Safety

• Before installing the car audio components, you need to disconnect the battery from the vehicle's electrical system. The grounding cable connects the vehicle's frame to the negative battery terminal. Use a wrench or pliers to loosen the bolt that connects the two half-circles of the negative battery cable clamp around the negative battery terminal post. Once the clamp is sufficiently loosened, you can remove it from the battery post. Place the cable away from the battery altogether to avoid an accidental reconnection or arcing. Connecting or disconnecting an electrical component to a "live" vehicle electrical system can lead to shorting of the system and damage to the connected components.
  
  

Stereo Mounting Dock

• The stereo mounting dock is the opening in the dashboard where the vehicle's stereo is housed. The size of the dock varies among vehicles. The two most common sizes for car stereos are single-DIN and double-DIN. Single-DIN stereos are the most popular and are generally the size for standard AM/FM radios, cassette players and single-disc CD players. Stereo systems that have multiple-disc changers and DVD and navigation capabilities are almost always double-DIN decks. A vehicle that has a double-DIN-sized stock stereo can be modified by way of a faceplate adapter to fit a single-DIN replacement. The faceplate adapter will fill the gaps around the stereo to fit into the larger stereo dock. A single-DIN stereo that replaces a double-DIN unit will require more complicated modification to the stereo dock and perhaps the dash panels that surround the stereo dock.
  
  

Stereo Mounting Bracket

• Within the stereo dock lies the stereo mounting bracket. This apparatus is almost always made of metal and is responsible for securing in place the vehicle's stereo deck. The bracket oftentimes has more than one component. Vehicles, such as the Honda Accord, will have a head unit in the upper slot of the bracket while the lower slot is reserved for a storage pocket. Other vehicles use the lower slot for equalizers or other stereo components. The enclosed components are bolted to the bracket on the side of the stereo. New stereos can be bolted into the bracket, though they are likely to require adapters to made them compatible with the arrangement of screws.
  
  

Wiring Adapters

• There is no single standard for stereo wiring connectors. When you purchase a new car audio system, it may be able to plug directly into your vehicle or require an adapter to do so. Purchase a wiring harness adapter to connect the vehicle's stereo wiring to your new stereo outlets. A wiring harness adapter has many uses. It can adapt incompatible stereo wiring, serve as a liaison, of sorts, for other aftermarket stereo components, and be used to connect external devices, such as satellite radio receivers and MP3 players. Plug the stereo wiring connectors into the lead connectors of the wiring harness adapter. Plug the corresponding leads into the outlets on the back of the new stereo unit. The stereo wiring and the connectors for your vehicle's stereo wiring can only connect one way. There is no chance of incorrectly attaching the two connectors; however, you should read the manual that comes with the wiring harness for the best methods to install multiple components.
  
  

Dashboard Panels

• The panels that need to be removed and replaced, during an audio installation, present varying challenges. Some vehicles require an elaborate sequence of steps to access the stereo dock while others require simple tools to extract and install a car stereo. Consult your vehicle's repair manual for the instructions specific to your vehicle. Make sure you have the necessary tools for the job. Even the most complete tool kits are not equipped with Ford DIN removal tools which are required to remove stereo decks in Ford, Mercury, Lincoln and Mazda vehicles. The time to complete the task will vary as well. A simple installation by a car audio novice will take approximately 30 minutes. More complicated vehicles may take well over an hour. Make sure that you have enough time to finish the process before having to operate the vehicle. The negative battery cable will be disconnected and will have to be reconnected should you need to use the vehicle before the installation is complete.
  
  

Installation Sleeves, Collars and Cages

• Installation sleeves are often used to make the stereo bracket and stereo mounting dock of varying vehicles compatible with an expansive array of aftermarket car audio decks. The sleeves (also called collars or cages) provide a consistent platform for different stereo units to be mounted in the dashboard docks. The sleeves are made of metal and constructed to fit inside the vehicle's stereo dock. The inside of the sleeve is designed to accommodate the stereo, regardless of the subtle irregularities of a specific vehicle's bracket or dock.The immediate inside walls of the installation sleeve will have metal tabs that must be folded to secure the sleeve into the dock. Use a flat head screwdriver to bend the tabs to lock the sleeve into place.