What's the going rate for a stereo install? (or why I'm mechanically incompetent) **NOW WITH PICS**

[beer]

OK, so I'm partially a moron, and partially Ford sucks. My 98 Contour has some electrical issues where intermittently, not *all* the doors lock when I lock them from the front door. Normally I walk around and make sure all the doors are locked before I go in for the night. A few weeks ago I came back from the gym and I didn't make this redundant check, partially because I was planning on going out in a bit, like ~1 hr.

So I'm parked at my girlfriend's and her bedroom is like 4 feet from where my car is parked. I'm on her computer and I think I hear something outside (I do this a lot because I'm paranoid) and someone is in my car! so I run outside and the motherfscker runs off with my faceplate and I am left with a partially-ripped out stereo with no faceplate. I don't have any shoes on so there's no way I would catch him so I don't pursue.

But it was an old stereo and I was planning on replacing it anyawys. Thinkin that if I'm an EE I can install a new head unit, I order some lowend crap off crutchfield and it comes. And I get stuck when I can't get the old stereo out. It's like a screwdriver was jammed in there and nothing I can do can get the old unit pulled out. So I want to have it installed for me but I am not sure on how much I should be paying for this.

Edit:
Pics
http://www.digitaljoe.net/personal/pics/car/PICT0001.JPG
http://www.digitaljoe.net/personal/pics/car/PICT0002.JPG
http://www.digitaljoe.net/personal/pics/car/PICT0003.JPG

 

[MithShrike]

Go to AudioExpress home, home, home of the $1 install.

 

[Black88GTA]

Do you have the stereo puller keys that came with the old head unit? It's probably locked into the sleeve with spring loaded clips.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Do you have the stereo puller keys that came with the old head unit? It's probably locked into the sleeve with spring loaded clips.

Crutchfield sent me some for the install of my new unit but I can't get them to un-spring. The faceplate is a eurodin....and I have the keys they sent me with my new stereo to remove the old one, but I can't seem to unlock the old one - I'm not sure what I'm feeling for though, either...I've tried for quite some time too.

 

[kt]

Open up the whole center console and rip that sucker out brute-force style!

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: kt
Open up the whole center console and rip that sucker out brute-force style!

I desire to avoid doing that

 

[beer]

^

 

[boomdart]

Originally posted by: beer

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Do you have the stereo puller keys that came with the old head unit? It's probably locked into the sleeve with spring loaded clips.

Crutchfield sent me some for the install of my new unit but I can't get them to un-spring. The faceplate is a eurodin....and I have the keys they sent me with my new stereo to remove the old one, but I can't seem to unlock the old one - I'm not sure what I'm feeling for though, either...I've tried for quite some time too.

They're called U-Keys most of the time...Try getting a nice stiff pair from auto zone...I remember using a coat-hanger bent the right way and getting it out, it's a pain in the ___ but you have to keep trying to get it out.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: beer
... if I'm an EE I can install a new head unit ... And I get stuck when I can't get the old stereo out ... nothing I can do can get the old unit pulled out. So I want to have it installed for me ...

haha, What made you think that designing circuits had anything to do with mounting stereos?

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: beer
... if I'm an EE I can install a new head unit ... And I get stuck when I can't get the old stereo out ... nothing I can do can get the old unit pulled out. So I want to have it installed for me ...

haha, What made you think that designing circuits had anything to do with mounting stereos?

well i was more referring to the practical lab experience with figuring out how sh!t goes together intuitively. but i'm stuck.

 

[Ornery]

CircuitCity is having free installation, and BestBuy will match that. (Return the Crutchfield unit, or sell it.)

How many of you bother to remove your faceplates? If you were beer, would the faceplate have been removed, while parked in the driveway? Where do you put it, when you do remove it? Is the glovebox, under the seat, or in the trunk good enough? Is the unit worth stealing without the faceplate?

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: boomdart

Originally posted by: beer

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Do you have the stereo puller keys that came with the old head unit? It's probably locked into the sleeve with spring loaded clips.

Crutchfield sent me some for the install of my new unit but I can't get them to un-spring. The faceplate is a eurodin....and I have the keys they sent me with my new stereo to remove the old one, but I can't seem to unlock the old one - I'm not sure what I'm feeling for though, either...I've tried for quite some time too.

They're called U-Keys most of the time...Try getting a nice stiff pair from auto zone...I remember using a coat-hanger bent the right way and getting it out, it's a pain in the ___ but you have to keep trying to get it out.

no...he doesnt need ford keys, he needs the keys to whatever deck he had in there.

Take your car up to BB and tell them that you are thinking about getting a new deck. Tell them you want to make sure the guy didnt do any damage to your wiring. Have them pull out your old deck, then after they find out everything is ok, tell them you will come back when you get paid. Have them leave your old deck out.

Problem solved.

Other than that you will have to destroy your old deck and possibly damage your dash to get the old one out. That is unless you are willing to dismantle your whole dash.

 

[beer]

GoodDad -

That is something that I have not read before anywhere online. I wasn't aware that all stereos had their own individual keys! From what I have read, the ukeys were supposed to be the standard for any eurodin installation - I guess that isn't the case. I wish someone would have bothered to put that in al the crutchfield installation materials I was sent.

 

[Aharami]

take it to circuit city or best buy (preferably CC) they will do it for around $50-70

 

[vi edit]

Damn. I had my '94 Camry factory HU out in under 5 minutes, and that was taking my time. Three screws holding it in, that's it. These other makes sound like a nightmare. :Q

 

[beer]

Ornery -

I would return it, but I bought it over a month ago. This whole story happened about six weeks ago and I've been without music since then since I can't seem to get it installed by myself. I really hate to suck it up and pay an install fee for a third party stereo :< I feel like a total moron.

Does anybody know where I can buy removal keys for a sony deck? Maybe I should just go up to a special car audio store tomorrow and ask for keys? GoodDad's thing is a good idea but I really don't think they'll touch my car unless I give them money.

 

[vi edit]

You're in large college. You have to know *someone* that is good with this stuff. Just get them a 12 pack of their brew of choice in return for half an hour of their time. Some of the guys I knew in college lived for this stuff.

 

[beer]

PrimitiveScrewhead -

Valid point *but* if what GoodDad says is true - that I need specific keys to remove the deck (which is a Sony) - then I don't think any of them will be able to help me. And then only thing keeping me from getting the deck in myself *is* a $4 set of keys. I have ukeys from what Crutchfield sent me but I can't get them to unlock the deck (which prompted this thread).

 

[beer]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&h=0&t=43835 <-- sounds like a pain in the ass, wtf

 

[geno]

Hm, I know that if you buy a deck at Circuit City and it's over $99, they install it for free...but you already bought yours so... =/

 

[MikeMike]

they should all be the same keys, the dude might have messed upyour h/u when he tore the face plate up.

vi, it isnt a factory headunit.

the best buy idea will work.

MIKE

 

[beer]

So....
If the keys I need are the same for the factory unit (which I have, crutchfield sent them to me) then I must really suck because I've spent a couple of hours total trying to get the H/U out with no success. On the other hand...if I need different keys then maybe I'm not so mechanically incompetent after all.

It's easter sunday, but if I call crutchfield tomorrow maybe they should know if I need any specific tools for a sony deck instead of the factory one?

 

[rudeguy]

what kind of deck what your old one?

 

[ElFenix]

find someone who knows wtf they're doing

 

[beer]

The old one is a sony.
New one is an awia. I got it because it was the only sub-$200 unit that had aux in built-in and not through an accessory add-on (my goal is to play my ipod through my stereo since it's much easier than keeping around MP3 CDs)