, you can see that there is a thread called "installers" as a sticky here in the audio section.
Audio system
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
C4 audio swap out
hey i own a 86 and i want to replace the cassette player with a cd/mp3 player combo. do you guys have any recommendations of what system i should put in and where i can have the work done?
Last edited by drmvette86; Feb 10, 2007 at 03:22 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Does your car have door speakers? If so, it's a Bose.
It's a weird system and you'll pretty much have to replace all the speakers too to work with an aftermarket headunit. Pretty much everything nowadays plays mp3s.
It's a weird system and you'll pretty much have to replace all the speakers too to work with an aftermarket headunit. Pretty much everything nowadays plays mp3s.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
no it's not a bose... so would i still have to replace all of the speakers or no? also where is a good place to get them put in... a dealership? or somewhere else...? i have heard best buy is NOT a good place to take it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
where do you live?
there has to be a stereo shop within a days drive. If not, it's really a DIY project if you ahve a friend who knows audio.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
if you have a nonbose car the speakers do not need to be replaced, the dealership is the worst place to go. and honestly a non bose car circuit city or bestbuy should be able to handle with ease, i would know i used to install. honestly though this is something you could do your self its a very easy car to work on stereo wise
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
PV is right... if it's non-bose, it's easy.
Do this... go to some car shows and local events (I know it's winter, but go indoors!). Maybe even track down some clubs... see who they use. Find out if the local Circuit City or Best Buy has a good installer.
They do exist...
Do this... go to some car shows and local events (I know it's winter, but go indoors!). Maybe even track down some clubs... see who they use. Find out if the local Circuit City or Best Buy has a good installer.
They do exist...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Best buy / circuit city will most likey use wire nuts or even worse, just twist & tape the connections.
Wire nuts shouldn't be used on stranded wire and will come loose. Low quality electrical tape will come off too. If they hook into fused circuits, at least it won't catch your car on fire when the wiring shorts out. I solder and shrink wrap all my connections.
Also, they will probably try and use the wrong DIN adapter, and the stereo will stick out 1" from the dash. The installer needs to trim part of the plastic behind the headunit then he can use a flush mount adapter.
Wire nuts shouldn't be used on stranded wire and will come loose. Low quality electrical tape will come off too. If they hook into fused circuits, at least it won't catch your car on fire when the wiring shorts out. I solder and shrink wrap all my connections.
Also, they will probably try and use the wrong DIN adapter, and the stereo will stick out 1" from the dash. The installer needs to trim part of the plastic behind the headunit then he can use a flush mount adapter.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
CC is right, but if you find the RIGHT installer, at the very worse, they will use crimp connectors.
I will be honest, I haven't seen any shop use tape or wire nuts. At least not in the last 10 years. I think the liability of using these methods over powers any desire to save $3.00.
The crimp connectors that are so popular are these little off white thingys. They are domed shaped things that the wire gets fed into and then gets crimped. They are effective, but like CC, I always solder and heat shrink.
I will be honest, I haven't seen any shop use tape or wire nuts. At least not in the last 10 years. I think the liability of using these methods over powers any desire to save $3.00.
The crimp connectors that are so popular are these little off white thingys. They are domed shaped things that the wire gets fed into and then gets crimped. They are effective, but like CC, I always solder and heat shrink.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I can personally tell you circuit city either uses harness that require no splicing of wires or EVERYTHING is soldered and wrapped, no twisting of wire nuts or just taping. An installer can be fired for doing just that
Best buy / circuit city will most likey use wire nuts or even worse, just twist & tape the connections.
Wire nuts shouldn't be used on stranded wire and will come loose. Low quality electrical tape will come off too. If they hook into fused circuits, at least it won't catch your car on fire when the wiring shorts out. I solder and shrink wrap all my connections.
Also, they will probably try and use the wrong DIN adapter, and the stereo will stick out 1" from the dash. The installer needs to trim part of the plastic behind the headunit then he can use a flush mount adapter.
Wire nuts shouldn't be used on stranded wire and will come loose. Low quality electrical tape will come off too. If they hook into fused circuits, at least it won't catch your car on fire when the wiring shorts out. I solder and shrink wrap all my connections.
Also, they will probably try and use the wrong DIN adapter, and the stereo will stick out 1" from the dash. The installer needs to trim part of the plastic behind the headunit then he can use a flush mount adapter.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
The only issue is that I don't think anyone makes a harness for Bose... and if it does, then all you need to get off the factory harness is power, ground, antenna and memory. The speakers will have to be hardwired.