stretchers

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Wiring up amps and a head unit isn't rocket surgery. You should more be asking yourself what is your level of comfort in pulling all the seats to get under carpets and popping off panels to rewire everything.

Easiest way to do up amp to factory speaker locations is to just run the wires up behind the head unit and connect them to a wiring adapter (which presumably you have back there to connect the new head unit). If that's too much of a mess you can run wires to each speaker location yourself which may be tricky getting them into doors.

You will need to make sure the power cable going up through the firewall is safe (in a rubber grommet and not in danger of rubbing or burning off insulation). Confirm it is of adequate gauge and material to handle the current flow the amps require and absolutely add appropriate fuse within 18" of the battery. Amp grounds should be connected as close to the amps as possible and securely bolted to solid metal which has been sanded/cleaned shiny.

1000$ is a bit steep but understand those guys at the shop don't know what kind of mess they're getting into in there and ultimately they're going to have to put their reputation behind everything working and being safe. That old "the price doubles if you already tried to fix it yourself" gag has some basis in fact.

It would take me a full day to do head unit, 4 speakers, and 2 amps installed so I don't think billing you for 10 hours shop time is really unreasonable and you should probably plan on spending a couple days on this if you want to really rip everything apart and sort things out. Also figure in a trip or two out to someplace to buy any wire, connectors, or other odds and ends you figure out you need once you're in there.