Guys,
My wife drives a 97 cavalier sedan with just the stock radio. For Christmas, her brother got her a sony Explode deck and speakers kit so that she can now have a CD player. I need to get it installed for her and am wondering what aftermarket adapter kit is the best one, how much it costs, and where to find one at. I also know that I have read where there is the theftlock system on the car and need to know if this system will keep the aftermarket Sony deck from working.
I am NOT an audiophile by any means, and it's been over a decade since I even messed around with any kind of stereo whatsoever. We just want her to ba able to play CD's and I don't want to beat up the dash trying to half ass rig it in there.
Any and all help and suggestions are greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance for your patience with me asking something so simple to most in this section.
John
I did some research on Circuit City's and Best Buy's web sites and the Wiring harness will run you about no more than $20.00 and you will need a mini antenna adapter for about $12.49. You will also probably need an adaptor trim ring if the radio is not the same size as the original. The trim ring is about $12 to $14.
The Theftlock is part of the radio hence you will have no problems installing an after market radio. I did this install several years ago on my 95 Cavalier with no problems.
98 Z24
RIP Specks
Just thought I would post this link to help you out with doing your install.
Audio Install
Good Luck!
98 Z24
RIP Specks
If you truly do not have an idea of what you are doing I would take it to someone who does. Not trying to offend anyone, just offering my advice. But a cavalier is not the easiest car to install a cd player onto, esp if you don't know what you are doing.
You're right, the easiest car to install a CD player into is a Jeep Wrangler.
Thanks for the tips guys. I went and got the adapter components for a local car stereo store and it all popped together like Lego's - only harder - only with 26 wires to splice to splice together into 13. Anyways - the dash setup is BS for installing a stereo, but you all already knew that - and I'll live.
The only thing that burnt my chaps was that it cost me $35 for the parts to install a gift stereo that was only $25 to begin with. But even that isn't a bad price to pay for adding a CD player.
Anyways,
Thanks again guys.
John
the dash is the hardest part. but after you do it once, you will know how to take it apart faster the next time.
when i added sirius, i came out with 3 extras screws. no rattling, so im ok(:
good luck!
The DIN adapter is like $10 at walmart, the wiring harness was $7, and included an antenna adapter.
Not sure what you needed that costs double that...
It's probably a factor of me not buying tham at China-mart than anything else, but I hate Wall mart. Wall mart is the devil.
I went to a seperate car audio/video store and I'm sure I overpaid because of it. I only remembered that I need the stuff as I was driving past there - and with three hungry little kids in the back of the burb, I was just glad it only took 5 minutes moreso than I was mad at the cost.
To each his own. You were complaining about cost, I shared a cheaper option. I totally understand the hatred of Walmart, but being a college student, I have little choice but to buy things there (although I do go to Big Lots quite a bit as well).
Oh - no worries man. I checked at Meijer like 3 times because I was already there and all they had was ford adapters. Had I ever gone to Wallmart I would have looked there too for sure. I usually am about being cheaper - but that time I was focused on the NOW factor to get her the damn thing installed since it had already been a month since she got it.
