The Automotive Thread

[Road Guy]

what did you have to solder with crutchfield? i thought most everythign with them was plug and play?

I was about to pull thr trigger on one for my new / old tahoe, cause playing the ipod through the cassette deck is getting old!

 

[mudpuppy]

what did you have to solder with crutchfield? i thought most everythign with them was plug and play?

I was about to pull thr trigger on one for my new / old tahoe, cause playing the ipod through the cassette deck is getting old!

They give you an adapter that plugs into your car's wiring harness, but you have to solder this adapter to the radio itself. It's pretty straightforward. At least you can do this on a bench rather than on your back under the dashboard, which is the traditional method. No fun when only have two inches to work with you drip hot solder on your face.

 

[Flyer_PE]

what did you have to solder with crutchfield? i thought most everythign with them was plug and play?

I was about to pull thr trigger on one for my new / old tahoe, cause playing the ipod through the cassette deck is getting old!

They give you a plug that matches the vehicle with marked wires coming out of it. The stereo comes with a similar plug. You have to match the wires from the vehicle connector to the stereo connector. If you can operate a soldering iron and aren't color blind it's pretty fool proof. Unfortunately, I AM partially color blind and had to get a little help from the wife in matching two shades of green and two shades of brown wire.

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

I just used those crimp-connectors. I don't think I've ever used a soldiering iron

 

[Flyer_PE]

Picture of the patch cord for 1999 GMC Sierra to Kenwood car stereo:

 

[Flyer_PE]

I just used those crimp-connectors. I don't think I've ever used a soldiering iron

Solder and heat-shrink tubing take up a lot less space than the crimp connectors.

 

[Road Guy]

Okay thanks, yeah I hate doing that kind of crap I may just have to suck it up and pay some high school dropout to do mine for me

 

[mudpuppy]

I just used those crimp-connectors. I don't think I've ever used a soldiering iron

Solder and heat-shrink tubing take up a lot less space than the crimp connectors.

Yeah and crimp connectors can fail over time... I almost had a fire on my motorcycle from one that corroded. Luckily I noticed the smoke coming out before a real fire started (under the gas tank no less). But then the bike is a '79 and I have no idea how old the connector was.

 

[MA_PE]

Okay thanks, yeah I hate doing that kind of crap I may just have to suck it up and pay some high school dropout to do mine for me

Soldering one of those connectors is a POC. Buy a cheap soldering iron at Radio shack and have your son do it. It's good experience for him.

 

[envirotex]

^ Amazon will install it for me? :blink: Because I would certainly do that. LOL

And Walmarts are scary in this area. LOL

Engineers with a PE-ness can install anything. Walmarts every where are scary...but they do have cheap electronics.

 

[knight1fox3]

^ Amazon will install it for me? :blink: Because I would certainly do that. LOL

And Walmarts are scary in this area. LOL

Engineers with a PE-ness can install anything. Walmarts every where are scary...but they do have cheap electronics.

Could I do it myself? Absolutely, I reached a master level of soldering in my undergraduate career. :thumbs: Do I have the time right now with grad school, work, and running a small business? NO. LOL It's one of those things, "How much will it cost me for someone else to do it?"

 

[Master slacker]

"If you want to make sure it's done correctly..."

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

Here is the body kit that I want for my Camaro (picture width is smooshed):

Edit: here's a couple of links to better pics:

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=329381

http://gumball.betsafe.com/team/team-11/

 

[roadwreck]

Gumball 3000?

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

^^^ It's one of those long-distance race clubs who take tricked out cars (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes) and race across the country. They are currently racing across Europe.

http://www.gumball3000.com/#/home

 

[jeb6294]

The center part of the dash has to come out in the Ram to get to the stereo, but it's actually pretty easy to take off. I had an actuator go bad back there so all I had was air coming out at the floor. Bought a new one that ended up being a crappy aftermarket piece that broke almost immediately. Took the factory actuator apart and rotated the stripped gear and put it back in and so far it is working fine *knock on wood*.

While my truck was in the shop they gave me a '13 for a loaner. My iPhone could link up via Bluetooth and stream my music and phone calls seemlessly. Got me spoiled pretty quick during the time I had it so I might have to upgrade as well. I do like the look of the Kenwood Excelon HU's.

 

[blybrook PE]

Only provided u tear the dash apart while its warm. I took mine apart to bolt in a secondary switch set, wiring and radio control cables. Wouldn't try it below 40*.

Am thinking of upgrading the radio for bluetooth and adding in a reverse camera. Not sure though.

 

[Road Guy]

Ill do a lot to a car, change the gas tank out, change the oil pump, radiators, etc, but I have just not had good luck with the electrical stuff... In a car.. I will do electrical in my house though.. Weird....

 

[Master slacker]

Faint smell of "hot" rubber / plastic from engine compartment over three weeks, but no indication of problems anywhere. On drive to work this morning, temperature gauge smack in the middle of "C" and "H", but no heat from heater. F***. Something is wrong, but car is driving fine. Probably just needs to be topped off and bled. Five minutes later, accelerating from 45 to 50 was difficult and I heard clickity-clackity-clickity-clackity over the radio. Double f***. Water isn't circulating! And at that moment, the idiot lights pop up. Slap it into Neutral, pull into a hardware store driveway (the only safe parking area for a few miles on a busy highway), shut off the car and coast to a parking spot. Open the hood and there is light smoking and the distinct smell of "hot" from the head. At this time, I believe the water pump is toast and I blew a head gasket. If it's any more than that, I may just have to scrap the car.

 

[snickerd3]

That sucks MS. hope it isn't too bad.