Do you want to get some helpful tips in installing your car stereo? Lucky for you, the task is not as difficult as it seems, provided that you have all the tools and info you need. First of all, how about a little bit of car stereo trivia? The very first car stereo, or car radio, was developed in the 1930’s and credited to the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation. Decades later, German company Blaupunkt introduced FM receivers to their car radios. Around twelve years after, the first cassette player for the car was launched by Philips.  

So you have had your car for several years now, and you think the factory car stereo that came with your vehicle has grown outdated. With the advent of new audio technologies today, especially in the automotive industry, you probably would want to make that change from a cassette player to a CD player, or even a car stereo that functions as an MP3 player as well. Furthermore, there are now car stereo systems that allow you to connect USB cables, TV sets, and even have Wi-Fi.

So what do you need if you want to install a new car stereo? First of all, you should select a brand and model of stereo that does not only apply to your preference. This means, check with your electronics shop to know about stereo models that are made for specific car makers. You may also find these out in the websites of your stereo company. This helps in determining compatibility of wiring, size, and others.  

One of the first things you should do is prepare your tools. You will need some electrical tape, wire cutters, a screwdriver, and wire strippers, plus your newly purchased stereo head. You must disconnect the ground cable that is attached to your car battery.  Next, you must remove the dashboard panel which contains your old stereo unit, so you can take it out. Be sure you don’t pull on the wires right away. It helps if you note which wires belong where.  

In some newer models of car stereos, the wires are already bunched together with a wire harness, which is a plastic cap that slides conveniently in place with the wire harness of the car. This makes it super simple to fit wires that are appropriate for each other. If you car stereo does not come with the wire harness, you should transfer the wires by color codes from your old head unit to the new head unit one by one. This prevents the confusion since there are several wires by color. You can follow many online guides about the wiring part if you still are confused.

Next, you should insert your new stereo head into your dash, but before you completely secure it with the bracket, reconnect the ground cable from your car battery. Test out your new stereo, and if you are satisfied, then you can secure the bracket in place.