radio help

ok guys within the next couple weeks i wll be installing an aftermarket radio in my 97 riviera with the concert system.

the past two times i have tried to install the radio, i have blown the radio and i still have no clue why this keeps happening. i had the wiring harness correct, i believe.

what should i do next time to prevent the radio from blowing?

Pay Best Buy or someone to put it in.
If it gets damaged on installation, then blame it on them.

EatDirtFartDust wrote:

Pay Best Buy or someone to put it in.
If it gets damaged on installation, then blame it on them.

ha true. but i dont really want to spend $40 when i can just do it myself

Not trying to be mean or anything but apparently you can't.

Get Best Buy to do it or a shop where several people you trust have had good experiences. I have upgraded my system several times with different vendors with mixed results.

I don't want to be mean either, but haven't you already spent more than that $40 in blown radios?

You must have something wrong in your wiring because the "weird" GM systems use 10 ohm speakers, and the real world uses 8 or 4 or 2 ohms. The usual problem is replacing the speakers with ones less than 8 ohms and burning out the factory radio's output section...

I would NOT let Best Buy install the head unit in a Riv. They are usually a bunch of hacks and break clips and things you'll never be able to blame them for, but your dash will start rattling a few months later. Someone who runs a stereo shop may have more experience, but will certainly charge more.

It took me 14 hours to install a head unit, 4 speakers and amp. Most of that time was spent in the dash. If they'll spend 14 hours on your car for $40 well... you get what you pay for.

Not saying I'm the fastest worker out there, but these things take time.

I would say go to best buy and talk to the guy who will be doing your install. See if he is MECP certified and if he has ever worked on a riv. Coming from a former best buy installer I would say it is really a crap shoot when it comes to having a good installer. At my best buy there were two guys other than me I would feel confident installing a radio in my car or any other my family or friends car. The other three guys on the other hand were complete hacks. So talk to the installer and ask about his certification and don't let them touch your riv if you don't feel comfortable with the installer.

p.s. if you buy the radio from them and its over $100( which most radios are) theres a good chance the labor for the install will be free or at least thats how it was at my best buy

Hey Brandon -

Okay, suppose that for whatever reason (save money, avoid breakage) we'll take as "given" that you are going to install the Riv radio yourself.

Maybe we can help you avoid blowing the radio if, first, you tell us what you think the steps are in installing it. Then we can read your steps and tell you what we'd do differently and when. Will probably save you lot of hassle.

By the way - what brand radio?

Albertj