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