Car Aftermarket Options

Car stereos used to be pretty complicated to install, but in the past 10 years, things have gotten substantially easier. The introduction of vehicle-specific dash kits and wiring harnesses have...

Towing a vehicle or trailer behind your vehicle involves more than just successfully connecting the tow hitch. You must have adequate lights and signals wired to your tow hitch so other drivers...

It used to be that installing a car stereo required a degree in electrical engineering and an intimate knowledge of the electrical system of a car. But now, the aftermarket has made it a lot...

Car stereos are popular modifications to most cars, and they usually turn into a snowball effect. First you install a deck and two speakers, then it's an amplifier, and then it's four subwoofers...

Daytime running lights are a safety feature that most auto manufacturers put into effect many years ago. They make a car more visible, and therefore less likely to get into an accident. But since...

It's a bit underrated, but the battery of your car is one of the key components to your vehicle. Without that extra power, the starter can't engage and turn over, and your vehicle can't start....

Battery cables are used to transmit power from the battery to the various electrical components in the vehicle. Technically speaking, the alternator is connected to the battery, which in turn...

Installing a car stereo system is one of the first things many people do to their vehicles. Once things get more complicated, and you're pushing more and more wattage through the system, it...

A multiple spark distribution (MSD) is a type of capacitor-discharge ignition that delivers a series of high-voltage sparks over a longer duration than a single spark coil ignition. This brings...

Car speakers alone will only provide so much in the way of quality and volume. For a truly powerful and complete sound, audio enthusiasts power their speakers with an amplifier. To supply your...

The first thing that most people do to their car or truck is install a new car stereo. That's not only because of how easy they are to install at home with minimal tools, but also because of the...

Overhead clearance lights are used mainly on larger vehicles that haul trailers. Kits are now available so that you can add these to your Dodge truck. Recon and Putco are two retailers that...

A key component to a quality car stereo is the amplifier. When installing an amplifier, you need to locate a suitable path for laying the main power wire (or hot wire), from the battery to the...

During normal operation, the turbo in a turbocharged car reaches very high temperatures. The turbo is generally cooled by the engine's oil supply, which is routed to the turbo. When the motor is...

This will show you how to take a factory stereo out and install a new stereo/cd player

Driving lights greatly enhance driving safety, especially on unlit rural roads. Check state and local laws before installing these lights on your truck or car, as it may be illegal to operate...

One of the most common aftermarket additions to any vehicle is the upgrade to the stereo system. The 1998 Ford Mustang is a vehicle designed to make the upgrade relatively simple. You can choose...

Some Toyota Camrys are sold with Sirius Satellite Radio devices installed. But for some, adding Sirius to your Camry remains an aftermarket option. The ideal location for mounting is on the...

The Eagle Talon 2G is the second generation Talon; it was produced from 1995 to 1998. The turbocharged variants of the model benefit greatly from the installation of a turbo timer, which is a...

On a turbocharged car, it is a good idea to let the engine run at idle for a short time before the motor is turned off, particularly if the car has just been driven aggressively. Turbos produce a...

If you own a turbocharged car, installing and learning how to use a turbo timer will help your turbo last for many years to come, with less chance of it failing. A turbo timer is a device that is...

The turbocharger in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI engine spins at incredibly high speeds and in turn produces a lot of heat. If the oil source that cools the engine is suddenly cut off, which is what...

Saturn owners have a platform that allows for a moderate challenge in upgrading with aftermarket audio wares. When upgrading a stereo system, the speakers, the stereo deck itself and the...

When you have a vehicle with a lot of electrical demands, you want to keep an eye on how much power your alternator is putting out to the battery. The easy way to do that is to wire a gauge for...

When a turbocharged car is driven aggressively, or even for an extended period of time, the turbo reaches very high temperatures. If the car is simply turned off when the turbo and the oil are...

Installing a Blitz Turbo Timer ensures the longevity of the turbo on your car. After an aggressive drive or being driven for a long period, a turbocharger builds up a lot of heat. If the engine is...

Installing a boost gauge on a turbocharged car is an ideal way to monitor the behavior of the turbo and its affect on the motor. A boost gauge is in essence a pressure gauge connected to a vacuum...

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, the task of backing up your vehicle just got a little bit easier. With vehicles getting bigger and having more blind spots, installing a backup camera...

A turbo boost gauge is a pressure gauge that reads the amount of pressurized air, or boost, that is being delivered to a motor by the turbocharger. A boost gauge is particularly beneficial if a...

A boost gauge is a useful gauge that reads the amount of boost that is being delivered to a turbocharged engine by the turbo. It can be particularly important on a vehicle that has been modified...

A car volt amp gauge -- or ammeter -- is a good way to keep an eye on your vehicle's electrical system. If the voltage drops, you may have a battery or an alternator problem, or if it spikes, you...

The ability to monitor the amperage of an automobile alternator is essential for those who have installed high-power usage equipment, whether the equipment consists of appliances in an RV or...

A brake line lock is a front brake valve that will close to brake line when initiated by the driver. The system brakes the front wheels while the rear wheels continue to turn. A line lock is used...

Installing a subwoofer and amplifier, although often time-consuming, is simple in a Volkswagen Jetta MK III. The interior and, more importantly, the way the interior comes apart, gives even the...

Wiring a car stereo may seem like a daunting task, but in reality, it's not that difficult. Once you do it the first time, it will become easier thereafter. Connecting a car amp is no different,...

Flip-down DVD players can be installed into any vehicle, but they work especially well in large vehicles with high ceilings like vans and SUVs. They aren't easy to install, though. You need to...

Daytime running lights are a safety feature designed for automobiles that are mostly driven in areas that experience a lot of rain or snowfall. As a result, some people who live in sunnier...

When wiring a switch, the safest thing to do is to wire a fuse in line with the power. Without it, if you have a short, you could also have a fire. Practice safety at all time, and learn how to...

Tachometers, oil pressure, temperature: the types of aftermarket gauges you can add to your car is varied. However, the basic process of how to install them is the same. Whether you are replacing...

When installing an RPM gauge -- better known as a tach -- short for Tachometer, the unit must be set on the backside to the number of cylinders of the vehicle. Read the instructions for the tach...

Installing a 12v inverter in your car, truck, boat, RV, or home isn't that difficult if you take your time and follow these instructions.

Emergency lighting is a simple thing to do if you don't skip any steps outlined here. If you don't you run the risk of burning up your electrical system. Be careful to understand the process,...

It's really not that difficult to install a vehicle tracking device. With a few simple hand tools and a little know how, you can do this yourself even if you don't have much experience working on...

Moving the vehicle's battery to the trunk is a common high-performance modification that increases traction and handling by increasing the weight on the rear tires. Wiring a trunk-mounted battery...

MSD's ignition system produces multiple ignition sparks at each spark plug, rather than just a single spark with conventional ignition systems. This multiple spark technology greatly increases...

Your car's horn makes a distinctive sound by design. So that other motorists can easily recognize your vehicle based on the sound of the horn, smaller cars are equipped with a higher-pitched horn...

We use it to say "Hi," to say "Bye" and to say "Watch it, buddy!" It's the horn on your vehicle---ready to give a "Beep-beep!" at the press of the button. Eventually, if you have your vehicle...

You can connect LED lights to a car for added nighttime safety, or just to dress up the appearance of your vehicle. Almost all aftermarket LED lights sold in auto stores today have a simple,...

A brake controller is an electronic device mounted in your Dodge Ram's cab that receives a signal from the brake light switch whenever you apply your foot to the brakes. It then sends a signal out...

Amplifiers are essential components to a great sounding audio sound system. Besides volume, the extra power provided by an amplifier enables your car's audio system to produce a full sound,...