OEM subwoofer does not install in BRZ Sport-Tech

[KevinBRZ]

If you are thinking of getting the subwoofer from Subaru and you have a Sport-Tech (Canadian model), don't. The harness has different connectors. Now I'm stuck with this thing I can't install. Terrible install instructions and it doesn't list that it won't work with the Pioneer head unit.

Sorry the title should say Sport-Tech since it's Canadian.

[gramicci101]

Splice signal and remote turn-on from the door amp behind the rear seat. There are threads about using the door amp wiring. Run a 12ga power wire from the battery and a 12ga ground to a chassis point. Once you have signal, power, and ground, you just need to adjust the gain and you're good to go.

[KevinBRZ]

I don't want to cut wires which is why I bought the OEM subwoofer.

[Chimera]

the rear amp signal install can be be done 100% without cutting anything by purchasing 2 metra harnesses and wiring them together, IIRC metra 70-1761 and 71-1761, which are the Toyota male and female harnesses. the how to use the OEM amp harness thread has it in there for sure, on like page 5 or so..

this is all from memory, but the infos there. should be able to use the OEM with 0 cutting even without that HU without to much trouble.

[gramicci101]

Does the Sport Tech have RCA outputs on the back of the radio? I know the US FRS does, but the US BRZ doesn't. If your radio does, then you can run RCAs back to your sub for signal and you don't have to cut anything. Mine doesn't, so I used the method described by Chimera to get my signal.

Running power is easy. I ran mine through the huge gasket right behind the battery, and then down the passenger side under the plastic trim. I attached my ground to one of the bolts holding the door amp down.

[KevinBRZ]

Thanks for your help. I figured it out by comparing all the wire colors with the sub harness. Turns out the instructions don't apply to the Pioneer head units. I had to take apart the harness in between the head unit and the vehicle, which was stuck together with foam. So it does work, just takes a bit of taking stuff apart.

[SVXdc]

Exactly -- A Canadian BRZ's "native" radio power/speaker harnesses are the same as on a BRZ in other countries. When Subaru Canada fits the OEM variant of the Pioneer HU, they use a special Toyota-to-Pioneer adapter harness, and wrap self-adhesive foam around where it connects to the car's "native" harnesses.

The Pioneer has RCA jacks for a real line-level subwoofer output, and an unused socket with line outs for the main speaker channels, plus aux in, rear camera in, and more. You can pick up Pioneer's RCA harness (or a 3rd party replica) from various vendors on eBay and Amazon. See my posts in this thread.