how hard is it to install a car stereo?

Question

I'm thinking of getting the stereo on the link below to put in my husband's 1990 Honda Civic. Now, I can install a card in a computer, change a spark plug, and fix basic household items. Do you think I should try to install this stereo, or will I need to hire someone?

http://www.amazon.com/Dual-XDM6820-AM-mp3-receiver/dp/B0009PKU9C/ref=pd_bbs_3/104-8929116-5536705?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1186192743&sr=8-3

Answer 1

It doesn't hurt to try.

Answer 2

Here's all you need to do:

1. Go to Radio Shack or comparable car radio shop and buy a wiring harness for his model car and some wire connectors (the twist on type work well). Also check with Honda to make sure that his is not the model that doesn't like to be messed with. There is a model of honda, but I don't remember from memory which one, that would set off the airbag if you messed with the radio. I know this sounds crazy, but it's true.

2. When taking out the old radio, make sure to write down which wires are for which speaker, power, negative, antenna, etc. This may be marked or in a diagram on the radio itself, if it's the one that came with the car.

3. Connect the wiring harness to the cables inside the dash first, then the other side of the wiring harness to the chassis for the radio (a sleeve that fits around the CD player). When this is done plug it together. It looks like the player also has an MP3 input. To install this, just plug it into the RCA (Red/White) connections in the back of the chassis directly and route the cable down under the dash.

4. Before installing the player the rest of the way, test it to see if it works. It would be inconvenient if you got the whole thing installed and it didn't work and you had to uninstall everything to troubleshoot the problem. A simple thing to check for if it doesn't work is the fuse box.

5. When you know it works, slip the sleeve into the slot and secure it to the slot with a securing bolt in the back and bend down notches in the front bezel of the sleeve.

6. Insert the CD player into the sleeve and it should be done.

Good Luck. It shouldn't be that hard. Might take about an hour or so. Don't hire somebody.

Answer 3

First of all, id pick a different radio. That's not a good brand at all, i don't think. Id stay with a popular brand, say kenwood for example
The hardest part of installing a car stereo is taking the dash apart. I'm not for certain but i believe that car probably has a dash you have to unscrew to take off. Finding all the screws is someone time consuming but its not hard. Some dashboards snap together. The radio is usually held in by a few screws and sometimes you may need a special tool u can buy at a car audio shop (they will know what tool you need) Then when you get the radio out there is a wiring harness that you need to disconnect and if you get a Honda civic harness it wont be hard at all. if you cant get the one to match you can just wire it up with the colors that match. it usually says it on the back of the radio or in the manual. If not, you will have to do it the old fashion way and test each speaker wire to make sure they match up. power,ground, accessory are red,black,yellow. Hope that helps alittle. Its not that bad.

Answer 4

Now installing an aftermarket radio in a civic is really easy but it all depends on whether or not the car still has the stock radio. If it does then it is real easy because you still have all the connections intact, if not then checking the wires may be needed. When you purchase the radio make sure you buy the connector harness that goes along with it (they usually run about $15 to $20). All you have to do with this harness is match the colored wires from the radio to the harness and connect thats basically it. Then all you have to do is slip the unit into place and enjoy the sound. Try this and you cannot go wrong. If you still are not sure of a do-it-yourself install then maybe taking it to get done is your best choice. If you need help removing the factory radio then try INSTALLDR.COM they have picture diagrams specific to your vehicle....

Answer 5

Replace Car Stereo

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
how hard is it to install a car stereo?
I'm thinking of getting the stereo on the link below to put in my husband's 1990 Honda Civic. Now, I can install a card in a computer, change a spark plug, and fix basic household items. Do you think I should try to install this stereo, or will I need to hire...

Answer 7

Sweetheart, there is a car stereo installation kit made for almost every car on the road. Crutchfield.com has them, Scosche has them, and there are even oddball brands at WalMart and Pep Boys. If you can do the things you mentioned above, you can install a car stereo. In fact, getting the old one out may prove to be the most difficult part. If it is the original factory radio you are removing, that is a very good thing, because most of the kits you buy to install your stereo simply plug in to the same connectors the old one has. If no one before you has replaced the stereo, chances are all the wires and connectors are still intact, making the installation much easier. For the record, I had Circuit City's "pros" install one of my stereos, and I had to take it out and install it correctly.

Answer 8

I love it when people take the initiative to do it themselves!
DO IT YOURSELF!!!
It is very simple. I know there are other peole that gave answers to say pay someone else to do it. They're stupid and don't want to learn anything!

The hardest part about the whole thing is figuring out how to get the old radio out. I like to go to Autozone.com and check out their repair guides. They have very detailed images of most parts of cars so you can go there and see where each and every clip and screw is located on your radio. Once you have that all you need is a wiring harness for your car that you can get at Walmart, Best Buy or Circuit City.

Once you have that, all you need to do remove the old radio, take said harness and connect the wires from said harness to the harness that came with the head unit. I like to use pigtail crimps (that's what the "pros" use). You will also need a multipurpose wire stripper to strip the ends of the wire and crimp the pigtail or butt connectore (same thing). Once you do that, plug in the ends of the harnesses on both ends (one in the factory harness and one in the head unit) and test it out by turning it on an putting in a CD.

Good to go!

Answer 9

A 1990 Civic is a very easy vehicle to install a radio into. The job will become much, much easier if you purchase an adapter harness for the radio wiring. This allows you to make all your wire connections on your workbench, and plug the finished result into the vehicle's factory radio plug.

You don't need to purchase a mounting kit for your particular vehicle.

Answer 10

If you have a circuit city or a best buy, they might have a free install special for purchase over $99.
If you want the challenge and satisfaction of doing it yourself.
Go to Crutchfield, they might provide the wiring harness and dash plate included in their price (value $30-60). They include a instruction manual on how to do the install.
I had to guess you had a sedan. I went through the cruthfield menu to see what fits in your car. Do it again just to be sure.

Answer 11

Yes you should be able to do fine its reletivly easy, on some cars you need adaptars but i think it should be ok for a honda civic, installing new speakers is also easy if the wires are there.

Good luck