Tips for running clean wires?

[tsenfw 10+ year member]

Anyone have Tips for running clean wires? Most of the installs I see on here are clean as hell. How do you guys do it? I find I have trouble fitting all the rca's, power wires, and speaker wire under the door sills and behind the dash into the head unit.

Seems like anything I hook up in my car looks kinda messy lol.

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[jdawg 5,000+ posts]

run the shit under the carpet?

 

[IDSkoT 5,000+ posts]

You just have to have patience and take your time... that's the only real tips anyone can give you.

Also, wire sleeves help it look a lot cleaner.

 

[sqhertz 5,000+ posts]

Anyone have Tips for running clean wires? Most of the installs I see on here are clean as hell. How do you guys do it? I find I have trouble fitting all the rca's, power wires, and speaker wire under the door sills and behind the dash into the head unit.
Seems like anything I hook up in my car looks kinda messy lol.

ive always wondered the same thing. i did find that if you were to take your time and remove the seats and run them under the carpet that way , it does make things alot easier and cleaner. but in some cars/trucks (like my blazer) it is a pain in the *** to do that all the way through to the back. practice makes perfect i guess.

 

[SethPhillips 5,000+ posts]

takeing time to do a install is key. properly takeing things apart. and takeing a step back to look at things, and decide where the best spot for amps, crossover's, ect should go..

 

[tsenfw 10+ year member]

Tried some under the carpet but it was causing some issues. Also broke a bolt taking the passenger seat out lol. Kind of afraid to try the drivers side.

Guess I just need patience then. Get frustrated with the wires when they are like pre-bent and don't want to cooperate.

 

[sqhertz 5,000+ posts]

Tried some under the carpet but it was causing some issues. Also broke a bolt taking the passenger seat out lol. Kind of afraid to try the drivers side.
Guess I just need patience then. Get frustrated with the wires when they are like pre-bent and don't want to cooperate.

i rememeber getting VERY angry at the knu kolosus 1/0 i was running under my carpet. that shit does not want to bend to any angle. but i did get it there.

then again , my wires are all over the place in the back....

 

[tsenfw 10+ year member]

Part of the prob is my car's not looking so hot these days, especially compared to when it was new. I know that's no excuse but I feel like I'm polishing a turd LMAO

2000 6cyl mustang 140k miles, usual dents, wear and tear. Def looks beat up for only a 2000, that's what happens when you commute.

 

[rollerdj 10+ year member]

take time and make sure you have extra wire. if u run everything hidden you'll more than likely take more wire than just running it strait to the amps / sub.

 

[twisztdauthorit 10+ year member]

use zip ties.

surprised no one threw that out yet

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

In the places where the wire shows, use loom, zip ties, techflex, whatever to dress it up. Route it carefully and neatly near the amps and then secure it. Cut extra wire. Coil extra RCA and tuck it out of sight.

 

[rollerdj 10+ year member]

use zip ties.
surprised no one threw that out yet

indeed. zip ties are your friend. i wish i had the paten out on those. i'd be a millionare.

 

[Mattd0344 10+ year member]

My car looks stock as hell other than my tweeters and cd deck. All my wiring is ran through the floor panels. It might take some time depending on how large your wiring is, but it will definitely be worth it in the end. 0 gauge in a '06 civic=PITA!

 

[IDSkoT 5,000+ posts]

I have a '98 Mustang...

So, you can only imagine how badly I felt doing my install...

And I did it in the middle of August in Miami (hottest time of the year) in the sun...

It was rushed, but I still managed to hide all my wires pretty well. I hated my life that day.

 

[patrick1202 10+ year member]

i ran mine under the car...