Installation and connection of the car radio with your own hands

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:41

The process of installing a car radio in a car is a job that can be done by hand. At the same time, the installation operation itself is not particularly difficult. An ordinary car owner, at least a little familiar with the basics of electrical engineering, will connect the car radio without any problems. How to correctly connect the radio in the car and what should be the sequence of actions, we will consider further. But you need to remember that an incorrectly installed and connected car radio can not only have bad sound, but also cause a fire.

Formats

Depending on the brand of car, a suitable radio format is also selected. European companies produce cars with single-block or single-din radio tape recorders. Japanese and Korean manufacturers, as well as auto brands from the United States, focus on the manufacture of two-din radio tape recorders. There are many cars from Japan and Korea in Russia.

This means that two-din radios have now become much more popular. Many motorists have come to love these systems because of the wider body that allows for additional multimedia features.

ISO Connectors

The process of connecting a car radio of various types and manufacturers is not much different. A special container without a multimedia system is mounted in its regular socket. Next, the container is fixed with metal petals around the perimeter of the container.

In modern car models, there are special ISO connectors for installing a car radio. The whole connection process boils down to the following - you just need to insert the block from the car radio into the appropriate connector on the car.

As for older models, many domestic cars do not have such a connector at all. To install the car radio in this case, you will have to purchase a connector and connect it yourself using twists. The wires on these types of connectors are usually color-coded and labeled.

Colors and functions in ISO connectors

There are two types of plugs according to this standard. So, brown represents the leads for connecting to the speakers in the car.

Black plug is required for power and additional options. The pinout of the connectors is usually indicated in the instructions for a specific radio.

After connecting these plugs, you can guarantee that the radio will then work as intendedmanufacturer. At the same time, it is important to connect the plugs not the way you want, but the way it is accepted according to the standard. The connector has separate pins for each of the options that are available in a particular media. The whole point of connecting the radio is to correctly connect the plugs, which will then be installed in the device.

Power connection

Power is usually supplied through three wires in most models. It's yellow, red and black.

The yellow cord is used to supply the main power. From this wire, the power amplifier built into the device is powered. Also, this cord serves to save the settings made to the radio. This wire is connected through a fuse to the car battery. It is desirable that the length of the wire from the battery to the fuse for connecting the power of the car radio does not reach 30 centimeters.

Red is used to control the launch of the radio from the car ignition. On most vehicles, the ignition switch has an ACC position to turn on various accessory devices. When the driver turns the key to this position, power will be supplied to the car radio, car interior heater and cigarette lighter. The ignition system is not powered.

The black wire is connected to the negative terminal of the battery. However, this is rarely done. Due to the fact that the radio has low power, you can connect the black wire to the contact on the car body. First you need to carefully clean the contacts on the car body from oxides andpollution. Also, experts recommend using a lubricant for electrical contacts, which will protect them from possible oxidation in the future.

Connecting to speakers

To connect the speakers to the radio, use the wires marked FL, FR, RL and RR. In the process of connecting the car radio, be sure to observe the polarity of the wires. If not followed, the sound will be poor. This is because the speakers will operate out of phase.

Some radio models have outputs to the speakers, which are duplicated with “tulip” connectors. They are best used if the speakers in the car have the same connectors.

To connect the speakers to the radio, it is better to use special speaker cables. Often manufacturers of car radios complete their products with them. Do not connect any of the contacts that are designed to connect acoustics to the mass of the car. This may damage the radio.

Wires for additional functions

Now it remains to connect the wires responsible for additional options and functions. So, on most models, the white cord is used to control the antenna. It performs the role of powering the internal antenna of the active type. Also, a signal can be sent through this wire to start an external automatic antenna.

The cord marked ILL is responsible for the backlight of the car radio. It should be connected to the positive wire of the parking lights. The Mute wire is used to control the mutesound from the mobile communication complex. The sound will be muted if this pin is connected to a ground wire.

Most built-in DVD players have a parking brake sensor. For its operation in the radio there is a wire marked Parking Line. When connected, the video can only be watched if the car is not on the parking brake.

Insulation requirement

Wires for any type of car radio connection must be in a good insulating layer. They must also have a cross section that corresponds to their power. All wires must be properly routed through the cabin. No need to lay the cords of the car radio near the power wires. Twisting must be avoided. The extra length for the radio wires is completely useless. Wires are pulled through the cabin strictly closed.

Features of installing Pioneer radio tape recorders

On new cars purchased at car dealerships, connecting the Pioneer car radio will not be difficult. Cars come to the showrooms from the manufacturer with audio preparation already done. All necessary wires have already been routed as needed and are ready to connect the connector to the mounting clip.

If the car is without any audio preparation, then you will need to connect all the cords yourself. Let's give an example of connecting a Pioneer car radio bypassing the ignition switch. In this case, you do not need to disassemble it, and installation and connection are available to everyone.

Advantages and disadvantages of connecting bypassing the lock

This connection method has several advantages. So, you do not need to disassemble the ignition switch. You can also turn on the radio without a key in the lock. You can turn on the music and are not afraid that someone wants to drive a car. Well, another advantage is the ease of connection.

Among the disadvantages - there is a risk of discharging the battery, forgetting about the included car radio.

How to connect?

First, they buy a button that turns on the phases. Then two contacts are acquired to the button. Two cords are connected as follows - one is connected to +12 V on the battery, and the second to the red wire on the radio. Positive and negative contact must be found on the cigarette lighter. The wires needed to connect the speakers are found using a tester and connected, observing the polarity.

The black cord is connected to the negative terminal on the battery or to the car body. Yellow - to the positive terminal of the battery. Red is connected to the positive contact through the ignition switch. It will turn on the radio. You can also connect through the button.

Blue and white wires are connected to the antenna amplifier. All remaining wires are connected to the speakers.

JVC radios

This manufacturer also cares about the buyers of their products. The radios are equipped with instructions with a diagram. There are no problems with connecting a JVC car radio.

If audio preparation is not made in the car, then its connection is carried out in the same way as described above. All wire colors are similar and perform the samefunctions.

Radio and rear view camera

The first step is to install the camera. The device is most often mounted on the bumper above the license plate panel, in its frame or backlight. On the rear window (inside the cabin), the camera should not be installed. Power for the devices comes from the reversing light. This is an important condition. Such cameras can work only one hour. This is logical - the main function of the camera is not the same as in the DVR. She must supervise the parking process.

Installation

At the first stage, the peephole of the camera is installed. Some cars already have seats for them. If not, then you will have to do it yourself. To do this, drill an appropriate hole with a drill. When the peephole takes its place, it is glued with sealant or glue.

Then pull the wires from the camera into the trunk. And then the rear view camera is connected to the car radio. The negative wire is connected to ground. The positive is powered from the cable in the reversing lamp. Connect one end of the yellow cord to the camera.

Connecting the camera to the radio

Then they pull the video cable through the entire cabin and fix it with electrical tape. It is important that the wire is not pinched. Often the length of the wire is enough. After that, the cable is connected to the car radio. The principle of connecting a car radio camera is the same for most devices. The “tulip” connector must be inserted into the connector on the VideoIN radio.