How not to wire a stereo
09-10-2007, 08:51 AM
#1
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
How not to wire a stereo
I got this car at work and I thought it was interesting because in a single harness, there were 3 examples of bad stereo wiring.
Look carefully:
The furthest back are wire caps. They're acceptable but frowned upon. They are not made for this purpose as you can actually crimp two wires in there and not have them connected. The metal band isn't at the tip of the crimp. The major problem with these is that they get caught easily when put in and dragged out from behind a stereo. They're also messy and take up lots of space.
The second row is wire caps. These are for use in the house but not the car. The vibration in the car makes these connections notoriously unreliable, and I have fixed many cars where the caps have simply fallen off and the wire grounded against some metal under the dash.
The third and final row is the worst of all. I see this all the time from people who think that all men are born able to install their own stereo. There is a reason why there are schools and certifications for installing. There is a reason why businesses charge money to do installs. The reason is because YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO INSTALL UNLESS YOU HAVE TRAINING/EXPERIENCE INSTALLING.
It is not an affront to your masculinity if you are not capable of installing your own stereo equipment.
The wires are simply twisted together and then duct tape was used as insulation. Twisting wires together w/out solder does not guarantee they're connected and does nothing to keep the wires from staying together. Any force applied to the wire, ie putting in a stereo or pulling it out again, can pull the wires apart. Tape does not hold wires together. I've also had many cases where I was R&R'ing a vehicle, the wires were twisted together and appeared to be connected; but corrosion built up in the connection and it didn't work.
DUCT TAPE DOES NOT INSULATE ELECTRICITY. DUCT TAPE CONDUCTS ELECTRICITY. Only ELECTRIC tape or heat shrink should be used to insulate wires.
Bottom line is that if you don't have tools, supplies, training, and experience in wiring, you have no business doing your own wiring. Take it somewhere and pay them. Hardwiring a stereo will cost you about $35, and it's worth it.
If you want to learn wiring, GREAT! We're happy to help you on this forum. I have written soldering and crimping tutorials and they can be found on the site in my sig and in the security how-to writeup found in the rules/faq thread.
Please no more of this crap. It is so sad to see such crappy work in a Honda or Acura because they are such great cars. Very popular among idiots and smart people alike.
Look carefully:
The furthest back are wire caps. They're acceptable but frowned upon. They are not made for this purpose as you can actually crimp two wires in there and not have them connected. The metal band isn't at the tip of the crimp. The major problem with these is that they get caught easily when put in and dragged out from behind a stereo. They're also messy and take up lots of space.
The second row is wire caps. These are for use in the house but not the car. The vibration in the car makes these connections notoriously unreliable, and I have fixed many cars where the caps have simply fallen off and the wire grounded against some metal under the dash.
The third and final row is the worst of all. I see this all the time from people who think that all men are born able to install their own stereo. There is a reason why there are schools and certifications for installing. There is a reason why businesses charge money to do installs. The reason is because YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO INSTALL UNLESS YOU HAVE TRAINING/EXPERIENCE INSTALLING.
It is not an affront to your masculinity if you are not capable of installing your own stereo equipment.
The wires are simply twisted together and then duct tape was used as insulation. Twisting wires together w/out solder does not guarantee they're connected and does nothing to keep the wires from staying together. Any force applied to the wire, ie putting in a stereo or pulling it out again, can pull the wires apart. Tape does not hold wires together. I've also had many cases where I was R&R'ing a vehicle, the wires were twisted together and appeared to be connected; but corrosion built up in the connection and it didn't work.
DUCT TAPE DOES NOT INSULATE ELECTRICITY. DUCT TAPE CONDUCTS ELECTRICITY. Only ELECTRIC tape or heat shrink should be used to insulate wires.
Bottom line is that if you don't have tools, supplies, training, and experience in wiring, you have no business doing your own wiring. Take it somewhere and pay them. Hardwiring a stereo will cost you about $35, and it's worth it.
If you want to learn wiring, GREAT! We're happy to help you on this forum. I have written soldering and crimping tutorials and they can be found on the site in my sig and in the security how-to writeup found in the rules/faq thread.
Please no more of this crap. It is so sad to see such crappy work in a Honda or Acura because they are such great cars. Very popular among idiots and smart people alike.
09-10-2007, 10:05 AM
#2
Honda-Tech Member
Re: How not to wire a stereo (suspendedHatch)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by suspendedHatch »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The furthest back are wire caps. They're acceptable but frowned upon..</TD></TR></TABLE>
Aren't crimp caps standard operating procedure at BB? They were at my shop when I worked there...
The furthest back are wire caps. They're acceptable but frowned upon..</TD></TR></TABLE>
Aren't crimp caps standard operating procedure at BB? They were at my shop when I worked there...
09-10-2007, 11:25 AM
#3
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Re: How not to wire a stereo (B18C_EJ8)
No. Best Buy Standard Operating Procedure requires soldering actually.
Is that what happens? Not in most places.
Is that what happens? Not in most places.
09-10-2007, 12:42 PM
#5
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 99 probs but a stolen car aint 1, ca, cerritos/fullerton
Posts: 9,716
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Re: (B18C_EJ8)
MAn, I think I started something with the bad install pics, lol. Keep um coming, lol.
Things have changed over the years, I remember when molex plugs were made to make to harness work at good guy, then came twist-lock, then sollder and tape. Now its smart harnesses. Depending on were your at.But yea, Its funny to see shyt like this. I seen so many honda harness go to waste because of this and they wonder what happened.
Things have changed over the years, I remember when molex plugs were made to make to harness work at good guy, then came twist-lock, then sollder and tape. Now its smart harnesses. Depending on were your at.But yea, Its funny to see shyt like this. I seen so many honda harness go to waste because of this and they wonder what happened.
09-10-2007, 12:47 PM
#6
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: tha burgh, PA
Posts: 863
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (B18C_EJ8)
when BB installed my head unit they used the wire crimp caps. i was kinda pissed about that. i like things to be done the right way. them damn caps take up soo much room and can also make noise from hitting one another or something else behind the unit from vibrations.
09-10-2007, 02:46 PM
#7
Junior Member
Re: (zsudz922)
I have to ask, is there an original stereo harness deep in the dash? if not that'd be first thing wrong.......
Yea when I worked at pepboys ( parts delivery mainly) and I had my boss direct a customer to me for advice on a stereo wiring/installation, when he came over the wires for the deck were wrapped in electrical tape.... yea creepy....
Yea when I worked at pepboys ( parts delivery mainly) and I had my boss direct a customer to me for advice on a stereo wiring/installation, when he came over the wires for the deck were wrapped in electrical tape.... yea creepy....
Trending Topics
09-10-2007, 04:36 PM
#8
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,342
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (CarbonizedDX)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by suspendedHatch »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO INSTALL UNLESS YOU HAVE TRAINING/EXPERIENCE INSTALLING.
</TD></TR></TABLE> So just because I didn't go to a training class or work at a shop installing radio's means I don't know how to install them? I've never been to a class to teach me about wiring or worked at a stereo shop and I know how to install stereo's just fine. I've used crimp connectors before but unless it's only a temporary thing I prefer to solder them. I've used both electrical tape over the solders and heat shrink tubing it just depends what I've had at the time. My installs aren't mess are wired correctly and work fine. So whats the deal with you telling me I don't know how to install stereo's? Yes some people might not know how to but saying that you don't know how unless you have training is just flat out stupid. I know what I'm doing as do quite a few other people I know none of whom have had training for that. Just because you work at a shop doesn't mean you can do any better of a job than I can.
Don't assume just because some people don't know what they are doing that everyone without training doesn't know how to do it correctly.
That install does look pretty bad but I can promise you that the installs I've done which I've done several look nothing at all like that.
</TD></TR></TABLE> So just because I didn't go to a training class or work at a shop installing radio's means I don't know how to install them? I've never been to a class to teach me about wiring or worked at a stereo shop and I know how to install stereo's just fine. I've used crimp connectors before but unless it's only a temporary thing I prefer to solder them. I've used both electrical tape over the solders and heat shrink tubing it just depends what I've had at the time. My installs aren't mess are wired correctly and work fine. So whats the deal with you telling me I don't know how to install stereo's? Yes some people might not know how to but saying that you don't know how unless you have training is just flat out stupid. I know what I'm doing as do quite a few other people I know none of whom have had training for that. Just because you work at a shop doesn't mean you can do any better of a job than I can.
Don't assume just because some people don't know what they are doing that everyone without training doesn't know how to do it correctly.
That install does look pretty bad but I can promise you that the installs I've done which I've done several look nothing at all like that.
09-10-2007, 07:47 PM
#9
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: la mesa, CA, USA
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (hometheaterman)
Maybe I just read his post wrong, but it sounded to me that he was telling the people who think its acceptable to wire a stereo this way that they don't know how, and I can assure you that 90% of the people who come in to the shop and ask us to R&R their radio (that they installed) the wiring looks like that in some way, shape, or form. You don't know how many people ask us if they will be able to install the stereo, amp, or whatever themselves, and this is my reply everytime. "I don't know. I have no idea what your skill level in wiring, soldering, etc. I do this everyday, so its your decision."
And on further note the sop for bestbuy is solder and tape for alarms and power connections. Anything else can use butt connectors, crimp caps. Installation quality at best buy varies from store to store. Our installers, suspendedhatch included, we have a higher standard, and that we care what we put our names on. Our installs may take a quite a bit longer, but the customer is getting a much better and reliable install, and that keeps the people from coming back saying you did this and you did that and this don't work, blah, blah. Yes we get blamed for everything under the sun. I had a stereo installed in my car about a month ago and now my engine siezed up and it was something you installed inproperly.
And on further note the sop for bestbuy is solder and tape for alarms and power connections. Anything else can use butt connectors, crimp caps. Installation quality at best buy varies from store to store. Our installers, suspendedhatch included, we have a higher standard, and that we care what we put our names on. Our installs may take a quite a bit longer, but the customer is getting a much better and reliable install, and that keeps the people from coming back saying you did this and you did that and this don't work, blah, blah. Yes we get blamed for everything under the sun. I had a stereo installed in my car about a month ago and now my engine siezed up and it was something you installed inproperly.
09-10-2007, 07:54 PM
#10
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Re: (hometheaterman)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hometheaterman »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've never been to a class to teach me about wiring or worked at a stereo shop and I know how to install stereo's just fine.</TD></TR></TABLE>
So where did you learn then? A book? The internet? Or just by yourself?
Yes, I am going to say that if you "figured out how to do it on your own", with no training (formal or not), studying, work experience, non audio shop but related work experience, then you do not know how to install. Maybe there are some cars you can do. But I guarantee you that you would not last a week in a professional install bay. A car comes in with a factory amp that wont integrate, or you have to troubleshoot some mess... that's not stuff you just figure out on your own if you have no related experience or training. Chances are I could find problems with your installs.
Hey, I don't know you, I've never talked to you, I've never seen your work, but if you want to take it personally, then by all means, be my guest.
So where did you learn then? A book? The internet? Or just by yourself?
Yes, I am going to say that if you "figured out how to do it on your own", with no training (formal or not), studying, work experience, non audio shop but related work experience, then you do not know how to install. Maybe there are some cars you can do. But I guarantee you that you would not last a week in a professional install bay. A car comes in with a factory amp that wont integrate, or you have to troubleshoot some mess... that's not stuff you just figure out on your own if you have no related experience or training. Chances are I could find problems with your installs.
Hey, I don't know you, I've never talked to you, I've never seen your work, but if you want to take it personally, then by all means, be my guest.
09-10-2007, 08:13 PM
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (zsudz922)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zsudz922 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">when BB installed my head unit they used the wire crimp caps. i was kinda pissed about that. i like things to be done the right way. them damn caps take up soo much room and can also make noise from hitting one another or something else behind the unit from vibrations.</TD></TR></TABLE>That's not so bad. The one that did my alarm used the twist and tape method. Also, when I pulle the knee bolster off, the alarm fell out! 
Also, when I pulle the knee bolster off, the alarm fell out!
09-10-2007, 09:57 PM
#13
Honda-Tech Member
Re: (suspendedHatch)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by suspendedHatch »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
So where did you learn then? A book? The internet? Or just by yourself?
Yes, I am going to say that if you "figured out how to do it on your own", with no training (formal or not), studying, work experience, non audio shop but related work experience, then you do not know how to install. Maybe there are some cars you can do. But I guarantee you that you would not last a week in a professional install bay. A car comes in with a factory amp that wont integrate, or you have to troubleshoot some mess... that's not stuff you just figure out on your own if you have no related experience or training. Chances are I could find problems with your installs.
Hey, I don't know you, I've never talked to you, I've never seen your work, but if you want to take it personally, then by all means, be my guest.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Pretty bold statements when I have redone many professionally done installs. I have even had an owner of a shop kick me out of his store after I made him look pretty stupid.
I think there are some smart people that learn to teach themselves. It's not rocket science after all. While there are a lot of people that think they know what they are doing and actually have no clue. There are probably just as many "professionals" that dont know what they are doing either.
So where did you learn then? A book? The internet? Or just by yourself?
Yes, I am going to say that if you "figured out how to do it on your own", with no training (formal or not), studying, work experience, non audio shop but related work experience, then you do not know how to install. Maybe there are some cars you can do. But I guarantee you that you would not last a week in a professional install bay. A car comes in with a factory amp that wont integrate, or you have to troubleshoot some mess... that's not stuff you just figure out on your own if you have no related experience or training. Chances are I could find problems with your installs.
Hey, I don't know you, I've never talked to you, I've never seen your work, but if you want to take it personally, then by all means, be my guest.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Pretty bold statements when I have redone many professionally done installs. I have even had an owner of a shop kick me out of his store after I made him look pretty stupid.
I think there are some smart people that learn to teach themselves. It's not rocket science after all. While there are a lot of people that think they know what they are doing and actually have no clue. There are probably just as many "professionals" that dont know what they are doing either.
09-10-2007, 10:01 PM
#14
Junior Member
Re: (CarbonizedDX)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CarbonizedDX »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have to ask, is there an original stereo harness deep in the dash? if not that'd be first thing wrong.......
</TD></TR></TABLE>
?????? I'm really curious on this.
And side bar, not to say I'm better but I've been to a few shops that had a full how-to install guide on a computer for their installers to use.... Nobody is perfect but like auto mechanics not all "professionals" are good at they they do.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
?????? I'm really curious on this.
And side bar, not to say I'm better but I've been to a few shops that had a full how-to install guide on a computer for their installers to use.... Nobody is perfect but like auto mechanics not all "professionals" are good at they they do.
09-10-2007, 11:50 PM
#15
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 99 probs but a stolen car aint 1, ca, cerritos/fullerton
Posts: 9,716
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Re: (sniggler316)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sniggler316 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That's not so bad. The one that did my alarm used the twist and tape method. Also, when I pulle the knee bolster off, the alarm fell out! </TD></TR></TABLE>
Well I surley hope that you got that fixed or a theif is going to have a cake walk with your car.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CarbonizedDX »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
?????? I'm really curious on this.
And side bar, not to say I'm better but I've been to a few shops that had a full how-to install guide on a computer for their installers to use.... Nobody is perfect but like auto mechanics not all "professionals" are good at they they do.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I am
Also, when I pulle the knee bolster off, the alarm fell out! </TD></TR></TABLE>Well I surley hope that you got that fixed or a theif is going to have a cake walk with your car.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CarbonizedDX »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
?????? I'm really curious on this.
And side bar, not to say I'm better but I've been to a few shops that had a full how-to install guide on a computer for their installers to use.... Nobody is perfect but like auto mechanics not all "professionals" are good at they they do.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I am
09-11-2007, 12:03 AM
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: la mesa, CA, USA
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (wrx-killer-Sti-eater)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wrx-killer-Sti-eater »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Well I surley hope that you got that fixed or a theif is going to have a cake walk with your car.
I am
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Man you really got something going here. Maybe we shoud have 'American Installer'. I'll be Jesseman(Simon), Suspendedhatch(Paula), and you can be Randy.
Well I surley hope that you got that fixed or a theif is going to have a cake walk with your car.
I am
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Man you really got something going here. Maybe we shoud have 'American Installer'. I'll be Jesseman(Simon), Suspendedhatch(Paula), and you can be Randy.
09-11-2007, 08:28 AM
#17
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Re: (CarbonizedDX)
The original harness plug was cut off, which is the first thing an amateur typically does. The second thing they do is try to match the aftermarket wire colors to their factory colors. Just had a Toyota in last night. A guy comes in dressed in a mechanic's uniform, acting all hot-****. He asks me why his stereo (that he hooked up right) doesn't work. I'm sorry sir, but my job isn't to teach installation. If you want me to fix it for you, you'll have to pay. To which he reluctantly agrees.
I sit down in the car, a late model Toyota. Nice car, good condition. This is typical **** I see everyday from people that are mechanics, electricians, home theater installers, people who have "been doing stereos all their life", who claim to have worked at an audio shop, who had their buddy do it, or think that anyone can figure it out. Ask Jesseman. These are recent and frequent true life examples.
The mechanic cut the red wire which is a speaker wire on a Toyota, hooked it up to red on the Jensen harness, black is also a speaker wire, to ground on the harness, yellow to some yellow/stripe wire, light green (speaker wire) to solid green on the harness, then gave up when none of the other wire colors even remotely matched. Tried to power it up, no power. Stereo must be defective. All his crimping was crap from using one of those cheap crimping tools and the cheap butt connectors that have the insulation crack. The guy even had a weird looking meter freshly out of the package sitting on the passenger floor. He pried the dash trim off with a flat blade screwdriver, but the marks weren't quite as bad as what I normally see.
The harness was ruined. I charged him $35. It took me 15 mins, and he hovered over my shoulder the whole time asking retarded questions and second guessing everything I did. But he shut the expletive up when I plugged it in and it worked.
Right after that a guy came in who hooked up the yellow wire only and tried to test the deck. It didn't work so he thought the stereo was defective. He had the correct wire and he even had a wire chart printout. After I wired up the stereo, it still didn't work. He was triumphant at first. But I went right to his fuse panel w/out skipping a beat. You can't just take a pair of scissors and cut a harness plug off all in one shot.
I never said that being a professional or having a shop guarantees that the installers that work there are willing and able to do good installs. That is irrelevant to the point of this thread and you're welcome to start a new one (if you include some tech). I also never said that all Best Buys or all Circuit City's or anywhere else do good installs. I would never generalize all the installers in an entire company.
Like every good installer, I started off by teaching myself and from having relevant experience. But it wasn't until I was trained and got some actual work experience that I became a good installer. And I'm lucky that the staff at Circuit City that I started at were ethical, long time veteran installers willing to teach a little rice boy like me (I had to show them that my car didn't have neon lights and that my VTEC wire wasn't a speaker wire with duct tape on it). It took me about a year on the clock full time at a busy store until I could say that I am consistently good with my installs. And I still learn **** on a weekly basis.
It took Jesseman about 3 months but he's just a freak and we all know that.
Unfortunately all the installers at that Circuit City including myself were scattered to the four corners of the earth. CC is having some economic trouble and they decided that getting rid of their highly paid yet irreplaceable staff was the best way to pull out of it.
If anyone wants to argue with me some more and get all butt-hurt, you can go suck it.
I sit down in the car, a late model Toyota. Nice car, good condition. This is typical **** I see everyday from people that are mechanics, electricians, home theater installers, people who have "been doing stereos all their life", who claim to have worked at an audio shop, who had their buddy do it, or think that anyone can figure it out. Ask Jesseman. These are recent and frequent true life examples.
The mechanic cut the red wire which is a speaker wire on a Toyota, hooked it up to red on the Jensen harness, black is also a speaker wire, to ground on the harness, yellow to some yellow/stripe wire, light green (speaker wire) to solid green on the harness, then gave up when none of the other wire colors even remotely matched. Tried to power it up, no power. Stereo must be defective. All his crimping was crap from using one of those cheap crimping tools and the cheap butt connectors that have the insulation crack. The guy even had a weird looking meter freshly out of the package sitting on the passenger floor. He pried the dash trim off with a flat blade screwdriver, but the marks weren't quite as bad as what I normally see.
The harness was ruined. I charged him $35. It took me 15 mins, and he hovered over my shoulder the whole time asking retarded questions and second guessing everything I did. But he shut the expletive up when I plugged it in and it worked.
Right after that a guy came in who hooked up the yellow wire only and tried to test the deck. It didn't work so he thought the stereo was defective. He had the correct wire and he even had a wire chart printout. After I wired up the stereo, it still didn't work. He was triumphant at first. But I went right to his fuse panel w/out skipping a beat. You can't just take a pair of scissors and cut a harness plug off all in one shot.
I never said that being a professional or having a shop guarantees that the installers that work there are willing and able to do good installs. That is irrelevant to the point of this thread and you're welcome to start a new one (if you include some tech). I also never said that all Best Buys or all Circuit City's or anywhere else do good installs. I would never generalize all the installers in an entire company.
Like every good installer, I started off by teaching myself and from having relevant experience. But it wasn't until I was trained and got some actual work experience that I became a good installer. And I'm lucky that the staff at Circuit City that I started at were ethical, long time veteran installers willing to teach a little rice boy like me (I had to show them that my car didn't have neon lights and that my VTEC wire wasn't a speaker wire with duct tape on it). It took me about a year on the clock full time at a busy store until I could say that I am consistently good with my installs. And I still learn **** on a weekly basis.
It took Jesseman about 3 months but he's just a freak and we all know that.
Unfortunately all the installers at that Circuit City including myself were scattered to the four corners of the earth. CC is having some economic trouble and they decided that getting rid of their highly paid yet irreplaceable staff was the best way to pull out of it.
If anyone wants to argue with me some more and get all butt-hurt, you can go suck it.
09-11-2007, 09:14 AM
#18
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 99 probs but a stolen car aint 1, ca, cerritos/fullerton
Posts: 9,716
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Re: (jesseman)
Originally Posted by jesseman
Man you really got something going here. Maybe we shoud have 'American Installer'. I'll be Jesseman(Simon), Suspendedhatch(Paula), and you can be Randy.
dam it........ I wanna be paula.
Originally Posted by suspendedHatch
The original harness plug was cut off, which is the first thing an amateur typically does. The second thing they do is try to match the aftermarket wire colors to their factory colors. Just had a Toyota in last night. A guy comes in dressed in a mechanic's uniform, acting all hot-****. He asks me why his stereo (that he hooked up right) doesn't work. I'm sorry sir, but my job isn't to teach installation. If you want me to fix it for you, you'll have to pay. To which he reluctantly agrees.
I sit down in the car, a late model Toyota. Nice car, good condition. This is typical **** I see everyday from people that are mechanics, electricians, home theater installers, people who have "been doing stereos all their life", who claim to have worked at an audio shop, who had their buddy do it, or think that anyone can figure it out. Ask Jesseman. These are recent and frequent true life examples.
The mechanic cut the red wire which is a speaker wire on a Toyota, hooked it up to red on the Jensen harness, black is also a speaker wire, to ground on the harness, yellow to some yellow/stripe wire, light green (speaker wire) to solid green on the harness, then gave up when none of the other wire colors even remotely matched. Tried to power it up, no power. Stereo must be defective. All his crimping was crap from using one of those cheap crimping tools and the cheap butt connectors that have the insulation crack. The guy even had a weird looking meter freshly out of the package sitting on the passenger floor. He pried the dash trim off with a flat blade screwdriver, but the marks weren't quite as bad as what I normally see.
The harness was ruined. I charged him $35. It took me 15 mins, and he hovered over my shoulder the whole time asking retarded questions and second guessing everything I did. But he shut the expletive up when I plugged it in and it worked.
Right after that a guy came in who hooked up the yellow wire only and tried to test the deck. It didn't work so he thought the stereo was defective. He had the correct wire and he even had a wire chart printout. After I wired up the stereo, it still didn't work. He was triumphant at first. But I went right to his fuse panel w/out skipping a beat. You can't just take a pair of scissors and cut a harness plug off all in one shot.
I never said that being a professional or having a shop guarantees that the installers that work there are willing and able to do good installs. That is irrelevant to the point of this thread and you're welcome to start a new one (if you include some tech). I also never said that all Best Buys or all Circuit City's or anywhere else do good installs. I would never generalize all the installers in an entire company.
Like every good installer, I started off by teaching myself and from having relevant experience. But it wasn't until I was trained and got some actual work experience that I became a good installer. And I'm lucky that the staff at Circuit City that I started at were ethical, long time veteran installers willing to teach a little rice boy like me (I had to show them that my car didn't have neon lights and that my VTEC wire wasn't a speaker wire with duct tape on it). It took me about a year on the clock full time at a busy store until I could say that I am consistently good with my installs. And I still learn **** on a weekly basis.
It took Jesseman about 3 months but he's just a freak and we all know that.
Unfortunately all the installers at that Circuit City including myself were scattered to the four corners of the earth. CC is having some economic trouble and they decided that getting rid of their highly paid yet irreplaceable staff was the best way to pull out of it.
If anyone wants to argue with me some more and get all butt-hurt, you can go suck it.
I sit down in the car, a late model Toyota. Nice car, good condition. This is typical **** I see everyday from people that are mechanics, electricians, home theater installers, people who have "been doing stereos all their life", who claim to have worked at an audio shop, who had their buddy do it, or think that anyone can figure it out. Ask Jesseman. These are recent and frequent true life examples.
The mechanic cut the red wire which is a speaker wire on a Toyota, hooked it up to red on the Jensen harness, black is also a speaker wire, to ground on the harness, yellow to some yellow/stripe wire, light green (speaker wire) to solid green on the harness, then gave up when none of the other wire colors even remotely matched. Tried to power it up, no power. Stereo must be defective. All his crimping was crap from using one of those cheap crimping tools and the cheap butt connectors that have the insulation crack. The guy even had a weird looking meter freshly out of the package sitting on the passenger floor. He pried the dash trim off with a flat blade screwdriver, but the marks weren't quite as bad as what I normally see.
The harness was ruined. I charged him $35. It took me 15 mins, and he hovered over my shoulder the whole time asking retarded questions and second guessing everything I did. But he shut the expletive up when I plugged it in and it worked.
Right after that a guy came in who hooked up the yellow wire only and tried to test the deck. It didn't work so he thought the stereo was defective. He had the correct wire and he even had a wire chart printout. After I wired up the stereo, it still didn't work. He was triumphant at first. But I went right to his fuse panel w/out skipping a beat. You can't just take a pair of scissors and cut a harness plug off all in one shot.
I never said that being a professional or having a shop guarantees that the installers that work there are willing and able to do good installs. That is irrelevant to the point of this thread and you're welcome to start a new one (if you include some tech). I also never said that all Best Buys or all Circuit City's or anywhere else do good installs. I would never generalize all the installers in an entire company.
Like every good installer, I started off by teaching myself and from having relevant experience. But it wasn't until I was trained and got some actual work experience that I became a good installer. And I'm lucky that the staff at Circuit City that I started at were ethical, long time veteran installers willing to teach a little rice boy like me (I had to show them that my car didn't have neon lights and that my VTEC wire wasn't a speaker wire with duct tape on it). It took me about a year on the clock full time at a busy store until I could say that I am consistently good with my installs. And I still learn **** on a weekly basis.
It took Jesseman about 3 months but he's just a freak and we all know that.
Unfortunately all the installers at that Circuit City including myself were scattered to the four corners of the earth. CC is having some economic trouble and they decided that getting rid of their highly paid yet irreplaceable staff was the best way to pull out of it.
If anyone wants to argue with me some more and get all butt-hurt, you can go suck it.
09-11-2007, 10:38 AM
#19
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,342
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (wrx-killer-Sti-eater)
I've learned from pretty much all of the ways above. I've read and read on the internet, read a few things in books about it, taught myself some, and been taught quite a lot by a few family members. One works at a electronics store that does car stereo installs although he doesn't work in that part of it. Both him and the other one that have helped me over the years are electrical engineers so know pretty much what they are doing when it comes to wiring. I've learned quite a bit from them.
I will admit I haven't done installs on everything but I've done several. Usually if I have a problem I can either trace it back and find out where it is or I can find out pretty quick whats wrong with it and fix it from doing a search online or elsewhere. Including some where didn't even have a harness to start with and had to pretty much build my own and rewire the whole truck. I've done 2 trucks like this and 1 where the guy was with me and wanted me to just hook up the power then hook up to his speaker wires. It was a pretty crappy install due to how he already had stuff wired up and not hidden but he just wanted me to hook into that.
I've had several people around here that have asked me to do installs over shops. I'd say since I've had people come ask me to do an install for them I must have a pretty good repuatation otherwise they would just take it to Best buy or somewhere like that.
I know a few others like me that haven't had any training but know how to do a good job installing a stereo. Ofcourse on the other hand I've got friends who claim they know how to install them and they don't come out looking much better than the one above. Not everyone that doesn't work at a shop is like this though. I know several that are but several that aren't also so don't think that because some people are like that everyone is.
I will admit I haven't done installs on everything but I've done several. Usually if I have a problem I can either trace it back and find out where it is or I can find out pretty quick whats wrong with it and fix it from doing a search online or elsewhere. Including some where didn't even have a harness to start with and had to pretty much build my own and rewire the whole truck. I've done 2 trucks like this and 1 where the guy was with me and wanted me to just hook up the power then hook up to his speaker wires. It was a pretty crappy install due to how he already had stuff wired up and not hidden but he just wanted me to hook into that.
I've had several people around here that have asked me to do installs over shops. I'd say since I've had people come ask me to do an install for them I must have a pretty good repuatation otherwise they would just take it to Best buy or somewhere like that.
I know a few others like me that haven't had any training but know how to do a good job installing a stereo. Ofcourse on the other hand I've got friends who claim they know how to install them and they don't come out looking much better than the one above. Not everyone that doesn't work at a shop is like this though. I know several that are but several that aren't also so don't think that because some people are like that everyone is.
09-11-2007, 04:33 PM
#20
Honda-Tech Member
Re: (suspendedHatch)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by suspendedHatch »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I sit down in the car, a late model Toyota. Nice car, good condition. This is typical **** I see everyday from people that are mechanics, electricians, home theater installers, people who have "been doing stereos all their life", who claim to have worked at an audio shop, who had their buddy do it, or think that anyone can figure it out. Ask Jesseman. These are recent and frequent true life examples.
The mechanic cut the red wire which is a speaker wire on a Toyota, hooked it up to red on the Jensen harness, black is also a speaker wire, to ground on the harness, yellow to some yellow/stripe wire, light green (speaker wire) to solid green on the harness, then gave up when none of the other wire colors even remotely matched. Tried to power it up, no power. Stereo must be defective. All his crimping was crap from using one of those cheap crimping tools and the cheap butt connectors that have the insulation crack. The guy even had a weird looking meter freshly out of the package sitting on the passenger floor. He pried the dash trim off with a flat blade screwdriver, but the marks weren't quite as bad as what I normally see.
The harness was ruined. I charged him $35. It took me 15 mins, and he hovered over my shoulder the whole time asking retarded questions and second guessing everything I did. But he shut the expletive up when I plugged it in and it worked.
Right after that a guy came in who hooked up the yellow wire only and tried to test the deck. It didn't work so he thought the stereo was defective. He had the correct wire and he even had a wire chart printout. After I wired up the stereo, it still didn't work. He was triumphant at first. But I went right to his fuse panel w/out skipping a beat. You can't just take a pair of scissors and cut a harness plug off all in one shot.
</TD></TR></TABLE> man, im glad to know im not the only person at BBY that deals with ignorant *** people all day. damn self proclaimed installers. they would save alot of money if they just brought it to us first. have you guys recieved your new work shirts yet?
I sit down in the car, a late model Toyota. Nice car, good condition. This is typical **** I see everyday from people that are mechanics, electricians, home theater installers, people who have "been doing stereos all their life", who claim to have worked at an audio shop, who had their buddy do it, or think that anyone can figure it out. Ask Jesseman. These are recent and frequent true life examples.
The mechanic cut the red wire which is a speaker wire on a Toyota, hooked it up to red on the Jensen harness, black is also a speaker wire, to ground on the harness, yellow to some yellow/stripe wire, light green (speaker wire) to solid green on the harness, then gave up when none of the other wire colors even remotely matched. Tried to power it up, no power. Stereo must be defective. All his crimping was crap from using one of those cheap crimping tools and the cheap butt connectors that have the insulation crack. The guy even had a weird looking meter freshly out of the package sitting on the passenger floor. He pried the dash trim off with a flat blade screwdriver, but the marks weren't quite as bad as what I normally see.
The harness was ruined. I charged him $35. It took me 15 mins, and he hovered over my shoulder the whole time asking retarded questions and second guessing everything I did. But he shut the expletive up when I plugged it in and it worked.
Right after that a guy came in who hooked up the yellow wire only and tried to test the deck. It didn't work so he thought the stereo was defective. He had the correct wire and he even had a wire chart printout. After I wired up the stereo, it still didn't work. He was triumphant at first. But I went right to his fuse panel w/out skipping a beat. You can't just take a pair of scissors and cut a harness plug off all in one shot.
</TD></TR></TABLE> man, im glad to know im not the only person at BBY that deals with ignorant *** people all day. damn self proclaimed installers. they would save alot of money if they just brought it to us first. have you guys recieved your new work shirts yet?
09-11-2007, 04:54 PM
#21
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Re: (JSPECSIR)
Oh man everyday it's a common occurrence that someone comes in and just wants us to hook up one wire or get the power working. I wont touch any job unless we do it complete from start to finish. I always have to tell people "well now you cut off the factory harness so it's an additional $35 for hardwire", and they're not too happy about that. We even keep trophies and take pictures of the worst stuff. We have an exploded cap and a melted fuse holder (cheap, overrated Walmart fuse holder).
And hell no not all BB's are good. One guy came in that had his amp done by BB in Colorado. They didn't put the power wire through the firewall. The ran it underneath the car. It ate through the insulation and was throwing sparks as he drove. The whole car was a mess and eventually we refused to warranty it and told him to take it back to CO cuz it was just too much of mess. The guy that had my position before me actually ran the amp power wire in through the door jamb. Classic.
We haven't got the new uniforms. All of us are opposed to them. We refuse to wear anything that says "geek squad" and we're not at all happy with "auto techs" either. I'm either going to keep wearing my old uniform or quietly have the geek squad patch replaced with a best buy logo.
And hell no not all BB's are good. One guy came in that had his amp done by BB in Colorado. They didn't put the power wire through the firewall. The ran it underneath the car. It ate through the insulation and was throwing sparks as he drove. The whole car was a mess and eventually we refused to warranty it and told him to take it back to CO cuz it was just too much of mess. The guy that had my position before me actually ran the amp power wire in through the door jamb. Classic.
We haven't got the new uniforms. All of us are opposed to them. We refuse to wear anything that says "geek squad" and we're not at all happy with "auto techs" either. I'm either going to keep wearing my old uniform or quietly have the geek squad patch replaced with a best buy logo.
09-11-2007, 11:14 PM
#23
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (JSPECSIR)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by suspendedhatch »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">We refuse to wear anything that says "geek squad" and we're not at all happy with "auto techs" either. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Wow. So it's not just CC trying to integrate all its services? They're making us go from the red uni's to black ones with firedog logos instead of "roadshop."
Wow. So it's not just CC trying to integrate all its services? They're making us go from the red uni's to black ones with firedog logos instead of "roadshop."
09-11-2007, 11:37 PM
#24
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: la mesa, CA, USA
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (nineohtoo)
Here's the result of the Saab that suspended was talking about. When I pulled it out I couldn't believe that the amp still worked with the way that he pounded his JL W whatever 15.
09-14-2007, 08:07 PM
#25
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lorain, Ohio, USA
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (jesseman)
I know what you guys are talking about as far as people messing **** up and then bringing it into the shop because it doesn't work and they "know it's done right". My favorite "installer" is the person who is an electrician or their dad is an electrician. I started working for a Best Buy in 1994 (oh and crimp caps where the standard back then) , and put in about 3 years there. I then went to an independant shop for about 3 years, then back to another Best Buy for a little over 4 years and now I am at my own place for the past 3 years. It amazes me how you can at one point think you've "seen it all" in the way of people f-ing stuff up, but something always ends up coming in that blows your mind......along with a number of fuses in the car 
I have to be honest....politics aside at the BBY, I hated the fact that they made you push some of the dumbest accessories, that in most cases didn't offer the customer any real benefit. Also, in our area, custom installations (in a BBY) consisted of bending some ABS to make a bracket or the extra labor that was involved in some cars The money was pretty good and I guess that stuff was tolerable, but if your forced to wear Geek Squad uniforms, it's time GTFO, LOL. I still get to deal with the company though....i have a few friends that still work there and the best thing I ever got from that place.....a wife She still works there too.
I have to be honest....politics aside at the BBY, I hated the fact that they made you push some of the dumbest accessories, that in most cases didn't offer the customer any real benefit. Also, in our area, custom installations (in a BBY) consisted of bending some ABS to make a bracket or the extra labor that was involved in some cars
The money was pretty good and I guess that stuff was tolerable, but if your forced to wear Geek Squad uniforms, it's time GTFO, LOL. I still get to deal with the company though....i have a few friends that still work there and the best thing I ever got from that place.....a wife She still works there too.