Yes, you need power directly form the battery, fused. 8 guage is the thinnest I would ever recommend for any amp.

 

yes. 8 guage is the thinnest I would ever recommenrd for any amp.

x2 - always need a dedicated power line (fused or circuit breaker) and ground, 8g is a good minimum, for a power amp. The factory amp isn't that powerful - it's more of a crossover. Too much current though that (or any) wire can cause a fire if the fuse doesn't blow to protect it.

On the other hand, the amp will not deliver it's full potential if it's starved for current when it needs it, so you may also lower the sound quality even if you don't burn your car down.

 

i can tell you from experience that my cousin added a Flip screen kenwood and amp for a 10" sub and eliminated the stock amp in the trunk. He used all the wires in the rear for the Brain of the head unit and a small bass amp and it worked fine .... not hard hitting bass but it was sufficient with out problems for a year till he sold it .....(98 audi A4 V6)

 

thanks...wasnt sure if I could get away with it or not.

 

As it stands I plan on running the power wire to the battery. The others wires I'll tap into the factory amp wires in the trunk.
Anyone know the colors of those wires. Did a search for the amp wiring diagram but came up with nothing...though I think the power on wire is blue/white?

 

did a search on vortex..and my findings..
Grey harness to the amp..
RR+ 18
RR- 17
LR+ 14
LR- 15

...also read there is not remote on wire for the monsoon ..that correct. If so I'll be diggin around in the trunk for the unused cd changer harness for the power on wire.

 

i know theres a thread with the whole wiring harness diagram just seem hard to find it now since its been 3-4years since i used it

 

Here's the wires out of the [Monsoon] amp on the green connector:

1 + Left Rear Woofer Pur
2 - Left Rear Woofer Brn
3 + Right Rear Woofer Pur
4 - Right Rear Woofer Brn
5 + Left Rear Tweeter Blu
6 - Left Rear Tweeter Brn/Blu
7 + Right Rear Tweeter Blu
8 - Right Rear Tweeter Brn/Blu
9 + Left Front Tweeter Red/Grn
10 - Right Front Tweeter Brn/Red
11 - Left Front Tweeter Brn/Grn
12 + Right Front Tweeter Red
13 - Left Front Woofer Brn/Ylw
14 + Left Front Woofer Ylw
15 - Right Front Woofer Brn/Wht
16 + Right Front Woofer Wht



Here's the wires in (from the HU) on the grey connector

14 + In Left Rear Blu
15 - In Left Rear Brn
17 - In Right Rear Brn
18 + In Right Rear Grn
20 + In Left Front Ylw
21 - In Left Front Brn
23 + In Right Front Brn
24 - In Right Front Red