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