I have searched and found nothing for this type of thread...

What i was inquiring about was..

Basically i dont want to pay 400$ to get a professional install done right,

is it easier if i ask them to install the headunit and wiring.. and i do the rest?

or should i just do it all... Its an expensive H/U (pioneer 2DIN DVD) and i dont want to muck it up

adivce would be much appreciated AMC
..

cheers

It isn't that hard to wire it all up, but that depends on your knowledge with that area of expertise. Personally I think it's pretty hard to screw up, but if you've never done it before, I'd get a shop or a friend who knows what they're doing to do it for you.

where are you located?

It won't cost $400 for a cd player installation. $200 max, and that is usually if you have speakers/amp wiring etc.

a cd player installation should be closer to $100 price.

if you're not comfortable doing it yourself, you're best off getting a pro

I did it with my last install, ran all the wiring and fitted speakers myself, left heaps of wiring hanging out the dash and clearly labelled it in two spots, one at the end of the wiring, and one just at the exit of the dash, so that if for instance they decided to cut all the speaker wires to the lenght they needed, they wouldn't accidentally screw them up. then i just payed them $70 to professionally install the head unit. i use the word professionally loosely, it looked fine and felt solid from the front, but when i removed it i couldn't belive how dodgy it looked and wouldn't go back together right.

Me and a mate done my whole install. and were only 16 and 17 and both had never done 1 b4. we ran all the cables, hooked up 2 amps and distribution block, 2 subs, headunit and front and rear speakers... i also change my install and hooked up a different headunit and screen by my self. its not hard, is alot easier then i thought it would be. theres plenty of guides and write ups on here that are a great help. id say do it yourself and save some $$$ but if u really dont feel u could do and dont wanna risk screwing sumfin up then by all means get it done professionally, but it is really quiet hard the screw up.

I'd suggest buying a wiring harness, makes figuring out the wires (and returning your car to stock) a lot easier.

but it is really quiet hard the screw up.
Its actually really really easy to completely stuff it if you don't pay attention to what your doing. As long as you follow the guides install the headunit you won't have an issue, as for amps, you've only gotta know where to run the wires, other than that its not hard at all.

That said I seeked help when I had my amp and sub to install, only because I'd never done it before and was a bit worried about making a mistake, so get a more experienced friend to help out, and you'll soon learn :P

Yeah it's not that hard to blow fuses. Magna's are pretty easy to work with though. Just take your time, and have a mate on standby. Once you start though, a proper install of everything can take ALL day, and that's not even for a custom boot. :D

If you are only installing the 2 DIN dvd you should be ok. $400 is really step, as the only extra wire they have is the handbrake wire ( so that you screen doesn't work while driving ).

Its actually really really easy to completely stuff it if you don't pay attention to what your doing. As long as you follow the guides install the headunit you won't have an issue, as for amps, you've only gotta know where to run the wires, other than that its not hard at all.

That said I seeked help when I had my amp and sub to install, only because I'd never done it before and was a bit worried about making a mistake, so get a more experienced friend to help out, and you'll soon learn :P


how can u completey stuff it up? yes u can blow a fuse or 2, but u must be really stupid to completely screw it up. everything is colour coded or if you use a wiring harness then u cant go wrong, i had never done an install b4 either and didnt use a wiring harness and with a little bit of research (mostly threads on here) i had my headunit in, in about 15-20 mins.

subs and amp took longer but thats coz i dont a full boot setup but again wiring them up isnt hard, just read the write ups on here and other websites and u'll have the doof doof going in no time lol . id say just do it yourself, ull be surprised how easy it really is.

If you are only installing the 2 DIN dvd you should be ok. $400 is really step, as the only extra wire they have is the handbrake wire ( so that you screen doesn't work while driving ).

with that wire, when i hooked mine up, that wire confued me haha, rang autobarn and the guy said just ground that wire somewere and you'll be able to use the screen whilst driving. dunno if you wanna use it when driving but thought this might be useful to know.

with that wire, when i hooked mine up, that wire confued me haha, rang autobarn and the guy said just ground that wire somewere and you'll be able to use the screen whilst driving. dunno if you wanna use it when driving but thought this might be useful to know.

Yeah I just earthed it and put a switch on it. That means that it fools the unit into thinking the handbrake has been applied so that it will work. It's also good for if you get pulled over by the men in blue...

thanks guys, but what i meant to say was

i am a tight ass and wanted to save myself $500 because thats how much i got quoted from AUDIO FX in melbourne to get EVERYTHING installed.

and im capable (with a friend) to do it all, but i have had a previous disaster with my last magna as i ripped apart the air vents (and broke them) USING THAT INSTRUCTION MANUAL FROM THIS WEBSITE! i pulled on the red dots, hard and all the line things (that direct the airflow) broke.

so i was wondering, should i get them just to install the h/u and i re-wire everything once i got it back..

but then i was thinking i still need to take out the headunit dont i (to do this)

and its only got 2 pairs of RCA ports and i have 2 amps..

so im noob and im stuck..

what the best advice AMC can give?

what the best advice AMC can give?
You get help removing the centre air vents? :P Seriously, I've lost count of how many times mine have been in and out, never broken one :confused:

and im capable (with a friend) to do it all, but i have had a previous disaster with my last magna as i ripped apart the air vents (and broke them) USING THAT INSTRUCTION MANUAL FROM THIS WEBSITE! i pulled on the red dots, hard and all the line things (that direct the airflow) broke.

so i was wondering, should i get them just to install the h/u and i re-wire everything once i got it back..

what the best advice AMC can give?

Since you managed to destroy the air vents despite following instructions, perhaps your safest and most economical bet would be to get it done professionally.

Just out of interest did you actually pull on the plastic pieces that direct the air flow?! I pull on the surround not on the plastic pieces and can't see how you would break it by doing this!

so im noob and im stuck..

what the best advice AMC can give?
If you're in Melbourne give Doug from Eastside Installs a buzz on 0402 855 801.
He has worked on many member's cars before, including mine for a massive alarm install.
He comes to you and does great work.

Just because you are paying a "professional" doesn't mean they will do a professional job. The first time i bought a cd player and replacement speakers for my old car i went to strathfield (shudder) and they did such a bad job i ended up taking it out and doing it again myself.

Since then i've done all my own work, just learning a little bit more with each job and its fun too, provided you have the time (always budget for things to take longer than expected).

Anyway, if you ask me it comes down to time, if you have the time do it yourself or preferebly with a mate who knows what he's doing, if you are too busy then cough up the cash and make sure it not strathfield...

...They actually wired the front speakers up out of phase and then said it sounded fine when a took it back and complained :rant:

...They actually wired the front speakers up out of phase and then said it sounded fine when a took it back and complained :rant:

were they deaf ? :P

Most people probably already know this, but incase anyone doesnt, fading your speakers from left to right is good way to check if your speakers are out of phase. If you "get more" bass when fading all to one side, your speakers are out of phase.

Most people probably already know this, but incase anyone doesnt, fading your speakers from left to right is good way to check if your speakers are out of phase. If you "get more" bass when fading all to one side, your speakers are out of phase.


how do you rectify this situation?

how do you rectify this situation?
Reverse polarity of the wiring... Easy.

how do you rectify this situation?

Call 911.

Or you can just swap ONE of the front speakers wires around.