Installation Price Help

[Neejay]

I went to HiFi Buys to get a quote, and for a deck, 4 speakers, and factory amp bypass its gonna be between $140-$150. Is that about right/average?

[Rex]

Sounds a touch high, but I would have expected anywhere from double to $100 more just to do the factory amp by pass. Did they give you any idea of what a standard install would be if they didn't need to by pass the amps? & are they going to run all new wires to by pass the amps or just wire 'around" them?
Modified by Rex at 3:37 PM 11/19/2004

[Neejay]

Sounds a touch high, but I would have expected anywhere from double to $100 more just to do the factory amp by pass. Did they give you any idea of what a standard install would be if they didn't need to by pass th eamps? & are they going to run all new wires to by pass the amps or just wire 'around" them?

Well, apparently bypassing a stock amp is more common than I thought. Its only an extra $30 to do it (they had it listed on the price list). As far as the wiring...I didnt ask about it. Im assuming since its only $30, they might just go "around" it. Im supposed to go back up there at 8pm (EST), so before I go back up there I was trying to get some opinions.

[Rex]

Does the total installation price include wiring as well? Some times it will inlcude speaker wire, but not power or RCA's.

Also, is this a "lifetime" install? I've seen places whgere you pay the install fee once and if you sell cars, they'll remove and re-install for parts alone, no more labor??

If not either of those, I'd say it seems a little high for a basic HU+4.

[Neejay]

Does the total installation price include wiring as well? Some times it will inlcude speaker wire, but not power or RCA's.

Also, is this a "lifetime" install? I've seen places whgere you pay the install fee once and if you sell cars, they'll remove and re-install for parts alone, no more labor??

If not either of those, I'd say it seems a little high for a basic HU+4.

What do you mean by "power or RCA's"? I dont think that lifetime install is included without paying a little more money.

But if Im not mistaken, he said it would be like $140 something total.

[Rex]

My bad, I was thinking about Power wires and RCA cables for an amp, but you're not using any amplifiers.

So, yeah seems high.

[PoorManQ45]

WHy not go to Circuit City? Buy an HU $99 and up, and the installation is Free.

[Neejay]

WHy not go to Circuit City? Buy an HU $99 and up, and the installation is Free.

Well thats what I did with this HU on my old civic.

So I already have a HU and 4 speakers, just need them installed.

[Neejay]

My bad, I was thinking about Power wires and RCA cables for an amp, but you're not using any amplifiers.

So, yeah seems high.

I think Im gonna do the amp bypass myself (using the post about it) and just get the basic install for about $100.

[Rex]

Well thats what I did with this HU on my old civic.

So I already have a HU and 4 speakers, just need them installed.

Oh, my bad, I should have mentioned "expect higher than normal installation prices for used equipment". It's there way of trying to persuade you into buying new equipment.

[PoorManQ45]

Wait!!!

Are you just trying to install you HU and New speakers, and you want to Bypass the factory amps(Bose?). That's simple.

All you have to do is wire power to the deck. And ground it. And then, you are going to need to run speaker wire, I would suggest 12~14 gauge wire. ANy brand will do. I don't know if you have a motorized Antenna. If so, you are going to need an adapter if you would like to keep the OEM antenna.

I didn't catch if you have an extrernal amp that you are going to be using. (Sub?). If you don't have an amp now, but are thinking about installing one later, I would suggest running the RCA cables from the HU to where you will be installing the amp. Also, why you're at it, it would be wise to run power to where you will be installing the amp. I can assure you that you will thank me in the future if you are going to install an amp. It will save you ~1 hour of time.

[AustinSilvia]

do the install yourself... the bypass is a cinch and you can solder the wires and do 100000000 times better job than a shop will do for $150... just search the forum to find the wiring for bypassing the factory amp, and if you want to add an amp instead of using the head unit to power the speakers the wiring for that is just as easy... I have done this a number of times on my car, my brothers and others and it's simple... just time consuming, but the shop you'll go to will take just as long to do it and won't do as good of a job.

[Simmsled]

If you have a swiss army knife and some electrical tape... do it yourself, we can help!

At my old shop we charged $30/pair for speaker install and $45 for a deck install. You will need a wire harness which would of cost about $15 and to bypass the factory amp crap we would of charged $20 misc. labor. So about $135 for all. I suggest getting a 6 pack of cold ones, call one of your car buddies over, and spending an afternoon workin on your car. Just hop on Nico if you run into any problems. Let us know!!! GOOD LUCK!!

[AustinSilvia]

you know i even have the wiring setup written down somewhere, complete with a diagram of the input and output plugs to the factory amp. i have written down which wire goes to which so splicing and soldering or crimping is a quick job. this is of course if you want to use the factory speaker wire for your new speakers, but that's what most people do. if you need it i can find it.

[Neejay]

you know i even have the wiring setup written down somewhere, complete with a diagram of the input and output plugs to the factory amp. i have written down which wire goes to which so splicing and soldering or crimping is a quick job. this is of course if you want to use the factory speaker wire for your new speakers, but that's what most people do. if you need it i can find it.

As long as you realize that for some reason the factory amp isnt in the back like the DOHC apparently (I have a 90). I have NO idea where it is, and apparently no one else does either for SOHC.

[AustinSilvia]

well i haven't done the wire for 89 or 90 in some time, but i just bought a 89 and i'm gonna have to wire that thing some time cause it doesn't have a stereo in it. i'll let you know when i do it... it may be a while though... my car is in pieces for a turbo, i have to install all kinds of stuff... i just have an incredible amount of things to do... but i will do it some time in the next few months hopefully.... i know you're probably wanting to do this like right now, so if i get a chance to get in there and look at things i will do it... my car is strippied down.. no interior panels, carpet or seats so it will be fairly easy for me to see the wiring and all. i'll get back to you asap.

[Neejay]

Please let me know. Thanks a lot man.

[Silvia2b]

Wait a second. you have an 90' S13 right? which coupe or hatchback? They usually did not have a factory amp. Do the grills on the door say active speakers or bose? The labor price quoted seems kinda normal for a deck, 2 sets of speakers and an amp by pass, but if your car doesn't have the amp then it seems kinda high, I would expect maybe $125, depending on parts charges should be less than $25

[Neejay]

Wait a second. you have an 90' S13 right? which coupe or hatchback? They usually did not have a factory amp. Do the grills on the door say active speakers or bose? The labor price quoted seems kinda normal for a deck, 2 sets of speakers and an amp by pass, but if your car doesn't have the amp then it seems kinda high, I would expect maybe $125, depending on parts charges should be less than $25

THANK YOU! No, my grilles dont have bose or active speaker. I have a 90 hatch. It wound up being just like $115...I didnt do the factory amp removal anyway.

[Silvia2b]

Good at least it seems like they were fair about it. That included parts right?