| Before you begin- | | | | turns on, and you feel good. The music sounds |
| How to wire a wiring harness:READY?? Let's go, | | | | good, the CD plays, everything is well. Great!What |
| dude!1.) Remove negative battery cable from | | | | if it doesn't work?Check your wiringBe sure you |
| battery:This is simple, and is an easy step to skip, | | | | remembered to hook the battery back upBe sure |
| but I will tell you now that on more than one | | | | the unit is getting power. Use a digital |
| occasion I have messed up a piece of gear | | | | multi-meter.7.) Mount and secure new head |
| because I was careless and did not disconnect the | | | | unitOnce it is all working, mount the new head unit |
| battery. Be safe, be smart. Just spend the 2 | | | | to it's location. Be sure it fits well, and looks good |
| seconds to unhook the battery. PLEASE!!!2.) | | | | with the panels on. Be sure it's straight. We're |
| Disassemble dash/console head unit mounting | | | | doing a professional job here, not some lame |
| locationTo get the factory head unit out is usually | | | | quickie job. If you have funky screws (like torx, |
| a pretty easy process. Most times it only requires | | | | or other odd shaped screws), try to incorporate |
| the removal of a few panels and screws. | | | | these into your install. This will make your head |
| Sometimes these panels are held on with clips | | | | unit more difficult to steal.You also will want to |
| instead of screws, so you'll want to get a panel | | | | mount your head unit with a backstrap. This is a |
| removal tool to remove them safely.There is an | | | | long metal strip with holes that you can use to |
| absolutely great website called that has excellent | | | | stabilize the rear of the unit. Find a place to attach |
| guides to the installation of gear in certain | | | | the backstrap to the vehicle, then attach it to the |
| vehicles.3.) Dismount factory head unitOnce you | | | | head unit.8.) Tweak to sound best with ampsIf |
| have the panels off that surround the factory | | | | you have amps in your system, you'll want to |
| head unit, unmount the factory radio. It is often | | | | tweak them with your new head unit. The first |
| held on by bolts. If the radio is mounted on any | | | | step is to turn the gains on your amps all the |
| sort of bracket or cage, remove the brackets or | | | | way down. Pick out a well recorderd piece of |
| cage with the factory unit still intact. These | | | | music that isn't too loud or bass heavy. Look for |
| brackets or cages can be useful in mounting the | | | | one with good balance. From here, be sure all of |
| new head unit.4.) Put together aftermarket install | | | | the sound enhancement effects on your head unit |
| kit (if necessary)If your vehicle needs an install kit, | | | | are turned off, be sure the treble and bass are |
| now is the time to put it together. Think about | | | | neutral, the fader is centered, the balance is |
| how the head unit will fit into the install kit, and | | | | centered, and no sort of loudness control or eq |
| from there to the vehicle. This is where those | | | | preset is active. Turn your head unit all the way |
| factory brackets or cages may come in handy. | | | | up, or until you begin to hear distortion. If you |
| Once the head unit is secured to the install kit, | | | | hear distortion, back off the volume until it is |
| and ready for install...5.) Hook up wiring harnesses, | | | | completely gone. No more adjustment is |
| antenna adapters, RCA cables, interface | | | | necessary. Just remember not to turn the volume |
| cablesHook up all of the stuff that needs to be | | | | past that point of distortion! If there is no |
| plugged in, such as...Wiring harness: For power, | | | | distortion, go to your amplifier's gain controls, and |
| ground, power antenna, amp turn-on, speaker | | | | turn them up one at a time until distortion is |
| power, etc.Antenna adapter: Adapts your factory | | | | heard. Back the volume up a few notches, and |
| antenna to your aftermarket head unit.RCA | | | | you're set. Turn the volume on your head unit |
| Cables: If you have an amp in your system, and | | | | down, and you're stereo is now all ready to |
| you want to use the pre-outs on your head unit, | | | | go.Enjoy the sounds! |
| hook up your RCA cables.Input cables: If you | | | | -Honest AEBAlan Bayer is an entrepreneur and |
| want to hook up and RCA input to hook up an | | | | car audio enthusiast. He runs an eBay store selling |
| mp3 player or other device, plug that cable in; if | | | | car stereo install supplies:stores.ebay.com |
| your head unit offers an RCA input | | | | honest-aebs-autosound/He also has a GREAT |
| feature.Interface cable: Hook this up if you have | | | | website with car audio articles (such as the one |
| CD/DVD/MP3 Player installed in your vehicle, or if | | | | from above). Also on the website, learn about car |
| you want to hook up ipods, satellite radio and | | | | audio equipment, how to find the best equipment, |
| other devices6.)TestOkay, it's all hooked up. | | | | how to install it, and save big bucks in the |
| You're so excited! You've re-connected the | | | | process! |
| battery, you turn the key, and bam! The screen | | | | |