A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
If you hear a boom, you'll know I wasn't.
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Lookie what I get to do.
- Thread starter Dark Jedi
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If you hear a boom, you'll know I wasn't.
Did you give this a shot yet? If so, how did you make out?
A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
The parts all come in today. The UPS guy is a lazy sack of crap and never delivers to my house until 1900 or 2000. Drives me bat crazy. It's out for delivery according to their web site. It's 1630 right now and hasn't been delivered. Drives me nuts. I want it there when I get home from work at 1730ish. Doesn't seem unreasonable.
I had a friend who knows something about cars tell me how to take the dash apart and get the radio out. He suggested I pull the old one out before putting the new one in so I can look at the wiring beforehand. I may do that.
I had a friend who knows something about cars tell me how to take the dash apart and get the radio out. He suggested I pull the old one out before putting the new one in so I can look at the wiring beforehand. I may do that.
How are you doing on the other thread (on the ledge)?
A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
I'm still out there. Battery was dead by 1500. By dead I mean 1% won't turn on dead. It was also toggling between 3G/4G all morning due to the VZW network outage and I had to download a crap ton of apps all over again because it reset itself so it's not the most fair test. Still, if that's as long as it lasts, it's going back to the store. I really do dig Sense 3.5 though.
A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
Radio came in. I yanked the old one as my friend suggested. That was easy. I think I could start a second career stealing car stereos. Will have to look into that. Getting the new one in is going to be a pain. It uses a different plug in the back. The kit they sent me has an adapter that goes into the smaller plug the new unit uses and an adapter that goes into the bigger plug that's in my car. There doesn't appear to be anything connecting the two adapters though. My first instinct is just to look at the color of the wires and twist the same colored wires together, but I'm not convinced that will work. Consequently, I've lowered myself to (I blush as I type it) reading the instructions. I hate reading instructions. Only losers do such things.
330D
From My Cold Dead Hands
The wiring harness they sent you should connect to the new stereo's harness (you have to wire them together). From there it should plug right into the factory wiring of the car... I will repeat, Don't cut your cars wires, no matter what.....
Read the instructions, it will probably get you far.... lol. If you need a hand, feel free to ask here or pm me, I'm sure I can help.
Read the instructions, it will probably get you far.... lol. If you need a hand, feel free to ask here or pm me, I'm sure I can help.
I read instructions and I'd like to think I'm not a loser.
Hey, they can save your backside when you are trying something new. 330D (that sounds like a piece of heavy equipment) is right. Don't cut anything out of your car.
A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
I think I have a grasp on what I need to do at this point. I'm just pissed they only included like 85% of the parts. For example, the mounting bracket they sent me for an ISO DIN radio requires two screws for the mounting brackets. It says in the instructions exactly where to put these two screws. Did they provide said screws? No.
The wiring adapter that they sent (as they clearly knew I needed) requires the use of crimp caps (which were not included) and a crimping tool (which I do have but I'd bet the average person who never does wiring doesn't) or a soldering iron (which I don't have as most people don't). If you've got the crimping cap, you don't necessarily need a crimping tool. Why did they not include crimping caps since it's clear I'm going to need them and they cost all of a couple of dollars? Why not include the pair of screws as they can't cost more than a few pennies? Instead I'm going to have to go out tomorrow to Radio Shack and hunt down the crimping caps and I'm gonna have to go to the hardware store and hunt down the right size screws. Huge PITA when it would've cost them all of a couple of bucks (which I'd have gladly paid) to include it with it.
The wiring adapter that they sent (as they clearly knew I needed) requires the use of crimp caps (which were not included) and a crimping tool (which I do have but I'd bet the average person who never does wiring doesn't) or a soldering iron (which I don't have as most people don't). If you've got the crimping cap, you don't necessarily need a crimping tool. Why did they not include crimping caps since it's clear I'm going to need them and they cost all of a couple of dollars? Why not include the pair of screws as they can't cost more than a few pennies? Instead I'm going to have to go out tomorrow to Radio Shack and hunt down the crimping caps and I'm gonna have to go to the hardware store and hunt down the right size screws. Huge PITA when it would've cost them all of a couple of bucks (which I'd have gladly paid) to include it with it.
chrlswltrs
Extreme Android User
Pupkact and 330D are right, don't cut any wires!
And as much as we resist, occasionally men do need to read instructions as a last resort.
And as much as we resist, occasionally men do need to read instructions as a last resort.
A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
I haven't cut anything. I got the old unit out w/ease. Putting it together is a pain as I don't have crimp caps or a soldering iron or the right sized screws.
A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
Do I need crimping caps? The instructions say I do, but I'm inclined to twist the wires together and tape them off with electrical tape. Bad idea???
Get proper crimping connectors and shrinky dink (there is probably a proper name for this but it is a sleeve you put over the crimped connection to seal it off).
330D
From My Cold Dead Hands
I read instructions and I'd like to think I'm not a loser.
Lol, I'm a heavy equipment operator. It's my favorite excavator...
330D
From My Cold Dead Hands
Many folks will tell you not to, but I use wire nuts or crimping caps. With wire nuts, you don't need a crimping tool. You can get a decent crimper for <$10. I think it is assumed that you would have that. I know crutchfield sells kits, but they are never included.
As far as the mounting sleeve, you should be able to bend the metal tabs on the sides of the sleeve to hold it in? Or is the opening in your car not din sized, meaning do you need a mounting kit besides the metal sleeve that is supplied in the radio box?
As far as the mounting sleeve, you should be able to bend the metal tabs on the sides of the sleeve to hold it in? Or is the opening in your car not din sized, meaning do you need a mounting kit besides the metal sleeve that is supplied in the radio box?
A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
I was finally able to get the new head unit into the mounting bracket. If I could wave a magic wand and fix all the wiring right now, I could mount the thing in my car tonight in about 15 minutes. The wiring has me pissed off. All the wires on one of the adapters are pre-stripped. If I had crimping caps I could finish the job tonight except that the wires on the other end are not stripped. I hate stripping wires and don't have my crimping tool here at home. It's at work where I use it do network wiring. So I'll have no stereo tomorrow I guess.
Also, there seem to be no instructions on where to mount the BT receiver. Do I put it on the dash somewhere? Will it pick up there? There are no instructions or recommendations.
Also, there seem to be no instructions on where to mount the BT receiver. Do I put it on the dash somewhere? Will it pick up there? There are no instructions or recommendations.
Nice, that's what my brother does too. I have operated a few (little ones, a big one once), but I can't identify them by numbers like he can(or you). I can absolutely appreciate the skill with that. My brother showed me how to pull stumps. Non intuitive to me. I usually ended up moving the machine instead of the stump
.
330D
From My Cold Dead Hands
A razor knife (with care) will strip wires for you... As far as the BT receiver, I would think anywhere you can mount it would work... it shouldn't need to be a certain distance away.
Nice, that's what my brother does too. I have operated a few (little ones, a big one once), but I can't identify them by numbers like he can(or you). I can absolutely appreciate the skill with that. My brother showed me how to pull stumps. Non intuitive to me. I usually ended up moving the machine instead of the stump
Yeah, a 330D is a larger CAT. (30 metric tons) No problem ripping stumps with it. It has taken me quite a while to get my skill level to where I am today. I feel confident in saying if it can be done with an excavator, I could do it. I thoroughly enjoy what I do. It was what I always wanted to be from when I was a little kid in a sandbox. I guess I'm lucky that most days I get to play in a giant sandbox as an adult. There are many people who do not appreciate the skill and stress level that running a giant machine takes. Try lifting a 10 ton Jersey barrier and setting it within inches of traffic flying by you at 60 mph.....
A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
The kit recommends crimping caps. I didn't expect them to provide a crimping tool or a soldering iron. I did expect them to provide crimping caps. You can get a dozen for a couple of bucks and I'm sure if you buy in bulk they're cheaper than that. I do network wiring on occasion since I'm a sysadmin so I do own a crimping tool. I would expect that most DIY peeps wouldn't as it's not a very common tool to own. They knew I was going to need to crimp at the least. Toss in a dollar or so of crimping caps, bump the price a dollar and save the customer a trip to the hardware store.
I was able to bend the sleeve to fit. The instructions weren't clear, but I was able to figure it out.
Edit: 100 crimping caps on Amazon are $5.89. I'm sure some place like JVC or Crutchfiled can buy in bulk and get them much cheaper. Seriously, why not toss a dozen in?
330D
From My Cold Dead Hands
Pretty cheeseball that they don't include them. I have done enough stereo installs over the last 15 years that I have an abundance of them kicking around in all sizes, so I didn't even think to tell you to grab some... That being said, Crutchfield does include a very solid install kit, every time I've ever ordered from them. It sorta makes it tough to be too mad for not including the crimping caps.
I agree with 330D on this. I am also sorry as I have little bins of spare screws, crimping caps, wire nuts, etc. so it didn't occur to me either.
A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
I've got screws laying around, but they tend to be really tiny ones that are used in HDDs sometimes. I'm talking you need a jeweler's screwdriver to get to them. I'm puzzled that I have to wire anything at all and that they don't just make an adapter. The larger plug has a detailed wiring diagram of what each wire is and what voltages it carries. The smaller plug has no wiring diagram at all. It just has a paper on it that points out which wire is the ground. You're left to fate to decide what all the other wires do. The bigger plug makes it clear that the colors on the other plug DO NOT necessarily correspond. So I'm left to hope that the colors do correspond in this case.
Can you post a photo of the harnesses side by side. I, and others, may be able to offer guidance. Also, someone in here mentioned being able to call Crutchfield. I have never done it, but it could be worth a shot.