Would you trust your Cruiser to Best Buy? (1 Viewer)

[70 FJ40]

I'm just about ready to get a new head unit on my '01. Want a backup camera as well. Pretty busy to install myself as well as not very well versed in this kind thing. So thinking about buying one from and having Best Buy do the install. Just not sure about big box stores installers. I am a tile installer by trade and I know for a fact places like Home Depot don't pay enough to get even half way decent installers for that kind of thing so you just have to get lucky. Kinda worried that Best Buy might be the same way? Anyone had them do a radio install? Any other ideas?

 

[planomateo]

Radio should be plug and play, the backup camera will be the trickiest part of the job if you want it on the tailgate.

 

[flintknapper]

Radio shouldn't be a big deal. I wouldn't trust them to install something like a Remote Starter, but sound system shouldn't trip them up.

 

[fro20fow]

No way.

 

[jLB]

In my experience the car audio installers at Best Buy are young, inept, no talent, hacks. I've dealt with the aftermath, of a few Best Buy installs, for friends, which typically involved shoddy wiring, broken trim, missing screws, and/or missing trim clips.

A simple head unit install shouldn't be all that difficult, and they can probably get the job done, but I wouldn't let them touch one of my vehicles.

If I wasn't doing it myself, I'd probably lean towards a dedicated car audio shop, if you can find one. They seem to be a dying breed, with the changes to OEM car audio, and they will probably be more expensive.

 

[2001LC]

No!

 

[TXSunDevil]

I just bought a new stereo and Best Buy had free install. I did it myself. It is not rocket science but the kid at Best Buy will not take the care I will with my 100

 

[OEMGUY0720]

If there’s doubt, get out..

 

[LaTuFu]

Do not trust big box retailers for installation. Especially for older trucks. They pay minimum wage and training is virtually non-existent. If they screw something up you're more than likely SOL.

If it were me, I'd wait until I had a 3 day weekend or a day off and do it myself. Order everything you need from Crutchfield. The additional $$ you spend there will be less than the labor charged by a competent installer. Their wiring harnesses and speaker bracket adapters make the job as easy as it gets for a non-tech guy. The '01 wiring is pretty straight forward if you don't have Nav. The hardest part of the job will be routing the wiring for the backup camera, and this will only take you about an hour,maybe two if you take your time with it.

If you really don't have time to do it yourself, then pay the extra money to take it to a professional audio installer, buy the gear from him and let him do it for you. You're a tile guy. You would be shaking your head if the Audio guy paid Home Depot's hacks to install Tile in his bathroom. Don't do the same thing in reverse. Find a good quality installer like you. Hell, you can probably work out a labor trade with him if you're so inclined.

 

[ga12r1]

Sure why not? It’s just a stereo, what could possibly go wrong....

 

[KershZ71]

If you order your stereo from Crutchfield, they provide step by step instructions for the install. You could easily do it yourself in an hour or two and wait until you have a whole day to do the backup camera or just work on it when you have the time. Pulling the stereo is easy enough, you don’t have to do both parts in one day.

 

[ccasteel]

I had them install one in my Saab a couple years ago. I talked to the installer personally, not just the person scheduling him. It was clear to me he was a professional. I wanted the head unit moved to a spot that originally Philly had a pocket. He had to modify a bracket to make it work. I was very happy with his work.

Maybe some best buys are hiring high schoolers for weekend installs, but I would recommend the one who did mine any day.

 

[95Fantasma80]

to take me there sure... anything else... ughhh no.

 

[70 FJ40]

@LaTuFu

You nailed it. That's kinda why I was asking. I did a little looking and there is a highly rated local window tinting and radio tech here in town so I may give him a call and see how that goes. Some of you guys are giving me the idea I should try it myself. Any good links or threads I should look at for info and more inspiration?

 

[jLB]

On my son's (non-nav) 2000 TLC, the double DIN head unit install was pretty simple using a Metra 70-8113 adapter.

• Solder and shrink tube the new head unit's wiring harness to the Metra adapter harness.
• Pop the center stack trim panel off, and disconnect plugs
• Remove 4 screws.
• Remove factory stereo and disconnect plugs.
• Transfer mounting brackets from the OEM head unit to the new head unit
• Connect head unit's wiring harness to head unit and OEM harness
• Plug in large antenna cable
• Put head unit into place
• Secure with with 4 screws
• Reconnect center stack trim panel and pop back into place

Installing the backup camera gets a little more involved.

 

[RoughOne]

Please do not make the mistake I made with my 01 Lx. All premium gear I gathered but install was horrible. Cost me money in damaged equipment.
peace

 

[stolar13]

Just a note on Crutchfield. They are a great resource, but I ordered the pre-wired factory amp bypass harness for my 2000 LC and it was incorrect. Several calls to tech support couldn't resolve the issue. They were polite and tried to help but the wiring schematics they had didn't show how power and ground wires actually were installed at the amp connections. I ended up having to rewire power and ground at the amp plug connections to get it to work.

I think the bypass harness is probably still worth the cost just for the correct plugs. Just realize that there will be a little additional work trouble shooting and rewiring to complete the install...