Automotive Forums

Installing the Radio/CD player

Depending on the car, the installation of the aftermarket radio/CD player may not be a difficult task. However, as mentioned previously, if your car’s factory radio is integrated with the car’s computer system, then the installation of an aftermarket radio can be a complicating process. Consult with the salesperson and installer at the shop where you buy your equipment. If the factory radio of your car is integrated with the car’s computer, it may be best to have the professional installer at the shop do the installation.

Then there are cars that are easy to perform such an installation on. For the purpose of this story, we worked with PAC. We observed the installation of a radio in a Mercury Mountaineer. This particular vehicle has buttons on the steering wheel which controls the factory radio. So PAC’s SWI-X is part of this installation so that the buttons can be used to control the new aftermarket radio.

The tools you will need to perform the installation include a screwdriver, panel popper, crimps, and drill. You will also need a harness adapter for a Mercury Mountaineer that interfaces the new aftermarket radio with the factory harness.

Using the panel popper, remove the trim that surrounds the radio so that you can gain access to the screws which hold the radio in place. Using the screwdriver, unscrew the screws which hold the radio. Unplug the factory harness and pull the radio out.

The SWI-X adapter has three wires. Each of these wires need to be tapped into a proper wire on the aftermarket harness. Read the instructions that come with the adapter and follow them carefully to perform this step.

Plug in the aftermarket harness adapter into the factory harness and plug the aftermarket harness adapter into the harness that comes with the aftermarket radio.

Read the instructions that come with the SWI-X on how to program so that the steering wheel buttons can be used to work the aftermarket radio. Follow these instructions carefully, step-by-step. If you miss a step or do something wrong during a step you will have to start all over again.

Attached to the SWI-X adapter is a black wire with a small “bulb” coming out of the end. This is the infrared emitter. This device works like the remote control that comes with the radio. When a button on the steering wheel is pushed, an infrared signal is fed to this wire and is emitted through the “bulb” and received by the aftermarket radio just as it receives the signal from its remote control. The “bulb” needs to be mounted in a location that is in “sight” of the radio. Select what you think is the proper mount. Tape the wire and “bulb” to the mount and test to make sure things work properly. Keep testing locations until you are satisfied you have found the best based on the result of your tests. Drill a hole in the location and feed the wire from the SWI-X to it and make a permanent mount.

You can mount the SWI-X behind the dash. Push the radio into the hole in the dash and secure it with the screws. Press on the trim.

Job complete.

It is essential that you read the instructions that come with the aftermarket radio and the SWI-X before you start the installation and follow the instructions to the T.