Sound system installation

[Checkers]

Hey guys, I recently got my first DSM (A 99 Eclipse GS) and want to set up a sound system in it. I just got a Kenwood KDC-MP145 head unit and am going to install two 12" subs and an amp (A combo package from XXX, and I will link both products at the end) and have a few questions. First off, let me say I am having my mechanic do this for me, as I know very little about sound systems, but would it be easier for them to install everything at once, or can they install the head unit now, and then the subs and amp in about a week? Also, what do I need for the dash kit (If I need one)? My mechanic said I'll want one otherwise there will be an empty space, but I have a switchboard there for lights and stuff. I assume the dash kit would just be cosmetic, right? I like to keep the exterior pristine, and the interior very nice, but a small space (Between the switchboard and the head unit) won't bother me. Anyways, should I have them install everything at once (The head unit, amp, and subs) or can they do it piece by piece? I'll post a picture of the interior as well, but the only picture I have might be a little hard to see where the head unit and switch board is.

Head unit
Amazon.com: Kenwood KDC-MP145 In-Dash CD/MP3/WMA Receiver with Aux Input: Electronics

Subs and amp
XXX Dual 12-Inch Subwoofer/Amplifier Complete Kit : VMInnovations.com

I'm not sure I uploaded the picture correctly, but if not, here's a link to it, but without any arrows pointing out what I'm talking about.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._420052628291_542858291_4848710_6847909_n.jpg

Also, the head unit came with a wiring harness, but my mechanic said I should get a harness made for the stereo and my car so that installation is easier, but I can't find anything.


UNRELATED BUT ALSO IMPORTANT

The car I bought was converted from an automatic to a standard, and the previous owner never replaced the engine harness, and I can't find one anywhere, so if you have an engine harness that will fit a 99 Eclipse GS standard, please let me know

 

[BLINKY619]

my opinion. put everything all at once... than you wont have to tear through things just to hook something else...!!! and just call it a day...!!!

 

[airmail96]

I agree it's so much easier just to install everything all at once, if there is one thing I hate it is re work .

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

Install everything at once. Or at very least have the head unit and all the wires from the head unit run at once, and then have the amp and subs installed later. If what your mechanic was talking about is buying a wiring harness adapter, then yes definitely get one. That makes the install much, much easier. You shouldnt need an install kit at all. Your head unit will screw to your radio brackets and then to your dash. I would recommend buying a "radio pocket" to fill that space though. That big gap where you can see all of the wires and shifter cables under the dash wont look good. Trust me.

 

[jrdrew5]

everything at once will be easier to run wires from the amp to the head unit,
and dont expect anything bump from that kit ### post ## opion when ## done, c
cause i decent system subs and amp is around 300 xxx ive never heard of much less seen in action,

 

[90TSI717]

I might look for something with a little more quality to put in my car.

It does not matter if you put in your head unit now or later. Its just a couple screws to take it back out. I believe the worst part is running all the wires (to make it look nice). If you want to put that in now, it might be a good idea to run your RCA's and remote wire back a while. Is there any existing power wire running from that battery back to the trunk?

 

[TheMitsuGS-T]

i would run everything as far as wires all at once simply because it is pointless to pull everything back out to run one wire when you could have just done it in the first place...

 

[Checkers]

Ok, thanks everyone. As for the XXX kit, I'm not lookign for anything amazing. This is my first car that's worth any work (I saved a car from a junkyard, and learned in that) and just want a little extra bass, and I figured for the price, it's a decent deal. I'm sure I'll upgrade later on.

I assume Google will allow me to find a wiring harness adapter?

UNRELATED

If anyone knows where to get an engine harness for my car (Standard) please let me know. I've had this car for almost 2 weeks and still haven't gotten to drive it :-(

 

[dsm96rs]

yo just have them install the headunit and the amp kit. so all the wires are running through and just need to be hooked up in the trunk later

 

[dsmer1994]

All at once for sure! its very simple to do and if you did it separate ud have to take the head unit back out to wire the subs!

 

[Checkers]

I really appreciate all the help everyone, thank you. When looking for a wiring harness, do I need one specific to both the stereo AND my car? Or just my car?

 

[Dr Funkenstein]

I really appreciate all the help everyone, thank you. When looking for a wiring harness, do I need one specific to both the stereo AND my car? Or just my car?

Go to Crutchfield.com and enter your car's make, model and year and it will give you the proper wiring harness. You'll need to connect the wires from the harness on the head unit to the wires on the harness you ordered. From there you plug in the harness directly to the harness that comes out of the car. It's way way way easier than you might think.

 

[Checkers]

How do I know if the vehicle specific wiring harness will fit my head unit?

 

[mezzio]

How do I know if the vehicle specific wiring harness will fit my head unit?

all the the harnesses that come with the head unit use the same, or almost the same color wires, the harness you buy to hook it up to your car without hacking the shit out of everything will have the same or similar color wires... regardless your head unit and the aftermarket harness will both have lables for easy connection.

run everything at once, and if you dont want to wait for shipping, go to best buy or something and get the install kit and harness for like $40... if you dont want to run all of the wires, at least connect the rca's and switched power and drop them in the passenger floor so you can get to them easy.

 

[jdodds]

Why would he want to get the vehicle specific harness when there is still a need to wire the head unit harness to the adapter harness? Those things usually come out to be an extra foot long bunched up behind the stereo. Waste of money if you ask me... Your mechanic isnt much of a mechanic if he cant figure out where 10-15 wires go and connect them properly. Dont use crimp on connectors. Use solder and shrink tubing on everything.

As for running all the wires, Go ahead and pull out all your seats and center console. Youll want the main power cable to the amp running down one side of the car and the RCA cables running down the other. If you run them together, youll get alot of interference.

Now dont think Im bashing you here. Im just gonna offer a little helpful advice. Those subs you posted a link to are absolute junk. For the size of these cars, 2 12" woofers are NOT needed. I had a single 12" woofer in a properly built box in my 98 GS and by most peoples standards, it was waaay too much. Something a bit lower powered or a smaller woofer would have honestly been better for sound quality.

If I were you, I would look into proper sound deadening first. Thats gonna require ripping out all the interior and adding a dynamat type deadener all over the car. It doesnt weigh all that much and made a word of difference in my car. Right now my setup consists of a pioneer head unit, alpine amp (50Wx4 RMS), cheap pioneer 6.5" front speakers, and some even cheaper 6x9 rear speakers. After adding the sound deadener, Ive had people search around the car for the 10" subwoofer that they think is hidden somewhere around the car.

Also, when adding an amplifier to your mids and highs, the quality is phenomenal compared to what you usually get. Youll notice different notes in songs that youve never heard before. The clarity of the music is TONS higher than what youre normally used to.

The ideal setup in one of these cars would be a nice set of component speakers in the doors, some little midrange drivers up in the dash, some kind of 6.5 or 6x9 midrange/midbass drivers in the rear area, and if youre really into that deep bass, a single 10" or 12" woofer depending on the frequencies you want.

 

[mezzio]

Why would he want to get the vehicle specific harness when there is still a need to wire the head unit harness to the adapter harness? Those things usually come out to be an extra foot long bunched up behind the stereo. Waste of money if you ask me... Your mechanic isnt much of a mechanic if he cant figure out where 10-15 wires go and connect them properly. Dont use crimp on connectors. Use solder and shrink tubing on everything.

Chances are he will not keep this car forever, so to go and cut the factory harness is absolutely insane. Spend the $15 and but the aftermarket plug.... if it leaves a few inches of wire coiled around behind the stereo where you can see it and will probably never see it, who cares. in reality, if you put it together right you're left with about 5-6 inches of wire, which is good to be able to pull out the head unit without disconnecting it to be able to do things like add subs and an amp. A cut harness is the first thing that will piss off anyone who touches or looks at that car and knows anything about electrical. The interface adapter is a plug for the DIN cable and a few RCA's, not that big of deal... or he could just pull the stock amp and take the constant power wire he needs and chop the rest.


and to say his mechanic isn't a mechanic because he doesn't know wiring is just ignorant... there are mechanics and there are electricians... you dont get ASE certified and be expected to know how to wire a car... you get the electrical certification for that.

 

[Checkers]

Hi again, I got it to turn on but there's no sound when I do that. Apparently the speakers used to be wired to an amp. How hard is it to take off the door panels and rewire them, and how would this be done? Just simply unscrew and remove?

 

[mezzio]

The speakers run from the head unit to the speakers, and only split off to the amp. They should work regardless of whether the amp is hooked up or not. One thing you may need to do is take the constant power wire from the amp harness and run it to the head unit harness.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

there are 2 screws on each side of the panel, unscrew them, there is another screw behind the door handle and another one in the door handle cup, under a small cover. Then you should be able to grab the panel from the bottom and pop the clips off and lift it up off the door.