Swapping Head Unit - How long should install take?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield, CA
Swapping Head Unit - How long should install take? I have a 99 T/A (w/ Monsoon) and I am swapping in a Pioneer HU today I ordered from Crutchfield. I have the wiring harness all hooked up and the antenna adapter already in place. I have the trim piece and the mounting sleeve. I think I have everything I need, but I haven't disconnected anything yet. How long should I expect the install to take so I can plan my day? The wiring adapter from my HU is already wired up to the wiring harness I received and should be plug and play. Any tips would be great as I have never swapped a HU before. Thanks in advance for anyone's inputs.
Never really timed it, but it seems I am doing other stuff when I swap out the HU. Maybe an hour I guess. Maybe 30mins just depends on how particular you are about putting wires together and making everything nice even though you don't see everything back there daily.
For a first timer, give yourself 2-3 hours just because it always takes longer than it should that first time. After the first time, maybe 30 minutes, if that. Once you realize how easy it is, you'll wonder why you even worried about it.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Probably the most time consuming part is cutting the plastic brace material in front of the defrost duct, if your new HU has more depth than the Monsoon HU. If you've already made your harness adapter, it shouldn't take long.
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Land of the Mormon's although I'm not one of them
Please tell me you either solder/heatshrunk or Butt-Spliced the New HU and Adapter harness and didn't twist & tape method?!?!?
As for the physical swap, should take an hr at most, even for a first timer given the adapter harness is assembled.
As for the physical swap, should take an hr at most, even for a first timer given the adapter harness is assembled.
