How to Install Car Audio CD Players

A car radio removal tool fits into the slots on either side of the radio.

Installing a car audio CD player is accomplished by upgrading a standard car radio to a radio with CD player combination. The original radio is discarded. Most cars have a universal slot in the dash called a DIN slot, and all car radio and CD manufacturers make their products to fit this slot. Often you can also use the existing wiring harness and antenna. Installing a car audio CD player can be accomplished by following a few steps.

Things You'll Need

• Adjustable wrench
• Car radio removal tool
• Mounting sleeve
• Wiring connectors
• Perforated strap
• Self-tapping screw
• Mounting bolt

Instructions

1. Open the car's hood and take the black, negative cable off the battery with the wrench. This will allow you to work safely without shorting anything. Remove the existing car radio. Often you use a car radio removal tool that fits into the slots on either side of the radio. Pull the radio out, disconnect the wires, and discard it.

2. Push the new mounting sleeve into the existing slot, and verify the size is right. Hold the sleeve in the dash by bending the tabs.

3. Pull the existing wiring though the dash. There will often be a harness (plug) that you can simply insert in to the back of the new audio equipment. If there isn't, you can simply make the connections yourself. The blue wire goes to the power-operated antenna. The red wire goes to the accessory side of the fuse block. Or, you can just attach it to the existing radio red wire. The black is the ground, attach it to the existing black. Same with yellow, the live wire.

4. Attach the thick antenna wire to the antenna jack on the CD player. Attach or run the speaker wires. The connections should be marked, but sometimes you will have to physically trace them.

5. Slip the radio into the sleeve. Attach the back of the car audio CD player to the existing perforated support strap using the mounting bolt in the center of the new CD player. If there is no strap there, screw one to the firewall with a self-tapping screw. Bend the strap to position it. Reconnect the battery and test.

References

• Jensen: Phase Linear SD1411 Owner's Manual