How to Connect Car Audio Systems
Car Audi systems let you enjoy at the same time as driving your car. They tend to improve the sound quality. It may require some effort to install an audio system in your car which usually depends on its type and type of your car as well. Although it is not impossible to carry out this job and you can do it with a little effort. Here’s how to connect car audio systems.
Things you’ll need:
The things you will require include the following:
- Car stereo
- Amplifier (optional)
- Crimping or soldering kit
- RCA cables
- Speakers (not necessary)
- Screwdriver
Installation
Step 1:
Firstly before, working on any component of your car stereo system, cut off the car’s negative battery cable. In addition to this take the old factory stereo out from the car. Next pry off the trim panels from the instrument panel, by using a flat-bladed tool although it may require some other tool in case of other types of vehicles. Now, take the mounting screws or bolts out. Drag the stereo out of the instrument panel and after that detach its wiring harness.
Step 2:
Now put new speakers in your car. As most aftermarket speakers are not designed particularly for your car; so you have to find some place in your car to install them, for instance you can install them behind the rear seats. Now make holes in the upholstery to properly put the speakers in.
Step 3:
Next route the wires for the new speakers to the stereo in the front. Routing the wires may vary depending on the type of your vehicle. For instance you can run the wires through the crack in between the back seat and wall, through an available hole in the firewall, and along the floorboard. Ask an expert for this.
Step 4:
Now attach the new stereo or aftermarket amplifier to the speakers. If your car speakers are wired to an electrical connector (connecting them to the stereo), simply connect this connector. If it is not the case then you have to connect the wires by crimping or else soldering the wires together.
Step 5:
Now if the amplifier and stereo are kept separate, connect them together with RCA cables, which are the two-pronged cables along with the red and white plugs. Then you will use a stereo mounting bracket otherwise a car mounting bracket (may be their combination) to mount the stereo inside the dashboard. Try to put the amplifiers in a secure area of your car for instance underneath a seat.
Wiring Guide
Step 1:
There are two ways available for you to connect the wires together i.e. crimping or soldering.
In crimping, wires are twisted together as they assemble alongside and then their leads are put in a crimping cap and finally the cap is tightened through a crimping tool. On the other way, soldering the wires requires twisting their leads together as they position to one another, then a soldering gun is used with the solder touching the wire and finally leads are insulated by means of heat-shrinking tubes.
Step 2:
Next, connect the speaker wires if required. Mostly, the gray wires are connected with the right front speaker, the white wires with the left front speaker, purple wires with the right rear and green ones with the left rear. The cables having black band of color normally go to the negative leads and the plain ones are connected with the positive. The orange wire is used for illumination.
Step 3:
Next connect the power wires. Its red wire is used for switched power and connects it to the wiring harness on the starter of your car. The yellow wire is used for constant power and is mounted underneath the positive terminal of the battery. In case if you are installing a stereo and amplifier, both would be connected to the battery but only the stereo is required to connect with the starter. Attach the stereo’s switch wire (typically blue) with the amplifier.
Step 4:
Mount the solid black cable under a screw on the chassis or else under another metal ground.
Step 5:
Connect the car antenna with the stereo.
