How to Install an After-Market Car Stereo
Installing a car stereo can be a rewarding experience. The sound of your favorite music flooding the passenger compartment of your car as you sit in traffic or just out enjoying a drive around town. The installation process is quite simple as you can purchase all the required tools and accessories when you are ready to change your sound quality in your automobile. The hardest part about installing a stereo is the wiring. It will look like a plate of spaghetti gone wild but as long as you follow the color coding the process the task can be completed.
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Things You'll Need
- Pliers
- Car Stereo
- Installation Bracket
- Wire Connectors
- Wire Crimpers
- Compact Disc
- Phillips Head Screwdriver
- Electrical Tape
Instructions
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1
Examine the new stereo to ensure all the needed hardware is included. You will need a wiring harness and a bracket to help the stereo fit in the console. The brackets can be purchased at any parts houses. They will be sold per make and model of your vehicle.
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2
Place the radio bracket into the slot where the radio will be going. The bracket will click into place.
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3
Plug the car stereo wiring harness to the harness supplied for the radio. The harnesses should just plug into place. In some cases, the harness may need to be spliced to fit the new plug in for the radio. That process can be time consuming. The easiest rule of thumb is to follow the color coding. Splice red to red and so forth. The speaker wires will be a solid color with a black line through it. Follow the color pattern to ensure the best sound possible.
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4
Run the wire out through the bracket and plug it into the back of the radio. The radio has a plug-in located at the back center of the radio.
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5
Plug in the antenna wire to the other provided spot on the back of the radio. This spot will be labeled as "Antenna input".
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6
Slide the radio in the desired spot. It will click with the bracket and lock it into place.
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7
Turn the ignition switch to auxiliary and power up your radio. You should receive your local stations with no interference. You will want to test a CD if the radio has a CD player installed.
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Tips & Warnings
Splicing a wire can be tricky but the easiest thing to remember is to cut enough of the insulation off the wire to get at least an inch of copper wire exposed. You will want to twist the wire with another wire to establish a connection. Use this method if your using a wire connector. Be sure to cover it with electrical tape to ensure the connection. Spicing with butt connectors are simpler. You slide the wire into the connector. Slide the other wire into the other side and with a pair of pliers you can squeeze both ends and it will lock the wire into place.
Be sure to follow all safety precautions as you are working with electricity. Disconnect your car battery if need be. Be sure to test the other functions on the radio as they will come with an input for your I-Pod.
