I have a 2005 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab. It has a regular factory cd stereo and I want to install a new aftermarket stereo. I have found the wiring harness, but it cost at least $60. Can I bypass the harnesses' and wire direct. I also found a wiring diagram for my stereo to make sure I get the wires right. Oh and will I void any warranties by doing this? Thanks for any info
ive always spliced decks in directly for exactly that reason. its safe to do as long as you know what your doing. if your worried about a warranty, i would cough up the 60 bucks. you can afford an '05 but you cant buy a harness?
Do yourself a favorbuy the harness. Although $60 sounds a bit expensive. First of all, this will allow you to return the vehicle to factory condition(which can be valuable, especially in a leased vehicle). Secondly, it allows you to do all of the work at a bench or table with a soldering iron and then it will all be a snap to install the stereo in the vehicle.
Check the harness. Does it have some type of resistor or electrical component to alter any speaker resistance or input voltage. If it does not have any electrical component, it means the harness is just an easy quick connect solution. You do not need to buy the harness if you know which wire is connecting to what. Will you void any warranty? Only on the audio system. However, if you do not abuse the stereo, i.e. maximizing volume and brake the speakers, you do not need to be concerned about the warranty. Good luck!
Every stereo comes with a a bunch of wires sticking out of a plug which plugs into the back of the stereo. You then have to get an adapter for your specific make and model of your car which will also have plug on one end. The wires from the stereo plug need to be connected to the wires on the car adapter. The adapter comes with a diagram which tells you what wires are for each function. When your done, you should have on big harness which on one end fits into your stock connector and then the other end goes into the stereo. If the adapter doesnt come with a wiring diagram, usually it says on the wires themselves what that wire goes to. All you have to do is match them up. (ie. LR speaker+ to LR speaker+ etc.) Usually the kits run $10 to $20 depending on your car. Best Buy almost always has the adapter you'll need. It shouldn't void your warranty because you aren't cutting any of the cars wiring to do this.
you have 3 options, first, you can buy that harness and it will be plug and play, second, get the wiring schematic, and sit it down and wire it up. or third try Parts Express and look at part #265-621 for $7.50 . you are also going to need a antenna adapter, to go from dodge to aftermarket stereo antenna,# 265-581 for $13.50 from parts express also.
