sheilding wire whats it for?

so im getting ready to install a new headunit in my 2007 Element, and its a 7 speaker, amplified system. basicly, the stereo give the amplifier its audio input, and from the amp, it goes to all 7 speakers in the car.

for the mean time, im going to bypass the factory sub completely. i will only run the 6 components off the aftermarket headunit, then at a later time, upgrade the factory sub, and power it with a 1 channel amp.

but what is pin 11 for? the factory shop manual only says shielding.. thats it. do i need to hook this up since im not using the factory amp any longer?   can anyone help?

Shielding is typically grounded and a return path for the electrical signal. I see only four pairs of speaker wires, I bet the shielding is the (-) for one of those other pins you have labeled are remote. In short, as long as your not turning the stock amp, it shouldn't be needed.

The shield connection is often the RF shielding for the line-level outputs.  You may already know this but you can't connect to the pins labeled "R-R+" etc. to run the speakers off the aftermarket head unit's internal amps unless you bypass the factory amp.

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i am going to bypass the amp.

even though i don't have a great stereo background, if i had to make an assumption, i would guess the output's out of the factory headunit to the factory amp arnt' enough to power a speaker. its basically a line output to the amp, similar to a RCA jack of a headunit to a amp.

so i will be taking the 2 plugs at the factory amp, sniping the 8 wires on each, and splicing them together, to basically "loop" the ciruit from the aftermarket headunit to the components. my factory sub will be disconnected, and the factory amp will not be powered, but in the near future i will be upgrading that sub, and running a external amp.

does any of that make sence?

I recommend not "snipping" any wires at all.  Pick up a Metra 70-1721 into-car adapter for the head unit and the 70-1726 amplifier bypass harness.  That way if you want to return the car to its factory condition you can since the connectors will not be cut off.

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good call, im aware of this harness, but i could achive the same results by looping the connections at the amp also... however, if i ever sold the car, removed my GPS HU, i would be in a world of doodie with my hacked amp harness.

the only reason i wanted to splice my own wires, was to save money on the expencive harness.. its about 40 bucks, and the extra effort to run the wire loop from the HU down to the passanger kick pannel where the amp is located. but you've convinced me.   ide rather spend the extra money for another harness, before i cut one of the OEM factory wires.

i take it back.. average prices are 60 bucks.. cheapest online i could find was 40.   how crappy.

60 bucks and some effort with the car still intact VS 20 bucks and LOTS more effort and the car hacked up, and then more money and time if you ever want to return it to OEM.  Your call.  But a pro uses the harnesses whenever they can.

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