| Upgrading the sound system is usually one of the | | | | those. If you have obtained the wiring harness, you |
| first modifications attempted when we talk about car | | | | will notice the color coded wires in the back of the |
| customization. The best place to start is with a good | | | | head unit. The wires on the head unit and wiring |
| head unit. If you plan to install it yourself, read on for | | | | harness should match. The head unit wires and the |
| some technical tips from our experience installers. | | | | wiring harness wires will be partially spliced for easy |
| You will need a few tools to do the job right, so | | | | installation. There are several good ways to connect |
| start by collecting some screwdrivers (flat head and | | | | the wires. One way is to use butt connectors, which |
| phillips head), a socket set, wire cutters, wire | | | | crimp the wires within a connector. These can be |
| splitters, butt connectors or heat shrinking sleeves, | | | | picked up almost anywhere that sells/installs head |
| electrical tape, zip ties, solder and a soldering iron, and | | | | units, or at Walmart, etc. My favorite way requires a |
| some patience. | | | | soldering iron and heat shrinking sleeves. Twist the |
| The first thing I would do before installing I would | | | | wires together tightly. Apply just enough solder to |
| suggest buying the stereo wiring harness for your | | | | weld the two wires together. Now fold them over |
| vehicle application. This will make the installation easier | | | | parallel to one of the wires. Slide the sleeve over the |
| for you if you are a beginner, and it allows for easier | | | | connection and heat it with a heat gun or good hair |
| replacement of the stock radio (if you choose to sell | | | | dryer. I have had to rewire or repair systems where |
| the vehicle in the future) and swapping or upgrading | | | | butt connectors were used, but this could be installer |
| to a different aftermarket head unit. | | | | error, and not a problem with the connectors |
| Begin by disconnecting the negative battery cable | | | | themselves. I have never had any of the soldered |
| from the battery. This will ensure that you don't | | | | connections fail. |
| accidentally cross any wires and burn out a new | | | | Once all the connections are made, and the sleeves |
| piece of equipment. Next, remove the old head unit. | | | | heated and shrunk in place, I like to take a zip tie and |
| If you need to see how this is done on your specific | | | | tie them all together. Clip the excess zip tie for a |
| vehicle, you can look up your vehicles application on | | | | clean finished look. Connect the wiring harness of the |
| This is a great resource for seeing pictures of how | | | | head unit to the wiring harness connected to the |
| to remove the head unit. Once it is loose, disconnect | | | | vehicle. Plug in the antenna (you may find you need |
| the wiring harness and the antenna from the head | | | | an antenna adapter in some applications). Now slide |
| unit and remove it completely. | | | | the head unit in place, but don't attach it yet. |
| There are two types of wiring harnesses you can | | | | Reconnect the negative battery cable and turn on |
| get. There is the universal wiring harness that | | | | the head unit (make sure the key is turned to the |
| connects to your vehicles existing wiring harness, and | | | | ACC position). It should be functioning properly at this |
| has the unfinished wire ends that connect to the | | | | point. If you plan on adding an amp, or have |
| color coded wires of your new head unit. There is | | | | purchased one for this setup, turn the unit off and |
| also a wiring harness that has a harness on both | | | | connect the RCA cables. Run them through the dash |
| ends, and just clicks in place on both sides. These are | | | | to the floorboard and to the amp (more on how to |
| the easiest to install, but can be harder ot find to | | | | successfully do this in future articles). |
| match your vehicle to the head unit. Most wiring | | | | Check out our car audio installation blog for more info. |
| harnesses are the universal type, so we will focus on | | | | |