2015 Chevy Malibu - new sound system

[grim canyon]

Yo! made a thread a while ago asking questions about what system to get and everything, FINALLY GOT ONE and ready to put it in, just had a few questions.

There's an auxiliary battery in the back, was planning to hook up a sub, and two amps back there + 2 speakers in the front. the whole setup at peak is maybe 900W (i have a shitty amp for the subs rn)

Was wondering how i should go about setting it up and whether i can use the aux battery to my advantage at all.

On top of that any tips are more than welcome!

[rose halo]

Did you install the auxiliary battery for the stereo or was that already in place? Is this Malibu a hybrid of some sort?

[grim canyon]

Already in place, and nah it’s the cheap one, not a hybrid

[rose halo]

Does it have stop start? I’m trying to figure out what that aux battery is

[fringe scaffold]

Its a shit auto stop/start battery

"According to Rockauto, ACDelco AUX12 and AUX12-180 both fit. The difference is AUX12-180 is 180 CCA and a newer model while AUX12 is 155 CCA and the original part used."

[rose halo]

Ayyyy…. Yeah ok. Chrysler did this with some of their earlier stop start systems too. I’d be hesitant to put a stereo in this thing but I’m more risk averse

[fringe scaffold]

I wonder, dropping a lifepo4 lithium in its place.....

My civic just uses the same battery, check into turning off the stop/start

[grim canyon]

Oh, so should prolly not hook a sub to it 😭

Wait, if I turn off the auto stop/start then I could?

[fringe scaffold]

Probably want to replace that battery, I'll check what everyone else did

Friends 13 malibu aint got the 2nd battery

[grim canyon]

It seems pretty useless 😭

I wouldn’t mind replacing it with a new, bigger one if it means I can just hook everything up to the new battery (it’s in the trunk so easier to get to)

[fringe scaffold]

@rose halo look at this tiny thing

[grim canyon]

Looks like mine lol

[pulsar wren]

GG @grim canyon, you just advanced to level 5! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[fringe scaffold]

Disable start stop, might need a new power cable idk, and do you mind having lithium in your car?

[grim canyon]

I don’t mind, no

I planned on upgrading the power cables eventually, whenever I plan to upgrade the amp I’m getting for the sub, but rn I don’t think the power draw would be bad enough to warrant it. Could do it for that one sooner tho

[fringe scaffold]

Yeah the battery im thinking of is extreme overkill for 900w, its made for up to 5k on stock alternator but $320

https://glowevoltage.com/shop/cells/glowe-cells-diy-kit-60ah/

[grim canyon]

900 is an exaggeration tbf, it’s like 300w for the sub amp and uhhhh 400 for the speaker amp

[fringe scaffold]

You know what @foggy nacelle get in here, ever heard of a aux battery for stop/start purposes being used for subs? Im thinking use a lithium and disable stop/start

[fringe scaffold]

Oh, yeah you are fine without the lithium, the alternator can do that but im not sure about that battery

[grim canyon]

Yeah I figured that thing wouldn’t be able to do much

Lithium in the future tho maybe, the subs I got peak at 800W each

[fringe scaffold]

Ignore peak numbers, use rms

[grim canyon]

150-400

Ig 400 is the rms

[rose halo]

Yeah I remember this. The idea is that the aux battery powers the cars accessories while engine is stopped, so that the main battery doesn’t drain and will be able to restart the car. It’s a hack-y workaround but I get it, they were doing what they could at the time.

[fringe scaffold]

What's the sub capable of?

[grim canyon]

https://rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/p2d2-12/?srsltid=AfmBOoqHH3p-Z7Q004xV1uOFmqtNef47wuAuLoAvu1ihAXuGTW8D7H2L

its 2 of these

And this the amp
https://www.kicker.com/CXA4001-400-Watt-Mono-Class-D-Subwoofer-Amp

[fringe scaffold]

Alright so thats 800rms max, on a 400rms max amp

[grim canyon]

Yes

That will just sacrifice quality right? Not cause any issues

[fringe scaffold]

Wait hold on a minute

[fringe scaffold]

Less volume, thats it

[grim canyon]

Okay cool

I got it hoping to avoid having to get a new alternator or second battery rn, but can upgrade in the future

[fringe scaffold]

I was being a little dumb, that amp is 300rms max because you have to wire 0.5 ohm (amp cant) 2 ohm (300w) or 8 ohm (no)

I also asked someone smarter then me

"Its in parallel with the main batt he can but its gonna be a bottle neck

Sub 1kw rms should be fine its 4ga iirc"

[grim canyon]

Hmmmmmm i see

SLI400AGM-AUX Duracell Ultra Car and Truck Stop/Start Battery | AGM AUX14 | 14AH | 200 CCA | Group Size 400

The battery ^

[rose halo]

And the start stop system monitors battery health and won’t stop unless battery is above certain level (and a dozen other items). If the amp is drawing lots, the stop start won’t engage and it’ll just stay running. Win win I suspect

[grim canyon]

I like the sound of this

[fringe scaffold]

Supposedly you can pull something with making it think the hood latch is open so it won't shut off

Wire subs like this though

[grim canyon]

Will do

Should I get a 4 gauge kit for the sub amp too?

[fringe scaffold]

https://a.co/d/dfuCc39

May work

[grim canyon]

Big

And it’s Amazon so I can actually get it up here

[fringe scaffold]

You wanting to go big later? If so get 0 guage OFC if not 4 guage OFC

[grim canyon]

The biggest I’ll go in this car is getting a better amp for the subs

Around 600w

[fringe scaffold]

Yeah thats what I said as well, now im looking at $3000

[grim canyon]

That’s fair… I’ve been on the same track lately 😭

[foggy nacelle]

Never dealt with that tbh, not sure

[grim canyon]

Sub acquired, anyone know any good installation videos I could watch? And if there’s anything I need to buy other than an amp wiring kit

[fringe scaffold]

Run the power wire down one side of rhe vehicle and the RCAs down the other

When you put the fuse on (as close to battery as possible) use a multimeter and touch both sides of the fuse holder WITHOUT the fuse for like 5 seconds, then put the fuse in and it won't spark or anything.