Sound Stages SSON12 User Manual

SSON12

Designed for 2012 and newer Chevrolet® Sonic vehicles

©2012 Stillwater Designs
SSON12-A2-20121010

1

Subwoofer Assembly

Subwoofer
Power Harness

2

Subwoofer Body
Harness

25A Fuse
Wire Ties x6
Foam Strip
Wire Taps x2
Adapter Harness

Power Wire Routing

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery.

2. Using a razor knife make a cross shaped incision in the large rubber grommet from inside the vehicle and
feed the power wire from the engine compartment to the cabin. Using a fi sh tape wire is recommended.
Fig. 1

NOTE: If you are installing the optional amplifi er system, install the power wire for it at this time.

3. Pull the wire(s) through the grommet until the sheathing touches the grommet.

4. Remove the fuse box cover under the hood. Remove the fuse from the fuse holder on the subwoofer
power wire and connect the power wire to the accessory lug. Torque to 9 +/- 1.5 Nm. Make sure that the
wires exit on the side closest to the battery. Fig. 2

Cut grommet here.

Fig. 1

Wires should exit in

direction of arrow

Fig. 2

5. Install the connecter on the end of the power harness inside the cabin. The black connecter should have
a block out plug installed in one side to prevent the power wire from being inserted into the wrong position in
the connecter.

NOTE: If you are installing the optional amplifi er system, it does not matter what order the three wires are
installed on the three-pin connecter, but the terminals can only be inserted one way. If the terminal will not
go into the connecter, simply turn it 180 degrees and try again. Push the terminals in until they click and lock
into place.

Body Harness Routing

6. Remove the driver’s side kick/threshold panel by loosening the
retainer at the top and then pulling loose. Fig. 3

7. Remove the lower portion of the rear seat by pulling straight up
on the front edge.

8. Snap loose the rear drivers side threshold panel located along
the bottom of the door opening.

9. Snap loose the lower portion of the B pillar post cover.

Remember to place your warranty card in the glove box for future use.

Retainer – Rotate

counter-clockwise

Fig. 3

3

10. Remove the drivers side cover directly in front of the console by removing the plastic retainer with a
Phillip’s screwdriver and then pull the cover loose. If installing the optional amplifi er system, the passenger’s
side panel will need to be removed as well but has no plastic retainer and can simply be pulled off. Fig. 4

11. Remove the radio trim bezel by carefully prying loose with a plastic panel removal tool. Start at the
corners and work around the bezel. Fig. 5

12. Remove the four screws securing the radio, pull radio from dash and disconnect all wiring.

13. Route the white two pin connecter of the subwoofer harness up to the radio opening from the drivers
side of the console

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

NOTE: If installing the optional amplifi er system, route the amplifi er harness at this time.

Subwoofer Input Connection with Optional Amplifi er

14. Connect the white two-pin connecter of the subwoofer harness to the corresponding connecter of the
amplifi er harness at this time.

Subwoofer Input Connection without Optional Amplifi er

15. Connect the six inch adapter harness to the end of the two­pin connecter. Locate position 40 and position 32 on the radio
connecter and install one of the wire taps onto the wire. Lay
the wire in the open channel, fold the connecter body over and
squeeze with a pair of pliers until connecter snaps shut.
Fig. 6. Connect the green wire of the adapter harness to the wire
in position 40, and the brown wire to the wire in position 32

Fig. 6

Connect ground

wire(s) to either

factory ground stud.

Fig. 7

4

NOTE: If you are installing the optional amplifi er system, route the
power and ground wires of the amplifi er body harness under the
carpet and toward the driver’s side kick panel at this time.

16.Connect the power connecter to the power wire coming
through the fi rewall grommet and tuck out of the way.

17. Connect the black ground wire to the factory ground point
near the driver’s side kick panel. Torque to 9 +/- 1.5 Nm. Fig. 7

18. Continue running the subwoofer harness down the drivers side of the car to and under the rear
seatback. It is helpful to rotate the seatback down to allow clearance for the connecters. Secure any excess
harness to the factory harness under the driver’s side rear threshold panel.

Subwoofer Installation

NOTE: If you your vehicle is a 5-door model, remove the spare tire to retrieve the spare tire safety strap
equipped with the vehicle, and then replace the spare tire. (Refer to owner’s manual, beginning in section
10-67, for proper removal and reinstallation of spare tire.) The safety strap will be used to insure the sub­woofer enclosure does not strike someone in the event of a collision.

19. On sedan models fi nd the anchor point on the driver’s rear seatback approximately 17 inches from the
load fl oor and approximately 7 inches from the edge of the seatback closest to the center of the vehicle.
Make a vertical incision in the carpet approximately 2-3 inch long. Fig. 8

20. On the hatchback models, remove the intermediate load fl oor. (Intermediate load fl oor cannot be used
with subwoofer installed.)

7”

17”

Fig. 8

Install

foam

here

Fig. 9

21. Place the supplied foam strip on the plastic quarter panel cover in the position shown in Fig. 9 to prevent
the enclosure from contacting the panel. (Hatchback only)

22. Lay the poly bag that the subwoofer is packaged in on top of the carpet behind the drivers side seat­back. (The poly bag prevents the Velcro® from engaging the carpet prematurely. Set the subwoofer on top
of the poly bag and connect the subwoofer harness.

23. Run one end of the safety strap under the bracket on the side of the enclosure and then connect both
ends to the cargo tie-down on the driver’s side of the car. Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 (Hatchback only)

Fig. 10

Fig. 11

5

Hatchback installation shown

24. With the seatback in the up position set the subwoofer in
place against the back of the seatback. Release the seatback and
while holding the top of the subwoofer against the seatback slowly
rotate the seatback forward until the subwoofer bracket slides
under the anchor point on the seatback. Continue to hold the
subwoofer against the seat while rotating the seatback rearward
until it locks into the fully back position. Fig. 12

25. Hold fi rm pressure against the bottom of the subwoofer while

Fig. 12

pulling the poly bag from beneath it.

NOTE: If installing the optional amplifi er system, refer to the amplifi er instruction manual to complete the
installation.

26. Reinstall all previously removed parts in reverse order.

27. Install fuse into fuse holder.

38. Reconnect negative battery cable to battery.

Troubleshooting the Kicker Integrated Systems

If you experience a problem once the Subwoofer is installed use this guide to locate the trouble.

The radio is working, but the Subwoofer is not working:

• Check the battery voltage to make sure it is not discharged below 11 volts.

• Check the negative battery cable to see if it has been securely tightened back on the battery.

• Check the inline fuse located near the battery to make sure it is plugged in completely, and not blown.

• Check the inline +12Volt power-connecter near the fi rewall to make sure it is plugged in securely.

• Check the inline connecters near the subwoofer enclosure to make sure they are plugged securely.

• Check the ground wire connection to make sure it is tightly secured to the proper ground in the vehicle.

• Check the audio input signal connection to make sure it is secure and connected to the proper wiring.

• Test with different music in case there is no low frequency audio in the initial sound check.

There is a buzz or rattle noise that accompanies the low frequency element of the music:

• Check for a connecter or any other object that could be very near the enclosure.

• Check the subwoofer enclosure mounting brackets to make sure they are secure.

6

Symptom Possible Cause Solution

No Subwoofer Output

Fuse not installed in inline fuse
holder on subwoofer and / or amp
harness

Low battery voltage Recharge the battery
Negative battery cable not

connected
Power wire connecter not

connected to body harness

Ground wire not grounded properly Check ground wire with voltmeter

Balance or fader controls not set to
neutral position

No low frequency information in
music

Subwoofer harness not properly
/ completely connected to sub­woofer.

Install fuse into fuse holder.
Refer to instructions for correct
placement

Reconnect negative battery cable

Connect power wire to body
harness. Check for loose
connection

to insure it is a good ground
Set balance and fader control to

center settings. (only effects stand
alone subwoofer kit)

Test with several different songs

Securely fasten both of the
connecters on the subwoofer
harness to the subwoofer. Check
for loose connections.

Blown radio fuse Refer to owner's manual for radio

Radio Not Coming On

Low battery voltage Recharge the battery
Fuse not installed in inline fuse

Radio Comes On, But No

Sound From Any Speakers

If you continue to experience problems after troubleshooting, please contact KICKER Technical Support at
[phone] ext. 6009, or [e-mail].

holder on amplifi er harness

Ground wire not grounded properly Check ground wire with voltmeter

Low battery voltage Recharge the battery

fuse location and value

Install fuse into fuse holder. Refer
to instructions for correct place­ment

to insure it is a good ground

stillwater designs

P.O. Box 459 • Stillwater, Oklahoma 74076 • USA • (405) 624–8510

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When purchased from an Authorized KICKER Dealer, KICKER warrants this product

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be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use

for

a period

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ONE

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YEAR

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from date

of

original purchase,

or

TWO

(2)

YEARS

if

installed

by

a KICKER dealer. If this product is identified as "Refurbished"

or

"B

Goods", the warranty is limited

to

a period

of

THREE

(3)

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~ MONTHS from date

of

original purchase.

In

all cases you must have the original receipt. Should service be necessary under this warranty

for

any reason due

to

manufacturing defect

or

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malfunction during the warranty period, KICKER will repair

or

replace (at its discretion) the defective merchandise with equivalent merchandise. Warranty replacements may have cosmetic

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scratches and blemishes. Discontinued products may be replaced with more current equivalent products. This warranty is valid only

for

the original purchaser and is

not

extended

to

owners

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of

the product subsequent

to

the original purchaser. Any applicable implied warranties are limited in duration

to

a period

of

the express warranty as provided herein beginning with the date

of

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the original purchase at retail, and no warranties, whether express

or

implied, shall apply

to

this product thereafter. Some states

do

not

allow limitations on implied warranties; therefore, these

as

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exclusions may

not

apply

to

you. This warranty gives

you

specific legal rights; however you

may

have

other

rights

that

vary from state to state.

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WHAT TO

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YOU NEED WARRANTY OR SERVICE:

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Defective merchandise should be returned

to

your local Authorized Stillwater Designs (KICKER) Dealer

for

warranty service. Assistance in locating an Authorized Dealer can

be

found at

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or

by

contacting Stillwater Designs directly.

You

can confirm that a dealer is authorized

by

asking

to

see a current authorized dealer

window

decal. If it becomes necessary n

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for

you

to

return defective merchandise directly

to

Stillwater Designs (KICKER), call the KICKER Customer Service Department at

(405)

624-851 0

for

a Return Merchandise Authorization

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Stillwater

Designs,

3100

North

Husband

St,

Stillwater,

OK

74075

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The RMA number

must

be clearly marked on the outside

of

the package. Please return only defective components. The return

of

functioning items increases your return freight charges.

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Non-defective items will be returned freight collect

to

you. Include a

copy

of

the original receipt with the purchase date clearly visible, and a "proof-of-purchase" statement listing the

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of

sale and

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manufacturing date code. Freight must be prepaid; items sent freight-collect,

or

COD, will be refused.

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This warranty is valid only if the product is used

for

the purpose

for

which it was designed. It does

not

cover:

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• Damage due

to

improper installation

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to

other components

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by

exposure

to

moisture, excessive heat, chemical cleaners, and/or UV radiation

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or

abuse. Repeated returns

for

the same damage may be considered abuse

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• Any cost

or

expense related

to

the removal

or

reinstallation

of

product

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• Speakers damaged due

to

amplifier clipping

or

distortion

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• Items previously repaired

or

modified

by

any unauthorized repair facility

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or

missing barcode labels

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without a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number s t I w ate r e s I g n s

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cost

of

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by

anyone other than KICKER

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HOW

LONG WILL

IT

TAKE?

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KICKER strives

to

maintain a goal

of

1 week service

for

all acoustics (subwoofers, midrange drivers, tweeters, crossovers, etc) returns. Delays may be incurred if lack

of

replacement inventory

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or

parts is encountered. Failure

to

follow these steps may void your warranty. Any questions can be directed

to

the KICKER Customer Service Department at

(405)

624-851

0.

Contact your

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International KICKER dealer

or

distributor concerning specific procedures

for

your country's warranty policies. Note: All specifications and performance figures are subject

to

change. Please

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visit www.kicker.com

for

the

most

current information.

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P.O.

Box

459 • Stillwater,

Oklahoma

74076 • USA

• (405)

624-8510

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