New guy needs help

[asousa757 10+ year member]

Hey. I'm new to car audio and car electronics in general. I've done a bit of metal work but nothing wiring or audio related. So i have a few questions for the more experienced people out there.

I'm on a budget of around $500. I have a stock 2001 Chevy Malibu. I am looking for a new head unit and new speakers. Can anyone suggest a setup for me? And how difficult is instillation? (In other words, can i do it myself or should i have a professional wire it?)

Thanks!

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[FlexnInLa 10+ year member]

I'm not the best "suggester" but I am in kinda the same boat you are. I am very good at what I do... network administration... but I don't know much about modern vehicles with the computers and all that bullshit in 'em. For me, it's just too much risk to dick around with a 25k car not KNOWING what I'm doing. Fortunately for me one of my best friends is a pro installer, and I've become friends with a guy that is local to me here on caraudio.com that I'm sure would help me out as well.

To give you an idea, my buddy, who has done this for 20 plus years, somehow blew every airbag and seatbelt tightener thing after installing screens in the back headrests of an Escalade. They blew when he put the LAST screw in the LAST seat to re-install. I can't remember the exact dollar amount of damage, but I think it was around 8k if memory serves me. Dealer or Caddy wound up eating it, cause they couldn't find anything he did wrong, but it's good to know that if something DOES happen his shop is insured.

I used to put aftermarket head units and speakers in my mom and dad's cars for them when I was 8 or 10 years old, was easy as pie way back then, always kinda been a geek. But with all the computerized shit on them now I just don't want the headache. Same with working on a modern motor. All the computers, fuel inection, just not worth the risk.

 

[FlexnInLa 10+ year member]

As you can see from my user name, I'm not real popular around here. Somebody changed it for me, obviously I'm not a FagDouche. When people tell you to DIY just keep in mind the things I've told you, and if the risk is worth it go for it.

If you replace the head unit, in a lot of vehicles you need a "box" that performs the functions that the stock head unit did. These functions vary from car to car and could be something as simple as a chime when a door is open, or something more crucial to the operation of the car as I understand it. Radios are more than radios these days. Installing and wiring speakers isn't a big deal at all, and I'd have no problem doing that myself if they were drop in and go. Maybe get a pro to do the headunit and do the speakers yourself if you are getting stock sized replacements and not trying to go with anything super custom. I've done it in guitar and bass cabinets countless times, and used to do it when cars weren't computerized to hell and back. I like something a little more custom, so I generally let my buddy handle it. He can do door pods, pillar pods, etc. that I could never dream of doing.