How to wire / install a car stereo / deck (aftermarket head unit installation)

[rhodesbaby1]

What if my head unit harness has a ground wire that looks like the one you made, and the custom one I bought for my specific vehicle also has one?

[AnthonyJ350]

@rhodesbaby1 If the harness you bought has a ground wire, just cut them to length so they match up nice and hook them up together.

[m3xican02]

@AnthonyJ350 Thanks 4 the help man I'll give it a try, nd let's see if I can accomplish something.

[AnthonyJ350]

@m3xican02 Good luck!

[m3xican02]

damn man thats what i didn't want to do, take it to a store so they cab do it. the nearest place is like 1 hour away and well there is no BMW dealer around here. can you by any chance can u tell me what to do. if i have to remove some of the trim and that stuff just to run wires then no thank you, ill wait till i know how to drive in traffic much better.

[AnthonyJ350]

@m3xican02 You can try the12voltcom for wire colour coding. You'll need a test speaker and something to generate a tone to test the inputs and outputs going in and out of the factory amplifier. A little too hard to explain it through here. You can try searching it and see if someone made a video of it already lol.

[m3xican02]

hey i have a little question, so i installed everything like u showed here on vid but at the end the stereo just lit up, i have radio signal and everything else but i don't hear any sound. the only cable i didn't connect was the orange one, my new harness didn't have one. any help!!! thanks

[AnthonyJ350]

@m3xican02 I'm going to assume that the factory radio worked. The orange wire you're referring to is the illumination wire, that just dims the lights on the deck when you turn on your lights.

What kind of vehicle is it? In cases like this you might have a factory amplifier and you're not turning it on. You most likely hooked up your blue wire in your harness but there's a possibility that the pin location is different on the "car side".

[m3xican02]

@AnthonyJ350well i have a 93 BMW 325i and well yes there is a small "amp" i am guessing lol (black box) in the trunk, with a cd changer next to it. also the previous owner of the car had a system cuz he had a lot of wires and audio and video connectors. i am assuming that he wasn't using the old harness because the speaker wires were not being used. just power and 12v and blue one.he also had 2 cables red/black cable running separate but were soldier together to the black and red from harness

[AnthonyJ350]

@m3xican02 To make life easier, what I do on those cars is take the input wires and output wires of the amplifier disconnect them and hook them up to each other, running them off the deck bypassing the amp. If you don't have a means of testing these wires I would honestly suggest bringing it to an install shop and have a professional do it. These cars are more advanced on the install side of things.

[mwb2112]

i have female wire conectors on my new radio harness. Also the truck came with a aftermarket radio, can i use that harness and just cut it in half. i also got a bag of wires labeled power cables with male and female connectors. I need some help on figuring this out. the radio is a alpine ida-x305sbt

[AnthonyJ350]

@mwb2112 If the truck came with an aftermarket head unit and it was done properly, yes you can just cut it and reuse the harness. Is the bag from the Alpine unit?

[stevenn714]

what are the steps once after you do this to install an amplifier and subs

[AnthonyJ350]

@stevenn714 Check my channel, there's a bunch of audio install videos :)

[MikeTraucer]

I have an interface harness but my stereo doesn't get enough power to turn on, and i was wondering if i should just wire tap the 12v switched power to the wiper blades fuse even if i have an scosche interface harness?

[AnthonyJ350]

@MikeTraucer What's the vehicle you're working on?

[rumblebeee27]

so you can connect the ground wire to any metal in the car? like the inside? because im trying to put in my pioneer radio in my 95 avenger and i cant get the ground wire in the back theres 1 ground wire that comes from the car itself and one connected to the wires like we see here? need help :( email me. or message me

[FloHiobros]

Do you always have to have an after market stereo wiring harness?

[AnthonyJ350]

@FloHiobros It makes the job a lot easier if you use one. They're pretty cheap from your local install shop.

[569UNIT]

@AnthonyJ350 Mine is different you dont match the colors.. Im working on an 1995 nissa n240sx the colors are different and can i sawder instead of the plastics?

[AnthonyJ350]

@569UNIT Really the colours don't match? Are you using an aftermarket harness? I've worked on a ton of Nissan's including 240's and it's a pretty standard harness. Do you have the "active speaker" system in there? 

Yes you can solder, just make sure the wires are wrapped nicely. I do have a "how to solder" video you can check out.

[569UNIT]

@AnthonyJ350 THANKS BRO I WAS MISSING A HARNESS ;)

[AnthonyJ350]

@569UNIT Good luck dude! Hope your system sounds good!

[iconartDOTca]

Super nice, simple and very clean install dude.

[AnthonyJ350]

@iconartDOTca Thank you very much!

[OKSTATEFAN100]

i just bought a boss bv9996b and was wondering if this would work with it. there seems like there are a lot more connections on the back than than that pioneer unit

[AnthonyJ350]

@OKSTATEFAN100 The main wiring will be the same. Your unit probably just allows you to expand your system with more available connections.

[nosaints89]

sorry i mean the bracket that the deck is attached to.

[AnthonyJ350]

@nosaints89 Oh, in that application those brackets came with the car on the factory deck. This is typically called an iso mount. Usually metal brackets are found in Japanese cars to hold the deck in.

[AnthonyJ350]

@nosaints89 Oh, in that application those brackets came with the car on the factory deck. This is typically called an iso mount. Usually metal brackets are found in Japanese cars to hold the deck in.

[nosaints89]

where do you get that radio harness that matched up with the bolts?

[AnthonyJ350]

@nosaints89 Sorry, are you talking about the part where I ground (black wire) to part of the chassis? Or the brackets that hold the deck and screw into the dash?

[ghettohoopstar02]

what is the name of the white piece with the wires?

[AnthonyJ350]

@ghettohoopstar02 It's just called an after market stereo wiring harness.

[666TECHNO666]

yep, alright install for people with fancy cars, now what about cars that dont have any connections and you have to find different colours that dont match up with the aftermarket head unit

[AnthonyJ350]

@666TECHNO666 What kind of car do you have???

[666TECHNO666]

@AnthonyJ350 89' mazda familia..most of the wires are ok like power and ground....although ive had to reloom the power wire coz it burnt out like fuck but yea..i dont need to know coz im good with electrics..but it would just be nice to know what to do for people that havent got a clue

[crazycowcat]

first corect install video i have found. 99 percent of the videos i have seen on hear hack off the original conector. when i make my harness i like to solder the wires and use heat shrink. for flat rate sake i perfer the heat shrink crimp but conectors the style that you used alows moisture into the but crimp and alow corrosion. i also perfer convoluted tubing over tape makes a clean appearance.

[harofire]

Those wires are going NOWHERE!!!!!!! lol great vid btw

[zach1827]

thanks for posting this video and replying to everyone's questions. I recently got a kenwood KDC-X695. I have a similar black harness that came with my deck, but i am wondering if it's necessary to buy the white harness? OR can I make connections to the stock wires in the car as long as I can find out with color should match up. For example I figured out which cords connect to left front speakers, right front speakers ect.

[AnthonyJ350]

@zach1827 It's totally worth buying a wiring harness for your vehicle application (white harness). Just head down to your local install shop and you can buy one for cheap. It makes your install reversible if you want to put the stock deck in and it makes sure your speakers are in phase for optimum sound. Plus it makes hooking up features like "illumination" and "power antenna control" easy.

[jvrG20]

you move like super fast

[boarderofsnow23]

Where did you buy the brackets on the side of the stereo? I just took out my factory stereo and realized i need those.

[AnthonyJ350]

@boarderofsnow23 In this particular application we used the stock mounting brackets. If you don't have them anymore and you need them, you might be able to get an alternative from your local install shop or track the factory ones at the dealership or a wrecking yard.

[Logindudeproductions]

ok did that black harness come with your new head unit??

[Logindudeproductions]

how many wiring harness do i need? when u get them do u just line up color to color... and does the plug have to be specific to your new head unit.. and what comes with the new radio?

[Logindudeproductions]

ok will every head unit basically fit every car

[AnthonyJ350]

@Logindudeproductions For most modern cars yes. There are a few exceptions where the factory HVAC controls are integrated with the stock radio but there are a variety of aftermarket kit suppliers like Metra and Best Kits who will probably have a solution. Also vehicles from the early 80's and prior, the dash probably has to be modified to fit an aftermarket head unit. This was before the "modular" dash style we're used to today.

[andjahopf]

The wiring harness, was it specifically for Mitsubishi to Pioneer? I read that you shouldn't just line it up colour to colour (but I don't know anything as of yet and obviously it worked fine for you). Where did you get it? And just any other general info about it. Great video, you really know what you're doing!

[AnthonyJ350]

@andjahopf When it comes to aftermarket wiring for stereos the wiring colour coding has been standardized for the most part. There are a couple exceptions with some European cars for example (VW and Mercedes where the constant and accessory wire switch). The part I used was specifically for a Mitsubishi vehicle. My best suggestion is to go to your local install shop and buy the proper parts from them. It'll make the install a lot easier, look better and in most cases reversible.

[TorqueGarage]

dude, your speed crimping those wires are impressive... I just installed a couple stereos myself and my hands getting tired was an issue. I used electrical tape on mine, but I wish I would have thought to use zip ties... It completely slipped my mind... Thanks for the great video!

[AnthonyJ350]

@TorqueGarage Thanks for the comment! I think technique is very important; a product is only as good as the install. I'm glad you liked the video!

[mattismaco]

Good video man!!! helped me aheap!!! keep the vids coming

[AnthonyJ350]

@mattismaco Thanks!