Should I install radio myself or take it in?

150 to install a radio at best buy???

what a rip

do it yourself

or bring it to me, and i'll do it for 50 bucks

 

Yea. As long as you have at least a very basic understanding of wiring you're good to go. Basically just matching up color coded/labeled wires and either soldering or using butt connectors or something similar. I soldered my connections, I like to think I'm decent at soldering. Although some good butt connectors might be better than a poor solder job. I've had professional installs in the past just because I had never worked with any kind of wiring but since then I've had some experience and I did the Taco install myself. Soldered my connections on the harness myself and pretty much cake from there just plug and play and doing any other extras for your HU.

 

I like to use small insulated closed end splice caps in lieu of butt connectors. All too often I have been checking someone's wiring and was able to pull their butt connector apart by hand. I think they're just more difficult to work with for some reason.

 

i use the screw on connectors topped with electric tape. multiple installs with zero issues.

 

I ended up putting my AVIC-Z120BT in this weekend and it was cake... you shouldn't have a problem with putting that unit in.

 

I would check the directions you get when the unit arrives, if you can follow everything, go for it. No need to shell out the extra money. Best Buy uses those quick crimp connections and don't take the time to solder and heat shrink the connections like it should be done (at least in my opinion that's the correct way to do wiring). Don't just solder connections and wrap them in electrical tape and call it a day.

 

Do it yourself. Get wiring kit for tacoma off eBay or other source and scosche kit. Easy to wire. I used the twist caps to wire only because if I made a mistake I could correct it easy. Be aware of the Orange wire though. Sometimes named dimmer wire or other. Gave me a problem and others I talked to. Don't connect if you don't have to. I routed Gps antenna, ipod hook up and it all was a breeze. Now I'm thinking subwoofer! The tacoma is one easy truck to work on.

 

I just got my AVICU310BT in and am in the middle of my installation. I am having a hard time matching up the colors. It seems like some of what is on one is not on the other, and vice versa. I have the wiring that came with the unit and the wiring that came with my ********* kit but....

Also, the Pioneer unit has a different type of connector for the speakers than it looks like the stock one had, so I can not figure out which one thes are (I know...I am kinda dumb). Does anyone have a wiring diagram or know where to find one?

 

Anybody know of a good place to get hu installed and speakers in JOCO Kansas? I am about to puchase but Santa Fe and Best buy want way too much to do it.

 

Soundperformanceonline.com is a seemingly good place for that; they've got 8 good reviews. Not sure if that's close enough for you.

 

Columbia Mo is a hour and a half away from me . Thanks though. Anywhere else you know of ? More to the west

 

i'm actually about to take my truck back to best buy because every time i hit a bump the entire radio moves in the dash.

 

btw way this will be the third time i have to go back the last time the radio fell back into the dash

 

what double din dash kit can secured using screws like the factory one to increase its strength? the last time the truck was at best buy they used epoxy to seal the kit and trim ring together i knew something was wrong right there.

one more question can the factory backup camera be used with an after market headunit my truck did not come with the factory back up camera and the one i bought sucks it big time.

 

do it yourself

 

Soldering the wiring harness is the only thing that is involved and even that's not bad if you just take your time. Do it yourself imo...you'll know its done right and you also said you wanted the parking brake bypass done, many shops will not do that mod, so if you need to open up your dash anyway you might as well do the rest of the install. Amazon sells the wiring harness and the dash kit and past that you really don't need anything else other than a relay from Radioshack etc for the bypass.

 

imo, with the way things are now a days, it's VERY easy to install your own. Although if your doing a steering wheel remote yeah I understand that may need to be done by a professional.

The wiring harness is easy as all hell since they are all colored matched the same pretty much no matter what model/make the vehicle your installing the aftermarket h.u. in. plus with the adapter panel, it's even more of a snap!

 

If it's a matter of connecting a few adapters, try yourself. If it starts involving soldering and all kinds of wire cutting, you might consider paying someone else to do it (especially if you don't have the tools).

Here's a prime example, when I worked at the music store, I sold this kid (well a 19 year old) a pickup for his guitar. I asked him he wanted us to install it for him, he said no, he thinks he can handle it.

He comes back on my day off telling everyone that I don't know what I am doing and that I'm a liar, a piece of trash etc...because the pickup sounds horrible. After weeks of this, I tell the owner of the store to swap the pickup out one more time but this time, we install it for him for free to ensure no more screwups and then we'll be done with it (I was the guitar & repair manager).

The repairman cracks the guitar open and the kid has used nothing but electrical tape to install his pickups.

 

I got that same kit and mine doesnt quite fit right. I did lose the top middle plastic clip though. Im only using the single din though