How to Connect a Car Stereo System
- 1). Lift the hood of the vehicle to reveal the electrical connection to the battery. Remove the cover from the negative battery terminal. The negative terminal cover is likely black and marked with "NEG" or a minus sign.
- 2). Place the adjustable wrench around the nut that secures the negative battery cable to the terminal lead, and loosen it until the cable is able to be removed from the lead post. Remove the cable from the terminal and rest it away from the battery.
- 3). Remove the stereo from the vehicle's stereo mounting dock. The procedures for stereo removal vary among vehicles and can involve removing dashboard panels to reveal the stereo mounting dock. Consult your vehicle owner's manual for exact instructions.
- 4). Pull the stereo wiring and antenna cables from the back of the factory stereo. Squeeze the release mechanism on the wiring connectors to free them from the rear panel of the radio.
- 5). Plug the stereo wiring into the leads of a wiring harness adapter. The adapter will be color-coded or labeled to show where the appropriate connections should be made.
- 6). Insert the faceplate adapter into the stereo mounting dock. The faceplate adapter will provide an opening to the mounting dock that will fit the aftermarket stereo. Pull the stereo wiring with wiring harness adapter attached, through the front of the faceplate adapter.
- 7). Plug the wiring harness adapter into the corresponding outlets on the rear panel of the new stereo. Plug the antenna cable into the outlet on the back of the stereo labeled "FM Antenna."
- 8). Slide the stereo into the mounting dock. The new radio will snap into place in the faceplate adapter. Depending on your vehicle, you may need to screw in screws or bolts to secure the new stereo in the dock before replacing any necessary dash panels.
- 9). Replace the dashboard panels as directed in your vehicle manual.
- 10
Replace the negative battery cable around the negative battery terminal lead. Tighten the nut onto the terminal's bolt, securing the cable onto the lead. Replace the negative battery terminal cover and close the hood.
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