How hard is it to install car stereo???

[LukFilm]

I'm new at this car audio stuff and I am wondering if you have to be really skillful or if even a beginner can manage it. What tools would I need? And do I need to buy anything else to mount it in my car? I was told I HAVE TO buy a mounting kit for $15 and some adapter for another $15. What is your opinion? Thanks so much, slowly buy surely I'm getting ready to buy this thing

 

[ThisIsMatt]

You don't HAVE to buy anything if you get the same size deck as the factory size, you just have to know how to solder (or wire nut) wires together (and in the correct order). It's not terribly hard...

 

[LukFilm]

Any guide online that would help me out in this? Don't want to spend $45 for Best Buy to do it for me...

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Have you already bought the deck? The most experience (two decks) I've had is with Pioneer, and of course they came with a sheet that tells you what all the wires are for. Then you just need to match them up with the stock wires for the speakers, power (standby & switched), ground (anywhere), & power antenna if applicable...

edit: and dimmer, power amp, etc if applicable...

 

[johnstone]

if you've never done it before, i would recommend finding a friend to help or paying someone to do it. i tried doing my accord and i really screwed up the first time. hardest part is getting the stock deck out

 

[LukFilm]

Did not get it yet, I'm thinking of Pioneer P3300 or P4300. I looked at Crutchfield's website and it says:

"The FREE receiver wiring harness makes it easy
We'll send you a FREE wiring harness* with your receiver purchase. Simply connect the receiver's wires to the harness, then connect it all to the factory stereo connector. You don't have to splice into your car's wiring."

So, if I get this harness, I don't have to solder or splice?

 

[Colt45]

i find it easy as walking.. but more frustrating sometimes (lack of proper tools, in some circumstances)

 

[bunker]

Since you're a newbie at it I would buy the wiring harness they are offering. It makes it super easy to install, you just plug it into the factory wiring. If you really wanna do it all yourself, go to Radio Shack and buy some small heat shrink tubing to make your connections. Slide the tubing over one wire, twist the two together, then slide the tubing over the connection and take a hair dryer to it. You can go the easy way and use electrical tape, but the connections aren't guarenteed to stay.

As far as the mounting kit goes, you may or may not need it. A lot of manufacturers have odd shaped receivers and a standard DIN receiver that you buy may not fit right. If it doesn't fit well then I would suggest buying the mounting kit as it will look kinda cheesy without it.

*edit* I was typing when you replied. If the deck at crutchfield is a decent price I would go with that. They send you everything you need, great instructions, and phone support if you have any problems.

 

[snakesnfrogs]

for someone just starting out, Crutchfield is your best bet, IMO----they will include free detailed(and car-specific) instructions for installation, and they include any wiring harness/mounting kit you may need.

 

[XCLAN]

E Z........Buy a cd player from crutchfield...good tech support, customer service....and all the parts you need. Any questions just give me a holla

 

[Squisher]

Usually I find removing the bezel around the dash unit the hardest part. My '81 Camaro was the easiest, but my '91 Dakota sucks. After you unscrew it and pop it off the popcorns you can only pull it out about an inch when you have to start angling it out of there and bending it worrying the whole time that you're going to break it. As for the wiring its a piece of cake. Like has been said Crutchfield's installation kits take out allot of guess work.

 

[TripleJ]

I was a noobie at it a coupla months back(actually, that was half a year ago now, how time flies!) and it was pretty easy. I needed a pointy thing(eg. current tester) to slot into the 4 holes around the deck and push the prongs in to release the old deck. I then got some bullet head connectors to rewire the wires, which was the tricky part finding which wire should connect with which. I blew a coupla fuses short-curcuiting in the proccess but I eventually figured it out. Ummm, that's about all I think. Just some common sense and trial and error.

 

[atom]

Replacing the head unit isn't so bad. The real PITA comes in when you replace the wires. Getting behind the console/dash can be a real hassle on some cars.

 

[Squisher]

Yeah, if your going to replace the wires like I always do then the job can be allot tougher(hate those little factory wires). However most people don't.

You had to see the look on my wife's face when she came out to the garage to see what I was doing to my first new vehicle in 15 years and I had the seat, carpeting, kick panels, all interior trim, door panels, and dash taken out and was cutting up the kick panels to install two more MB Quarts in custom kicks. hehehehe.

 

[SuperSix]

Newbie - Get it from Crutchfield if you are handy. If you AREN'T pretty mechanically inclined, pay Best Buy to do it.