How to Install a Car Stereo in Vehicles

Installing a stereo into the stereo dock of the Chevy Vehicles is a task that can be easily performed by a professional car Vehicles technician. The stereo's wiring connections can be simply plugged into the related inputs on most aftermarket stereo decks. You can also install a new deck with little previous experience. Purchase the necessary tools and adapters Vehicles the job and you can have the new unit installed in less than an hour.

Under The Hood:

• How to Install a Car Stereo in a Monte Carlo
• How to Install a Car Stereo in a Nissan Frontier
• How to Install a Car Stereo in a 1994 Ford Explorer
• How to Install a Car Stereo in an Isuzu Rodeo
• How to Install a Car Stereo in a Chevy Cavalier

 How to Install a Car Stereo in a Monte Carlo

Open the hood of the Monte Carlo by pulling the hood release lever located on the driver's side of the Chevy, below the dashboard. Move to the engine compartment.

Disconnect the negative battery cable from the Monte Carlo's negative battery terminal. Use an adjustable wrench or pliers to loosen the bolt securing the cable to the lead post. Move the battery cable away from the battery until the stereo has been installed. Return to the inside of the vehicle.

Open the glove compartment. Remove the screw at the top left corner of the compartment with a Phillips-head screwdriver.

Pry the cover over the ignition with a trim pry removal tool.

Remove the two screws located on the dash panel under the steering column with a Phillips-head screwdriver. Remove the lower dash panel and set it aside.

Open the fuse compartment on the left side of the dashboard. Remove the two screws behind the panel with the screwdriver.

Grab the main dash panel at the left corner and pull it away from the dashboard.

Remove the four screws at the corners of the stereo dock with the screwdriver.

Pull the factory stereo from the Monte Carlo's dock. Disconnect the stereo wiring connectors from the back of the stock radio. Unplug the antenna cable from the back of the unit.

Slide the GM stereo installation kit cage (or sleeve) into the stereo mounting dock. Push the sleeve into the dock until it snaps into place. Gather the stereo wiring and antenna cable from the back of the stereo dock.

Plug the Chevy stereo wiring into the lead connectors of the wiring harness adapter. Plug the antenna cable into the receiving end of the GM antenna adapter cable.

Plug the wiring harness adapter lead connectors into the outlets on the right side of the new stereo. Plug the antenna adapter lead into the outlet on the left side of the new aftermarket unit.

Slide the stereo into the installation sleeve until the unit clicks into place on both sides of the stereo.

Align the dash panel on the dashboard and replace the two screws behind the fuse panel.

Replace the lower driver's side dash panel and replace the two screws below the steering wheel.

Replace the screw at the top left corner of the glove compartment and close the glove compartment.

Replace the panel that surrounds the ignition and press it firmly to snap it back to the dashboard. Return to the battery.

Replace the negative battery cable clamp around the Monte Carlo's battery terminal lead. Tighten the cable's clamp with the wrench. Close the Chevy's hood.

 How to Install a Car Stereo in a Nissan Frontier

Lift the hood of the Nissan truck and disconnect the grounding cable from the negative battery lead. Remove the negative battery terminal cover and loosen the bolt on the cable's clamp with a wrench. Move the cable away from the lead post and replace the covering to prevent reconnection during the installation.

Gather the stereo wiring from the stereo mounting dock, previously connected to the factory stereo. Connect the wiring to a wiring harness adapter.

Slide the new stereo into the upper slot on the stereo mounting bracket. Install the two screws on either side of the bracket to secure the stereo in the slot with a Phillips head screwdriver. (The stereo will come with screws if the screws removed from the factory stereo do not fit.)

Connect the wiring harness adapter leads to the back of the aftermarket stereo. Plug the antenna cable into the FM stereo antenna outlet on the back of the new radio.

Slide the entire stereo mounting bracket into the vacant stereo mounting dock of the Nissan Frontier.

Place the plastic dash trim panel around the stereo and ashtray and press firmly around the perimeter to snap it into place.

Reinstall the two screws removed from the previous stereo to the bottom edge of the ashtray compartment with the Phillips head screwdriver. Replace the ashtray into its slot.

Place the grounding cable clamp onto the negative battery terminal lead post. Tighten the clamp to the post with the wrench and place the black rubber cover over the terminal.

 How to Install a Car Stereo in a 1994 Ford Explorer

Remove the negative battery cable from the negative battery terminal. The negative battery cable (or grounding cable) connects the negative lead post of the Ford battery with the frame or chassis of the vehicle. Use the 10 mm wrench to loosen the bolt that holds the cable clamp onto the lead post.

Connect the stereo wiring in the Ford Explorer to a wiring harness adapter. The wiring harness adapter will be labeled to illustrate where the proper connections are to be made (some wiring harness adapters will list the wiring diagrams in their operation manual).

Slide the installation sleeve from the Ford aftermarket stereo installation kit into the empty stereo mounting dock. The sleeve provides a uniform platform for installation of varied aftermarket stereo decks.

Connect the wiring harness adapter leads and antenna cable (from the stereo mounting dock of the Ford Explorer) to the back of the aftermarket stereo. The wiring harness adapter leads and antenna cable will plug into the corresponding outlets on the rear panel of the stereo.

Slide the new stereo into the stereo installation sleeve (inside the stereo mounting dock).

Place the grounding cable clamp over the negative lead post of the Ford battery. Tighten the clamp to the lead post with the 10 mm wrench.

 How to Install a Car Stereo in an Isuzu Rodeo

Lift the hood of the Rodeo and disconnect the grounding cable from the negative terminal of the battery. Use a 10 mm wrench to loosen the bolt holding the cable clamp to the lead. Move the cable from the negative lead and rest it away from the battery until the new radio is installed.

Slide the ashtray from its slot in the dashboard. Remove the metal ashtray bracket from the opening. Remove the screw in the back of the empty compartment with the Phillips-head screwdriver.

Pry the dash panel that surrounds the stereo away from the dashboard with a trim-panel removal tool. Grab the panel once it is free from the dash, and pull it away from the dashboard. Pull the wiring connection to the cigarette lighter away from the back of the panel.

Remove the two screws on either side of the stereo mounting bracket with the screwdriver. Slide the stereo from its dock and unplug the stereo wiring and antenna cable from the rear panel of the radio.

Remove the two screws on either side of the stereo mounting bracket with the screwdriver. Slide the factory stereo from the bracket.

Place the faceplate adapter into the bracket and replace the screws on the side. Slide the aftermarket stereo into the adapter.

Connect the stereo wiring to the wiring harness adapter. Plug the wiring harness adapter leads into the back of the new stereo. Plug the antenna cable into the FM antenna outlet on the right side of the new radio's rear panel.

Slide the stereo mounting bracket, with new radio installed, into the stereo mounting dock. Replace the two screws on either side of the stereo assembly.

Plug the wiring for the cigarette lighter into the back of the dash panel that covers the stereo. Place the panel into position on the dashboard and press firmly around the perimeter of the panel, snapping the panel into place.

Replace the screw in the back of the ashtray compartment. Place the ashtray bracket into the opening and the ashtray into its slot.

Replace the negative battery cable over the negative lead post of the Rodeo's battery. Tighten the bolt on the cable's clamp to secure the cable onto the negative battery terminal. Close the hood of the Isuzu Rodeo.

 How to Install a Car Stereo in a Chevy Cavalier

Removal

Park your Cavalier with the front wheels pointing straight ahead. Turn off all lamps accessories and turn the ignition switch off. If your car is equipped with OnStar, open the driver's door to disable the retained accessory power.

Remove the bolt for the negative battery cable and route the cable aside. Wait at least one minute before proceeding to allow the airbag system to deactivate.

Remove the screw in the defroster grille vent on the dashboard pad and then pry the grille from the dashboard pad. Use the trim tool to disengage the outer trim covers from the dashboard pad, then pull the covers rearward to disengage the retainer tabs from dashboard pad.

Open the glovebox and remove the screws across the top of the glovebox opening, then remove the dashboard pad. Remove three screws across the top of the dashboard fascia panel, then pull the fascia panel toward you to disengage the retainer tabs. Reach behind the fascia panel and disconnect the electrical connectors for the headlamp dimmer switch and the cigar lighter. Remove the fascia panel.

Remove three screws from the audio unit mount, then slide the audio unit toward you. Reach behind the unit and disconnect the electrical connectors and the antenna coaxial cable, then remove the audio unit.

Installation

Connect the coaxial cable and the electrical connectors to the back of the audio unit and then slide it into the dash. Install the mount screws and tighten them to 20 inch-pounds. Connect the electrical connectors to the back of the dashboard fascia panel. Align the dashboard fascia panel and press it into place to engage the retainer tabs. Install the screws and tighten them to 20 inch-pounds.

Install the dashboard pad. Install the screws and tighten them to 20 inch-pounds. Close the glovebox door. Align the outer trim cover tabs and press the cover in place to engage the retainer tabs. Install the defroster grille and install the grille screw. Tighten the screw to 20 inch-pounds.

Connect the negative battery cable and tighten the bolt to 11 foot-pounds.