Install Your Car Stereo Yourself
Estimated read time 3 min read

Install Your Car Stereo Yourself

If you have little cash but want a better sounding stereo system in your vehicle, installing stereo yourself can save you a tremendous amount of money. It is relatively easy to install a new CD player or radio in your car, especially if you have had any experience in wiring or electronics.

The standard car stereo system is installed in the dash; therefore, this article will provide the steps necessary to complete this task. Custom or modified vehicles will require a different set of instructions for stereo installation. For this task, you will need a new car stereo or CD player (which is also called a head unit), wire strippers, electrical tape, a screwdriver set, and wire cutters. You will also need a guide outlining how to remove your dash panel and how to adequately remove the old stereo system without causing any damage. By following these simple steps, you will be enjoying your new stereo in no time!

Buy a new stereo system. Purchase one that fits properly where your old one was located. In addition, when purchasing a stereo you might wish http://www.sound-stereo.com/ to get a specific wiring harness that is specific for your new stereo and your vehicle’s make and model. Wiring harnesses make the whole wiring job a snap, literally.

Make sure the engine is turned off. Disconnect the negative (black) battery cable. Never work on any part of your car’s electrical system with the battery connected, as the electrical shock could be fatal.

According to your manual, remove the dash panel surrounding your stereo. Unscrew and remove your old stereo (head) unit. On the back of the unit, there will either be a batch of individual wires or one single plug connecting a lot of wires. If you find a whole bunch of wires, do not take them apart just yet. You will need to do them one at a time in a few moments in order to avoid confusion.

Wiring can be connected manually or with the wiring harness. If you have a wiring harness do step 5, then skip stepping 9. If you do not have a wiring harness, skip step 5, and follow steps 6 through 8.

Plug your new wiring harness into the connector, if you were able to purchase one. This wiring harness will then plug into the backside of your new car stereo. If you were able to do this, then you can skip steps 6-8.