You do not need to remove the battery or disconnect the cable from the positive terminal. To be sure the battery is disconnected, check to see if the lights come on in the cabin of the car. Nothing electronic should work with the battery disconnected. Disconnecting the battery will prevent you from doing damage to the electrical system as well as protect you from shocks.
Consult your car’s repair manual if you want to determine the best way to remove pieces of trim that are in your way. Set the trim aside where you won’t accidentally sit or step on it as you work.
Look for two pairs of matching holes on the left and ride side of the stereo. If they are present, your stereo is held in place with spring clips. If there are no holes, remove the trim below, above or to the side of the stereo to gain access to the bolts.
In a bind, you may be able to use pieces of a metal coat hanger to create your own DIN tools. If the stereo doesn’t come out, it is likely stuck by a piece of trim. Don’t force it out, instead look for any obstructions that may be preventing it from moving.
There may be a trim “faceplate” over the stereo that pops off, revealing bolts in the face of the stereo instead of behind it. Unscrew these bolts and slide the stereo out. Remember that the stereo is still connected to the car with wires, so be careful not to rip any out as you remove the stereo from the console.
Do not pull the wires out of the clip. If you are able to purchase a harness adaptor for your new stereo, it will plug directly into the car’s existing clip. Be careful when removing the wire harness clip from the back of the stereo. It may have a plastic button or tab holding it in place.
You can order adaptors online or at most auto parts or electronics stores. Using the adaptor greatly reduces the chances that you will make a mistake wiring in your new stereo.
The power wire coming from the stereo is usually red, and likely will connect to a red wire from the car. The ground wire for the stereo will be black, as will its corresponding wire from the car. If there is no ground wire, you can secure the ground cable to bare metal in the body of the car to serve as a ground. The 12 volt constant power wire is usually yellow or blue, though it may be a number of colors coming from the car. The rest of the harness wires are for the speakers. Use the diagrams to properly match each with its appropriate wire from the car. The antenna wire is much thicker with a metal head and can be connected separately before you install the stereo. These wires are usually short and won’t be reconnected until you are about to install the new stereo.
If you are unsure if your vehicle utilizes external amplifiers, refer to the owner’s manual.
Soldering two wires together requires a soldering iron and solder. You melt the solder onto the wires to stick them together and as the solder cools it forms a permanent bond. Twisting wires together and then covering them with heat-shrink wrap or electric tape will suffice for car stereos. Connectors can be purchased that you simply slide both wires into and either crimp them together with pliers or twist them together with your fingers.
Checking the stereo’s functions now will prevent you from having to take the console apart again to address any issues with the wiring. If something does not work properly, review the connections with the wiring diagrams that you have to make sure all of the wires are connected to their corresponding match. Remove the keys and disconnect the battery again after you’ve tested the stereo.
Be careful not to pull any wires out of the back of the stereo as you tuck them back into the dash board. Try not to let the wiring get in the way of the bracket you will need to bolt the stereo too (if your stereo requires being bolted into place).
Some vehicles may require an adaptor to properly fit the new stereo in the hole for the old one. These adaptors can be ordered at auto parts and electronics stores.
If you use bolts, make sure they are snugly tightened before reinstalling the trim. Once done, try to wiggle the stereo. It should hardly move at all when properly secured.
If you break a clip and the trim won’t stay in place, you can use a hot glue gun to secure trim pieces to your car, but be aware that it will make it more difficult to remove those pieces again in the future. If you break an entire trim piece, you will likely need to special order a replacement from the dealership, as most auto parts stores don’t carry trim components.
