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Car Audio Install experts?
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Posted by: CanadianRidr---------------------

Ok so here is the problem. I installed a CD deck in my girlfriends car for valentine's day. And I knew since day one I did it wrong. It was upsetting because I did everything else perfect to the T. I used a wire harness and soldered the wires for a perfect connection. And as soon as I pull out the install kit I realize there is like 10,000 little plastic pieces. It was sooooooo frusterating that I just said screw it and wedged some pieces in there to hold it up. It works but the deck skips. So I have decided to give it another go. Does anyone have any advice? The install kit instructions pretty much suck. And when I watched a professional install a deck in my truck, all he did was pull out one piece it snapped in and took 2 minutes.

Now why do I have to sit there for 4 hours and look puzzled? What makes it worse is the car is a 1992 Buick Skylark and with the old deck out I just see a big gaping whole, no mounting points or nothing.

And why is there 10000 plastic pieces? :whiner:

Posted by: ExoSphere---------------------

All of those buhzillion plastic pieces are there to make it a "universal" install kit. I have used them and they are a real pain as each piece ALMOST fits but none do exactly... I used a hot glue gun and a small grinder to custom make the pieces that I needed. Once I had a solid install, I just cleaned up the outside appearance with the original trim (also custom fitted) So don't feel bad, the kits were manufactured by morons that try to make one kit fit everything on the planet...

Posted by: CanadianRidr---------------------

Sigh.....I guess I will try it again, but man there will be hell to pay this time. Ill take too smashed kits back to wally world and tell that little snot nosed kid in the blue vest to give me my damn money back

Posted by: CanadianRidr---------------------

Okay I found this pic of an install kit that is suppose to be the right guy.

Now what does that front piece(the one without the tabs on the side) do? just sit in the back of the deck? lol

http://ebay0.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/...102d916/i-1.JPG

Now if I have this correct you take semi loose metal cage off the deck and snap it into that second black plastic piece with the tabs on the side and then bend the tabs on that cage? then it slides back on the deck?

Posted by: JWW---------------------

My first car was a 73 Ford Ranchero. Being the 16 year old idiot that I was I tried to the a custom radio install. After screwing everything up I finally took a fairly thick piece of aluminum and made a custom dash insert. I painted it black and it looked pretty good.

Posted by: biglou---------------------

CR-The outer piece is sort of like a moulding, or flange. It screws into place by the looks of the small mounting tabs on each side of it. The front rectangular piece is DIN-sized, the deck will slip into it, and there are most likely little triangular metal tabs on the deck to bend out and snug it up to this frame piece. Then, connect the harness plugs and antenna, and snap the inner frame into the outer frame that you mounted to the dash already. That's how it looks to me. Also, you will want to support the rear of the deck. This may sound hokie, but a folded shop rag works well at damping vibration and keeping the deck from flopping around.

Posted by: CanadianRidr---------------------

Your the man LOU!!!
I should have known to asked the long haired metal god (ex long haired :confused: )

So if I have this correctly I screw in that one piece with the tabs after I bent the metal triangles into it? Then I lock it into that front piece? It's just getting that one piece in that's confusing to me. Ill re-read your steps, but as soon as you get "the inner frame to the outer frame" I get lost

Quote:

Then, connect the harness plugs and antenna, and snap the inner frame into the outer frame

So the deck should be almost hooked up at this point?

Posted by: CanadianRidr---------------------

Ok I re-read it and I think I got it. But if you can explain more go for it

Do you have any idea what the two plastic pieces do on the sides there?
Just extra's? LOL

Posted by: JuliusPleaser---------------------

Some kits have plastic tabs on the sides so that you can flush mount the deck. What brand is the kit? Some of them are junk. Make sure that the metal cage tabs are bent all the way down so that the cage can't move around. You also need to make sure that the back of the head unit is strapped or otherwise supported.

I have a huge assortment of extra pieces and parts, so if you run out, I can send you more.

Posted by: biglou---------------------

CR-The two little pieces on the side are for the old "post" style radios that had a volume and tuning knob on each side. The biggest piece in the picture, the one in the back, is the one that should screw into the dash using the mount tabs. Then the front rectangular piece goes around the deck, insert the rear of the deck into it and slide it all the way up, and then look for the metal tabs to bend on all four sides of the deck (top, bottom, left and right). They are triangular so the more you bend them out, they tighten the deck into that frame piece. There will be many of these that you don't bend since they put them in many locations on the shell of the deck to accomodate diferent makes of vehicles and mount kits. Then, just connect the harnesses and the antenna and support the rear of the deck with a rag if you don't have a solid mount of some sort to hold the deck level.

You might check out Crutchfield's website. They have free kits with any deck you buy, and they may have some online tutorials or pictures. I haven't spent any real time there, but it's worth a shot. I'm just guessing here, so you might have to do a search, but I think the site is: www.crutchfield.com .

Posted by: a454elk---------------------

I can see it now, CR is sittin in the garage, girlfriend at his side as he pours out the billion pieces from the package. She looks at him with love in her eyes and says, "You know what you're doing, right?" CR, without missing a beat says, "Of course baby, why don't you go inside and get me a nice ice cold adult beverage whilst I get this all taken care of for you, my love."

As the girlfriend leaves, CR then jumps to the computer and fires up DRN!

HELP, I'VE FALLEN AND CAN'T GET UP!!!!!!

Posted by: CanadianRidr---------------------

If you only knew elk, if you only knew :confused:

Actually here is the dead honest truth. So I pull out the install kit and 400 pieces fall out, so I start sweating. I told my girlfriend to hold on as I bolted up the stairs to see if Lou replied, so I am re-reading his old reply and checking the picture over. And all the sudden BANG she is right behind me :scream:
I closed the window and just kinda said, ok ready!
Of course I got the "What were you looking at?"

"Uhhhh...... :o I said I KNOW what im doing" Heh, she probably thought I was at a "Adult" site

And when I finnally figured the stupid kit out I realized the two screws that were suppose to come with the kit didn't. So yea that's where I stand :silly:

Posted by: Pat Sorrells---------------------

As an old Car Stereo installer my only advice to you would be to go to a real installation shop and get a kit from there. The kits at Wally World are not that great. If you get them to fit right they will probably still rattle. And if you ask the fellows at the shop to set up your kit they probably would at no extra charge... (it's worth a try)

Posted by: dirty~d~---------------------

Go to SoundDomain They have a forum just like this one where you can ask car audio specific questions. I used to work for that *bleeping* company. As far as their prices, they are hard to beat. The forums are pretty informative and the website itself is easy to navigate, I don't suggest calling for tech support. After I left, that department had one other person who could answer questions and he hardly ever answered his phone. Try finding a kit on their site that is more specific to your girlfriend's car.

Now I remember why I don't work in car audio anymore.

Posted by: a454elk---------------------

If you're lucky, you'll be done my NEXT valentine's day!

Posted by: CanadianRidr---------------------

Thanks everyone!! I will check the forums D

Oh and Elk

Ill be done by friday, guranteed

Posted by: zio---------------------

Metra is the name of the company that makes those kits. I agree w/ Pat- pay the $50 to have it done. Case in point- I've been installing my own systems since my first car- a VW Scirocco (that was 5 cars ago). First 4 went flawlessly (granted they weren't always the neatest installations). Then #5, for reasons I haven't figured out, went to hell. Something shorted out, & blew some electronic module behind the dash that cost $500 for the part alone. Then I had a parasitic drain that I could not track down. Had me totally confused. Finally, I took it to a shop & paid them to re-install it.

So, even though I know I can install a deck, amp & speakers, I think from now on I'll spend the dough & have an expert do the job. Things are just getting more and more complicated as cars get more and more high tech.

Posted by: biglou---------------------

Ah, but I walk among the truly "Electro-mechanically gifted" among us! :D I have done some amazing installations and repairs on everything from my pickup's system to creating that YZF Hurricane for Thunder 33.

Just last night I took apart and reworked the blower motor speed switch in the truck. I know, it's a $25 part, but I just HAD to see if I could fix it first! (I could. :D)

BTW-I'm real humble, too!

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Car Audio Install experts?

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