How to Install an Aftermarket Radio in Vehicles

The Vehicles comes with a standard stereo deck with an AM/FM stereo with cassette deck or a highly capable CD changer with built-in satellite radio receiver, depending on the year of the Vehicles. Vehicles owners who need to replace a malfunctioning stock deck or want to upgrade to a more powerful unit have many aftermarket options. You can either pay a professional to install it Vehicles you or purchase the necessary Vehicles adapters and install the new head unit yourself Vehicles a fraction of the cost.

Under The Hood:

• How to Install an Aftermarket Radio in a 2001 Impala
• How to Install an Aftermarket Radio in a Nissan Altima
• How to Install an After-Market Radio in a 2006 GMC Truck
• How to Install an Aftermarket Radio in a GMC Yukon

 How to Install an Aftermarket Radio in a 2001 Impala

Lift the hood of the Impala, and remove the rubber cover over the negative battery terminal. Loosen the clamp that holds the grounding cable to the negative battery lead, using a 10 mm wrench. Remove the cable from the battery and rest it away from the negative lead.

Pry the ignition cover from the steering column, using a flat-head screwdriver.

Open the fuse compartments on either side of the dashboard (near the front doors), and remove the screws near the top of the opened panel with a Phillips screwdriver.

Push down the tabs on the closeout panel below the steering column. Remove the lower dash panel above the closeout panel by hand. Remove the screw on the bottom of the upper dash panel that is revealed by the lower dash panel's removal.

Remove the two screws above the speedometer on the upper dash panel, using the Phillips screwdriver. Pull the entire dash panel away from the dashboard by hand. Start at one side and work your way all the way across to the other side of the Impala.

Pull the wiring to the hazard light and traction control switches away from the panel.

Remove the two screws on either side of the stereo mounting bracket with the Phillips screwdriver. Pull the radio from the mounting dock. Disconnect the wiring from the back of the stock radio.

Insert a faceplate adapter into the now-vacant stereo mounting dock. Feed the wiring harness adapter lead through the back of the faceplate adapter.

Connect the stereo wiring from the Impala to a wiring harness adapter. Connect the leads from the harness adapter to the back of the aftermarket stereo. The leads on the adapter will be clearly marked to show where the appropriate connections should be made.

Slide the aftermarket radio into the opening provided by the faceplate adapter.

Replace the dash panel to the dashboard of the Chevy. Connect the wiring for the hazard and traction control switches, and snap the dash panel back into place.

Replace the screws at the top of the panel on the driver's side, just above the speedometer. Replace the screw on the bottom of the panel to the left of the steering column. Replace the screws on either side of the dash panel in the fuse panel compartment. Replace the covers for the fuse panels.

Replace the lower left-side dash panel. The panel will snap into place. Lift the closeout panel and press it against the lower driver's side panel until the clips are engaged, locking it into place.

Replace the ignition cover. Place it over the keyhole and push it until it snaps into place.

Place the grounding cable clamp around the negative battery lead post. Tighten the clamp with the 10 mm wrench. Replace the rubber covering over the negative battery terminal.

 How to Install an Aftermarket Radio in a Nissan Altima

Unsnap the square, plastic panel surrounding the gear lever, by prying off with your hands. Unscrew the four Phillips screws that were concealed by the panel.

Unscrew the two Phillips screws located above the radio. Remove the plastic panel below the fuse box under the steering wheel and unscrew the single Phillips screw.

Pull the lower dash panel away from under the steering wheel. Unscrew the Phillips screw located behind the steering wheel to the left of the radio. Pull the center dash panel away to make the radio and pocket below the radio completely visible.

Unscrew the four Phillips screws securing the radio to the bracket. Unplug the wire harness on the rear of the radio. Pull out the black radio antenna cable. Pull the radio out of the dash and place it to one side.

Insert the aftermarket stereo into the brackets. Plug the black radio antenna cable from the car into the Nissan diversity radio antenna adapter. Connect the other end of the radio antenna adapter to the radio antenna adapter on the rear of the aftermarket stereo.

Connect the wire harness connections from the aftermarket stereo to their reciprocal connections on the car. Push the connections together until they click into place.

Reattach the center dash panel. Reattach the lower dash panel under the steering column. Replace and tighten all Phillips screws that you removed. Reattach the plastic panel surrounding the gear lever into place.

 How to Install an After-Market Radio in a 2006 GMC Truck

Removing the Stock Stereo

Park your GMC on a flat surface and pop the hood.

Remove the negative (black) terminal from its battery post using a crescent wrench. This will stop the flow of electricity to the truck's stereo system.

Climb back inside the vehicle. Insert both pieces of the GMC radio-removal tool into the four corresponding holes on the sides of the radio face. Be sure to point the tools' teeth in toward each other. Press the tools in until they click and lock into place.

Gently bend the two pieces of the tool together and pull the stereo system out of its housing. It should slide out easily.

Unplug the audio and power cords from the back of the stereo. These should be standard, toothed plugs that can be loosened by squeezing together both sides of the plugs.

Installing the Aftermarket Stereo

Remove your new stereo system from its packaging. Plug the power and audio cables into the back of the stereo.

Gently slide the new system into the stereo housing.

Press in the stereo until it clicks into place.

Climb out of the vehicle and reattach the negative battery terminal.

Start your vehicle and configure your new stereo system, using the instructions provided.

 How to Install an Aftermarket Radio in a GMC Yukon

Lift the Yukon's hood and loosen the bolt on the clamp holding the grounding cable to the negative battery terminal with a wrench. Lift the cable from the battery and set it aside.

Grab the upper right corner of the main dashboard panel and pull it away from the Yukon's dash. Work your hands across the top of the dash, separating the panel from the dashboard around the perimeter of the dash. Set the panel aside.

Pull down both of the plastic levers on either side of the factory stereo bracket. These levers will release the Yukon's stereo from its mounting bracket. Pull the stereo out of the dashboard dock and disconnect the stereo wiring from the back of the unit.

Insert a faceplate adapter into the stereo dock. Raise both levers on the sides of the mounting bracket to lock in the adapter. Pull the stereo wiring and antenna cable from the back of the Yukon's stereo dock to the front of the dashboard.

Attach the stereo wiring connectors to the wiring harness adapter leads. The wiring connects only one way, and the location of the proper connection is detailed in the accompanying harness manual and/or as a color-code on the leads themselves.

Plug the antenna cable lead into the GM antenna cable adapter. Insert the antenna cable adapter into the FM antenna input on the rear panel of the new stereo. Connect the wiring harness adapter leads to the outlets on the rear panel of the aftermarket stereo unit.

Slide the stereo into the stereo dock. Push the unit into the dash until it locks into place inside the faceplate adapter. Place the main dashboard panel onto the dashboard. Press around the perimeter of the panel to snap it back onto the Yukon's dashboard.

Replace the grounding cable clamp around the negative battery terminal. Tighten the bolt on the cable's clamp with the wrench. Close the GMC's hood.