Car Audio Installation Keller TX

What you Need to Know to Find the Right Person to Work on Your Car One of the most important decisions you can make after you purchase your car audio gear is who your “go to” expert is going to be for the installation. Car audio enthusiasts fall into one of two general camps, Do It Yourselfer (DIY) or Do It For Me (DIFM). Whether you are a pretty adventurous DIYer installing your own gear or you’re a music lover who isn’t technically savvy enough for the installation of a great car audio system and who needs to rely upon a professional doing the work, everyone needs the expertise of a seasoned installer at one time or another (even if it's only for proper advice). Let’s talk a little bit about what kind of car audio enthusiast you really are and what kind of considerations best fit your profile. 

Do It For Me!

“I’m an enthusiast who does not have the time or expertise to install my own stuff, but I love music in my car.”

If this sounds like you, it’s comforting to know you are in the majority. Even though many DIY enthusiasts are trying their hand at installing certain items, the vast majority of the enthusiasts prefer to leave it to a professional for several reasons.

Vehicle-Specific Experience

First thing to consider is that today’s vehicles are very complex and full of sensitive computers, electronic systems, and gadgets. If you do not have some of the specialty hand and electrical measurement tools to proceed safely and efficiently with an installation, this is one of the first things you’ll seek in a professional installer. Ask if they’ve worked on your type of vehicle before and ask what system designs they’ve used as well as the outcome of them. Ask what inherent challenges this particular car presents and if there are products specifically geared to work well for overcoming those installation challenges. Often an experienced professional will have worked on a number of similar vehicles in that make/model and can immediately recommend system plans that they know have worked well with previous cars. This can save you tons of grief right off the bat. 

Check for Types of Tools

Second, check out their tools! Installers who are in the business as a career make substantial investments in their tools. They often have no problem showing prospective customers just how much they’ve invested in their craft. Professional tool brands such as Beta, Facom, Snap-On, Matco, Mac, Cornwell, Craftsman Professional, SK, and Fluke are sure signs that an installer has chosen tools that will last a lifetime and it often reflects on their personal commitment to their career as a professional installer. Besides the hand tools and electrical meters, many installers also leverage their computer as a tool for subwoofer enclosure design as well as for accessing various databases of vehicle wiring schematics and fitment information. If your prospective installer is...

The Basics of Properly Swapping Your Car's Head Unit One of the most popular do-it-yourself audio upgrades for your car and car audio system is swapping head units; yet it is also a task that is very often poorly executed. Results from a substandard head unit installation vary from inferior cosmetic fitment, inadequate equipment functionality to permanent damage of the host vehicle. If you feel at all unsure about your hands-on skills or the very basic concept of wiring baffles you, please do yourself a favor and see to a competent 12-volt electronics retailer; however, if you have some basic tools lying around and feel fairly confident in executing this task, it is my hope that this article will help you along the way, step by step, in achieving the results you are looking for.

1. Research your car and collect all the necessary pieces .

Once you have purchased your head unit, it is time to gather all the additional accessories you will need in order to install it into your car. It is very important to realize that every vehicle will require vastly different bits of gear. In general, you will need some or all of the following:
· Dash mounting kit
· Vehicle specific wiring adapter harness
· Antenna adapter
· Special interface harnesses for stock amplification and or CAN-BUS systems

There are a wide variety of resources available online to help you pick the right products. Manufacturers of installation accessories typically have a database available that allows you to input your car’s relevant information and provides you with a full list of products designed for it. Here are some examples.
· Metra
· Best Kits
· Scosche
· AIUS
· Crutchfield

It is also important to note that not all dash kits are created equal; some fit better than others while multiple versions may be available for the same vehicle to offer different mounting options. In addition, some vehicles are exceptions to the rule and do not have accessories commonly available here in the US; instead, special order items from overseas are needed to complete the job. Going to a vehicle-specific enthusiast forum can help you pick the brand that has been proven to be the best.

2. Familiarize yourself with removal procedure and make sure you have the right tools .

The procedures for removal stock head units varies wildly, some cars take nothing more than a Phillips screwdriver and two minutes of your time, while other vehicles will require the entire dash to be disassembled, easily taking up hours of your time and involving a small arsenal of implements in the process. Before turning a single screw or unclipping a single panel, you must familiarize yourself with the entire process and make sure to gather up the right tools.

If you have purchased a dash kit from a major manufacturer, you should find a set of removal/installation instructions contained within the bag. You can also down...