In many cases the car audio system that you get when you buy a car is junk; it doesn’t pick up all the stations, you can barely hear it even when the volume is all the way up, maybe it just doesn’t have the ports that you are looking for, such as a USB port that you can plug a thumb drive into, or maybe it suddenly went dead. If you are having any of these problems with your car audio system it may be time to get a new one; in many cases cost is a huge factor to consider when it comes to car audio because it can be quite costly to do the installation. However if you don’t have the money to pay someone to install it, you can do it yourself with a little know-how and a few tips; here are some guidelines to get you started.
REQUIRED TOOLS
- Screwdrivers
REQUIRED MATERIALS
- New audio system
INSTRUCTIONS
- Your car’s audio system can include the stereo receiver or CD player, the speakers, subwoofers and an amplifier among other things; however here we will focus on changing just the receiver.
- Before you can install a new stereo receiver you will first need to remove the old one; to do this open the bonnet and disconnect the stereo’s negative cable from the battery. Next find the screws that hold the dashboard in place and use the screwdriver to take them out and pull the dashboard cover away so that you can get to the stereo; pull the stereo out so that you can get to the back of it but do not attempt to pull it all the way out while the wires are still connected to the back.
- In the back of the stereo there will typically be three sets of wires – the power cable, the antenna cable and the wiring harness that connect to the speakers; in some cases the power cable is included in the wiring harness. Disconnect all the wires, pull the stereo out and the removal is complete.
- Get the new audio system and slide it into the mounting bracket that came with it or us the old bracket if necessary; connect the wires to the new system just as you unplugged them from the old stereo and slide the radio into the slot. Before screwing it in or replacing the dashboard cover however, connect the negative wire to the battery and turn the radio on to make sure it works properly; once you are satisfied that it does, screw the system into place and replace the dashboard cover and the installation is complete.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- Measure the size of the stereo slot in your vehicle before buying a new audio system; particularly if you are buying a system that is bigger than the old one, you will need to know whether it can fit in your vehicle or not. Write the measurements down on a piece of paper and take the paper with you when purchasing the new system.
