Before you begin-
How to wire a wiring harness:
Ready?? Let's go, dude!
In Dash Double Din
1.) take off negative battery cable from battery:
This is simple, and is an easy step to skip, but I will tell you now that on more than one chance I have messed up a piece of gear because I was careless and did not disconnect the battery. Be safe, be smart. Just spend the 2 seconds to unhook the battery. Please!!!
2.) Disassemble dash/console head unit mounting location
To get the installation head unit out is ordinarily a pretty easy process. Most times it only requires the extraction of a few panels and screws. Sometimes these panels are held on with clips instead of screws, so you'll want to get a panel extraction tool to take off them safely.
There is an precisely great website called http://www.installdr.com/ that has exquisite guides to the installation of gear in certain vehicles.
3.) Dismount installation head unit
Once you have the panels off that surround the installation head unit, unmount the installation radio. It is often held on by bolts. If the radio is mounted on any sort of bracket or cage, take off the brackets or cage with the installation unit still intact. These brackets or cages can be useful in mounting the new head unit.
4.) Put together aftermarket install kit (if necessary)
If your vehicle needs an install kit, now is the time to put it together. Think about how the head unit will fit into the install kit, and from there to the vehicle. This is where those installation brackets or cages may come in handy. Once the head unit is secured to the install kit, and ready for install...
5.) Hook up wiring harnesses, antenna adapters, Rca cables, interface cables
Hook up all of the stuff that needs to be plugged in, such as...
Wiring harness: For power, ground, power antenna, amp turn-on, speaker power, etc.
Antenna adapter: Adapts your installation antenna to your aftermarket head unit.
Rca Cables: If you have an amp in your system, and you want to use the pre-outs on your head unit, hook up your Rca cables.
Input cables: If you want to hook up and Rca input to hook up an mp3 player or other device, plug that cable in; if your head unit offers an Rca input feature.
Interface cable: Hook this up if you have Cd/Dvd/Mp3 Player installed in your vehicle, or if you want to hook up ipods, satellite radio and other devices
6.)Test
Okay, it's all hooked up. You're so excited! You've re-connected the battery, you turn the key, and bam! The screen turns on, and you feel good. The music sounds good, the Cd plays, everything is well. Great!
What if it doesn't work?
Check your wiring
Be sure you remembered to hook the battery back up
Be sure the unit is getting power. Use a digital multi-meter.
7.) Mount and get new head unit
Once it is all working, mount the new head unit to it's location. Be sure it fits well, and looks good with the panels on. Be sure it's straight. We're doing a expert job here, not some lame quickie job. If you have funky screws (like torx, or other odd shaped screws), try to consolidate these into your install. This will make your head unit more difficult to steal.
You also will want to mount your head unit with a backstrap. This is a long metal strip with holes that you can use to stabilize the rear of the unit. Find a place to attach the backstrap to the vehicle, then attach it to the head unit.
8.) Tweak to sound best with amps
If you have amps in your system, you'll want to tweak them with your new head unit. The first step is to turn the gains on your amps all the way down. Pick out a well recorderd piece of music that isn't too loud or bass heavy. Look for one with good balance. From here, be sure all of the sound enhancement effects on your head unit are turned off, be sure the treble and bass are neutral, the fader is centered, the balance is centered, and no sort of loudness control or eq preset is active. Turn your head unit all the way up, or until you begin to hear distortion. If you hear distortion, back off the volume until it is fully gone. No more adjustment is necessary. Just remember not to turn the volume past that point of distortion! If there is no distortion, go to your amplifier's gain controls, and turn them up one at a time until distortion is heard. Back the volume up a few notches, and you're set. Turn the volume on your head unit down, and you're stereo is now all ready to go.
Enjoy the sounds!
-Honest Aeb
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