hey guys, i'm gonna be getting some alpine splits and a h/u soon and wondering if i should bother trying to install it myself. im a complete noob when it comes to cars, just turned 16 so my vr-x is my first car obviosuly and just to make everything more convenient im colour blind so there arent any similar coloured wires involved are there? (i.e dark green-red-brown). if i do decide to get it installed prof. what price would i be looking at?

p.s i've heard of the craptastic installs at autobarn and strathfield so i'll be going through west coast hi-fi.


and also my stock system just stopped working the other day, its getting radio signal im pretty sure, but even if it isnt the h/u isn't sending anything out when i use the aux input or cd so will that just be a loose cable or?????


thanks. Mitch

if your unsure id seek professional help, but depending on the area you are in there might be a forum member close ish that might be able to lend a hand. Other options are loom adaptors and whatnot, there is also very detailed guides on removing the center console surround and so on. Hell if you are in the newy area i can lend a hand.

I probably wouldn't recommend it. It's not an easy car to start with (ie make a first attempt on), I'd done work on mum's old 1st gen Liberty and my old EG Civic before (93/94 models) and they were SO much easier to work with. In particular, the mounting points for the headunit in the Magna are a pain because of the HVAC controls, getting the leads into the doors for the woofers is a total pain, and there's limited options for tweeter installation and it's pretty much guaranteed it involves cutting. The mounting points for the woofers in the doors don't match up with common speaker sizes so you have to drill new holes. etc, etc - if you're not familiar with this kinda work, get it done by an installer.

i see your in WA
theres a few members that are either in the industry or have done it before
its very easy, but seeing as its your first attemp i would recommend having someone with you who has done it before
depending on where you are in WA, im sure someone will help you out ;)

I dont think it's that hard..
There are tutorials on here on how to remove the console and install a CD player.
Running cables is easy.
Grommets are harder but with some common sense its easy
i.e for wiring in grommets, pop the grommet out, lube up the inside with WD40 and slip the wire in, easy, then pop the grommet back in.

As for the wiring part, a wiring harness can be purchased for about $20-$30 and you just plug it in.

I think it'll be a great learning curve! And there are alot of helpful people on here to ask if you do run into some trouble. Do some research first mate then go from there, i.e. try taking out the console etc and see how you go.

Strathfeild and ripoffbarn do crap jobs. Was re-wiring my mates VN and the previous "professional" install was terrible. wires were poked through grommets, the speaker cable going from the front door to the rear amp had been too short so he had soldered on another thickness type wire another color and yeah, ripped it all out and started again.

Little things like this are a good way to get into basic electronics

Many moons ago I attempted my first install in 2000 Magna Sports, using the info on here from like 6 years ago helped me put in a headunit, front and rear speaker, amp and sub. Took all day but as long as you have patience you will work it out. :D

If you do not feel confident, seek some help. Most people are more than willing :D

I probably wouldn't recommend it. It's not an easy car to start with (ie make a first attempt on), I'd done work on mum's old 1st gen Liberty and my old EG Civic before (93/94 models) and they were SO much easier to work with. In particular, the mounting points for the headunit in the Magna are a pain because of the HVAC controls, getting the leads into the doors for the woofers is a total pain, and there's limited options for tweeter installation and it's pretty much guaranteed it involves cutting. The mounting points for the woofers in the doors don't match up with common speaker sizes so you have to drill new holes. etc, etc - if you're not familiar with this kinda work, get it done by an installer.
Oh man... It's nowhere near as complicated as you just made out lol You just need to have patience and the ability to use cutting tools, pliers, soldering iron, coathanger and a screwdriver. Follow the clear instructions provided in the tutorials available and you'll be fine. Even my install wasn't hard to rig up after some R&D work.

Woofers in the doors are like 6" or 6.5" or something...

as if it's not easy! haha.. there is like 4 screws and a bunch of clips that hold the entire interior of the car together..

i'd seriously attepmt it yourself.. the head unit i belive would be the easiest.. go to autobarn or repco..

tell them you have XXXXX headunit and you drive a XXXXX magna

they will give you the plug to go into the back of your headunit, and a plug to go straight into the factory body harness, plug, click - plug, click..

done.. then just use the brackets off your existing headunit, and put them in the exact same position on your new headunit..

clip everything back together (the hardest bit is the air vents under the trip computer)

it will take a while to just work out the order in which the consol and facia come apart..

but once you do it once.. you will never forget.. i've done a mates car in the carpark at work for him it was that simple.. took about 10 mins from start to beats :)

PM me if you have any questions :)

Mat

and they are 6's in the doors, need to use a bit of a spacer for 6.5's :)

and they are 6's in the doors, need to use a bit of a spacer for 6.5's :)

This has been covered a thousand times, both sizes will fit diameter wise, only the magnet size may impact mounting on factory plactic. with a 6.5inch you simply make new screw holes....

Best place would be Alberts Car Stereo, you have Morley or one of the members works at Alberts in Freo...