HeadUnit

2.3LRNGR · Oct 17, 2011

So im gonna buy a brandnew pioneer head unit from my friend for a 100 bucks. I was wondering if there was a thread that had a how to for hooking it up I own a 99 ranger

06RangerXLT · Oct 17, 2011

go to bestbuy, grab the install bracket and wire adapter kit. then attach the same color wires from the radio to the adapter, and plug her in.

cody93 · Oct 17, 2011

yea, what 06 said, get the adapter kit, so you dont cut into your factory harness, you'll thank us later. nothing sucks more to buy a used truck with a mis-functioning radio to find that the harness is missing....

2.3LRNGR · Oct 17, 2011

On a scale of 1 to 10 how hard is this install

fastpakr · Oct 17, 2011

If you've ever done a radio install before, it's not hard at all. There's nothing unusual about a radio install in an RBV, just a basic dash bracket and wiring adapter. Match colors on the wiring adapter to the new deck's harness and splice them together properly (no wiring nuts or purely electrical tape connections). Get access to the old radio and remove it. Plug the new radio in and mount it up. Enjoy.

FlyinRyan · Oct 17, 2011

The only issue I've run into is an OLD head unit. If it's very old then the standard 'match the wires' doesn't always work. If you're getting a manual with the stereo its never a bad idea to check, if not, google!

fastpakr · Oct 17, 2011

Good point. Rarely an issue anymore, but worth verifying.

Heavyfire14 · Oct 17, 2011

the tech library here has some info on this.

2.3LRNGR · Oct 17, 2011

Its a new head unit my friend bought it a couple months ago

cody93 · Oct 17, 2011

+1 on not using wirenuts/electrical tape, my truck's radio was wired like that when i bought it, big F-ing mess, ripped it out, found wat was left of the old harness-4 wires and bought a stock boneyard radio, soldered on the jy harness to the remains and never looked back.... solder with heatshrink tubing or crimp on connectors and make sure no bare copper is exposed..

2.3LRNGR · Oct 18, 2011

No i never put in a headunit before but im kinda handy with shit like i can change oil and brakes

cody93 · Oct 18, 2011

its quite simple when you get all the parts you need, first is the mounting bracket, they come in various sizes for various trucks, get the one for yours and install it, your new stereo will slide right in, next is the factory to after market wiring harness, it plugs into the factory harness and will either plug directly into your new head unit or have wires you can splice onto the harness that was included with your new stereo. just grab pinouts for both harnesses and splice wires that match, ie SPKR LF+ to SPKR LF+, BATT+ to BATT+, ACCESORY+ to ACCESORY+, GND to GND, etc..

2.3LRNGR · Oct 18, 2011

What connectors should i use and wire strippers should be good enough?

cody93 · Oct 18, 2011

best= soldering and heat shrinking video
good= crimp on connectors video
shitty I dont G.A.F. job = twisting bare wire and electrical tape or wirenuts

soldering irons are cheap and you dont have to use flux or a heat gun to do a good job, most solders have the flux inside them, so just twist the wire together (remeber to put the heat shrink tube on before twisting) take the iron, heat up the wire while touching the solder to the wire. then slide the heat shrink over and take your iron and rub it till it shrinks,

next method is crimping, besure to strip the wires good and not cut off strands when you strip. give it a lil twist, slide the end in and crimp, the heat shrink ones work good if you have a heat gun, but a regular cigerette light works too if you careful.

good luck!

2.3LRNGR · Oct 19, 2011

There be enough room to use a soldering gun for the radio and where could i get one

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