Installing aftermarket stereo in '04 Galant ES

**oakrdrs187** · 02-23-2011, 09:38 PM

Best buy is still around and will continue to be around, mainly because 10% of the auto electronics customers arethe ones getting motorized amp racks, 4 15's and air bags suspension. The other 90% are just getting basic things done, theres no need to be so proud of these shops, Best Buy can do good work at a fair price also. Most electronics consumers are not tech savy, most will go toBest Buy first for it's nationwide reputation, unless you are gonna drop thousands of dollars on an audio system chances are they are going to best buy, they have the most on-hand selection than any shop, when I go to a private shop they gotta order everything, people dont have time or patience to be waiting for things to come in, they want it done right away with choices and options.

gglantgirly00 · 02-24-2011, 08:31 AM

fliegendaffe- thank you mr. Smartypants.

**JoeCoolMan24** · 02-24-2011, 08:59 PM

Another question, not necessarily related to the stereo.....

My dad sold my Civic today, but I never got a chance to take out the wires that ran from the battery to the amp in the back since I am 3 hours away at school. According to my brother, it could cost me up to $80 to replace, although he doesn't remember exactly. Can this possibly be true? It just shocks me that a couple of wires, probably like, 12 ft in length, could cost that much. Is he just screwing with me, or did I just get screwed over?

I'm going to be pissed if it's true. Will mean I'd have to wait until the summer when I get my job back until I can install any of my subs.

**fliegendaffe** · 02-24-2011, 09:05 PM

He isn't yanking your chain. A good quality amp kit.consisting of power, ground, remote, and signal (rcas) wires can range anywhere from $80-$150+

Sent from my DROIDX

**JoeCoolMan24** · 02-24-2011, 09:40 PM

Ahhh damnit. This is awful news.....

But I already have some of the things. I have the little blue box and the cables that went into that, but I am missing 3 wires I believe. The power, ground, and remote I think. And of course I will need to buy RCA cables now too.

**oakrdrs187** · 02-24-2011, 10:26 PM

^^^^ forget the little blue box thats probably the hi/lo that was used to connect your amp to the rear speakers. The wires that you ONLY need is a whole kit. A good quality kit isnt cheap. But dont have to be an arm and leg either.
Like brotha scott said good quaility with true 4 awg wire is at least $80. This ones comes with power, ground, rca, remote and speaker wire.
http://www.SonicElectronix.com/item_...5641R-RED.html

**oakrdrs187** · 02-24-2011, 10:28 PM

But if you are in absolute need heres this although I would push over 500 RMS watts. Comes complete too.

http://www.SonicElectronix.com/item_...llBay-AK4.html

**fliegendaffe** · 02-24-2011, 10:33 PM

Pfft, I will one up you on that website oakrdrs....

Tsunami 4 gauge amp kit for $55

**oakrdrs187** · 02-25-2011, 01:54 AM

^^^you know How i missed that? I filtered for kits with RCA and speaker wire, you're right this deal is better, $30 cheaper. I don't think the speaker wire is worth it.

**fliegendaffe** · 02-27-2011, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by tr1kst4nce

I was more referring to this "Additional charges will be assessed for vehicle-specific parts and accessories or for any non-standard installation."..... non-standard install.

And off the top of my head I can think of 3 local shops that include the cost of those basic materials in the install charge. As long as there aren't any unexpected problems that arise during the install, it's a done deal. Doing that much business, and able to knock out those quick installs they more than make up what they need for the accessories.

And as a bonus, most of those shops offer you the install at a discounted price, some even half price if you buy the electronics there after they already do a price match on whatever the cheapest price you found online or in another store.

None the less... BB is getting out of the mobile electronics install business for many of these same reasons.

There's 6 Best Buys in my area, and those are just the ones I know of. In the time I've spent just waiting for stuff to be done on my car, there's been at least a dozen people who have come in to this particular shop, and countless calls saying that the guys at BB didn't know how to install this or that or they just couldn't and they literally referred the customers TO this shop. And I'd be one of them...

All 6 Best Buys said they couldn't bypass the factory amp for my Infinity system, and each one referred me there. Waiting in the shop I saw the same thing from many other people and even saw some of the wiring they did which had DO soldering what so ever.

One best buy... I'd say ok maybe they just got dumb techs... but all 6 of the best buys saying that they can't bypass the factory amp? And I go to this shop and they don't even have a problem with it and clear it out in 45 minutes... please. MECP certified techs please...

Just my 2 cents

I guess that's why these local shops have all these awards on the walls and posted certificates along with pictures of local sports athletes bringing their cars in.

I can go on and on but I think I'm going to leave it there....

Well those techs are just retarded then because they have a complete wire diagram at their disposal. So they should be able to do it easily.

As far as the MECP certs, they should have had a place on the wall where they should be posted. In my shop, I have both my basic and advanced posted up for all to see.

**JoeCoolMan24** · 03-04-2011, 11:09 PM

Ok, everything I ordered has arrived at my house. Wiring harness, dash kit, new stereo, and 2 12" blue neon light strips. :)

Today started my spring break, so hopefully my friend can PROPERLY install all this stuff sometime next week. Wish us luck!

**JoeCoolMan24** · 03-06-2011, 04:12 PM

Ok, so now I need to buy an amp kit.

Will this suffice?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Scosche-68...-Amps/14667122

And mind you, I have little to no money left right now. In fact, I am going to have to borrow money from my parents just for this amp kit and gas money to get back to school, so the cheaper the better.

Again, I'm not very knowledgeable in this audio stuff, so I want to ask you guys.

**JoeCoolMan24** · 03-07-2011, 07:56 PM

Ok, so apparently I DIDN'T need a dash kit afterall. After realizing the plastic case didn't fit my dash, I talked to someone at Crutchfield and he said I don't need a dash kit to install my headunit, I just use the same pocket.

Does this mean I don't have to take the plastic face off? Or will I have to remove that either way?

**fliegendaffe** · 03-09-2011, 08:01 AM

huh? I have never heard of that for a 9g since the controls for the factory radio are integrated into the radio bezel. pics please

**oakrdrs187** · 03-09-2011, 12:49 PM

^^^ x2
PICS...

Originally Posted by JoeCoolMan24

Ok, so now I need to buy an amp kit.

Will this suffice?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Scosche-68...-Amps/14667122

That'll work, just don't bang 680 RMS watts with that.

**JoeCoolMan24** · 03-09-2011, 07:20 PM

OK, my friend and I installed my stereo today, and I'm good to go! Only took him like 5 minutes to do all the wiring, and the plastic case came right off, no need for dash kit.

The little black plastic trim around the stereo is a tad big, and sits in front of the plastic console, but it's not a big deal, and not noticeable. I can take pics if anyone wants to see it.

Then my friend sold me his Kicker CVR12 for $20. Brand new. He had 3 of them for some reason, all of them new and in a box, so he sold me one. He also gave me an extra RCA cable he had. So now I just need to get power, ground, and remote wires. I figure I'll probably wait until I get done w/ school in May to hook subs up, but the factory stereo for now is fine.

Thanks for everyone's help! Now I just need to fix this same cigarette outlet!

**fliegendaffe** · 03-09-2011, 07:23 PM

I still don't believe you didn't need a dash kit.

did you check your connections and fuses for the cig outlet?

**JoeCoolMan24** · 03-09-2011, 07:42 PM

Well, it seems as though both power outlets are connected to the same fuse, and the one outlet still works, so it can't be the fuse. So I am just operating under the presumption that the socket is fried. The challenge now is figuring out how to take the socket out. It's the outlet in the arm rest. I assume it unscrews, just sure if I have to disassemble anything, or if I just need to get a good grip of the outlet and start unscrewing.