Car Audio Variasi

8 Essential Tools for Car Stereo Installation

So, you want to install your own car audio system. Great. And I mean that sincerely (even as someone who worked on the retail side). After all, that almost all of us can start in this industry, working on our own vehicles and our friends’. Apart from reading the article about the CAE or attend school or training seminars, the next best thing you can do to accelerate your development as an installer weekend is to get the right tools to install. Nothing will enhance your time spent working on a project such as using the wrong implement. Do yourself a favor and spend a little time and money to find and purchase items that will greatly improve the results.

1. It’s easy to overlook something like this, but you need proper panel poppers (get the plastic and/or metal variety). You can find a pry set at Mobile Solutions. Don’t use a screwdriver or makeshift tool. Use dedicated tools and you won’t be as likely to ruin parts of your interior.

2 & 3. Now for something more obvious. You have to have a crimper and a wire stripper. You can buy them separately or get a combo product. Look at these from Snap On and IDEAL.

4. You’re nowhere unless you have a multimeter. How are you going to know which wires are what? Fluke makes the gold standard, if you will. The FLU115 allows you to check continuity, frequency, capacitance and diode test.

5. For difficult to reach places you need a skewdriver, an offset ratcheting screwdriver. I’ve seen installers, or rather, automotive people, waste an hour trying to undo screws under say a the rear deck on a Ford, a Shelby, for instance, all because they tried to use a conventional screwdriver. Believe me, something like the Scosche PRST Spec Tools WPK2603 Skewdriver Pro 26 pcs Kit is well worth the investment.

6. Sometimes there’s nothing more tedious than trying to run wire. Don’t make it worse by skipping on this essential tool, a wire puller. Matco Tools has one.

7. For troubleshooting you’ll want a tone generator. This one offers an output range of 0-8 volts at a variable 10 kHz to 13Hz tone for setting system levels, checking speaker crossover points, verifying connections and general trouble shooting.

8. Here’s another good troubleshooting tool, a mini audio amplifier. If you need to check to see a product, like a source unit is working, you can connect this for a quick listen. Use as a test amplifier or signal tracer. Radio Shack makes this handy tool.