Circuit city install in a civic

[archemedes]

This guy is claiming 12 grand in damage due to an install done at circuit city
YouTube - VTECnical's Honda Civic after Circuit City Install
he claims the wiring is a fire hazzard, but it was soldered (how does he think the "correct" harness is installed?) now they dropping of the tweeters into the dash is a bit lacking, but cutting and splicing is not abnormal in a shop (yeah he should have used the plug harness, because they help resale when you want to put the old unit back, but they do not make a job safer (I don't use them on my own cars as it's not going back stock anyway)

 

[GeddyLee]

Well i guess I have a fire hazard in my GP then, not just the engine now When I added my aftermarket Pioneer 6000 HU, I used the scyotche* after market wiring adaptor kit to splice into the Kenwood's HU's wiring harness and I sodered and electrical taped it up. Does that mean mine is unsafe? NOT!!!

I have been doing the same thing since I had my old 94 Tbird with aftermarket wiring harnesses, back in the day I only did a splice and the wires were just wrapped around the other wiring. And then electrical taped for protection. And I had that car for 8 years with no fires, and then my 98 GP GT I had the same thing for 5 years and nothing. And now with the GTX I took the time and actually sodered the wires properly and still used electrical tape to cover that.

A picture of my Pioneer HU's wiring harness sodered to my scyotche* wiring adaptor harness.

I really think someone is trying to pull over a fast one. Whether it be Honda or the idiot owner. I do think CC could have done a bit better job, but they are suppose to add the aftermarket wiring harness to avoid such hassels *shrugs* I really DOUBT he will get $12k out of that mess, so he wont be paying off his new car anytime soon

 

[Toofastgs]

Fist off the pic above is the wrong way to "twist" the wire
( thats a lot of soder on that )

2nd.
Ciruit sells wiring harness kits which is PLUG and PLAY for factory harnesses and the other end to the radio( called smart harness). In 98% of the time there is no need to splice into the harness. IF the kit is not available they can order it or with customer ok they will splice into the harness but they charge to do it.

I want to open thta harness up and see how the wires were done. If they were sodered right and wrapped with tape there is no issue.

Fire hazard. LOL. Take your car to a dealership they will do the same thing if there is a problem with the wiring, that or they will use BUTT CONNECTORS.

3rd. Having to "make room" for a radio. happens on a lot of cars.
Grand prixs, regals, monte, impalas. you have to break off the plastic part in the back. There are very few radios out that are short enough to clear it.

I used to supervise the roadshop at circuit. Yes there were some bad installs. But the only way that would be a fire hazard if they did not soder and over time the wire worked lose, came out of the electrical tape and found its way to a ground. ( He used stock radio harness so it is fused) so this is very very unlikely. If it did i would be back at honda because the fuse panel did not do its job.

 

[GeddyLee]

Fist off the pic above is the wrong way to "twist" the wire
( thats a lot of soder on that )

Well i was never educated in the "twist" of wiring, its just what I had done throughout my years of messing with wiring If you want to instruct me on how to do it in the future? Please PM me and I will be more than willing to listen and learn

As for the soder, yes its a bit more than I would have liked, but I wanted to make sure all the exposed wiring was covered. A little over anal that way I suppose, plus my soder gun is only those $5 cheapies and doesnt allow for percision sodering But it serves the purpose and when covered in electrical tape, no one will see it tucked in behind the HU

But I am serious about the instruction thing though I look forward to your PM.

Thanks

 

[s1795so2]

James, there is really no wrong way to twist wire, unless you do a horrible job at it. There is a bout 10 different ways I can think of to connect the wires together before the solder goes on so saying thats wrong is like saying you are breathing wrong. While yours may not be the way most goes about it, it isn't coming apart because of the solder so you are fine.

The solder is fine, it is actually soaked through the wire good, and every exposed bit has been covered. The solder isn't just clumped up on top of the wire so its okay.

-Steven-

 

[Abrasive]

Solder and shrink tube... it's the only way I roll. haha

 

[archemedes]

James, there is really no wrong way to twist wire, unless you do a horrible job at it. There is a bout 10 different ways I can think of to connect the wires together before the solder goes on so saying thats wrong is like saying you are breathing wrong. While yours may not be the way most goes about it, it isn't coming apart because of the solder so you are fine.

The solder is fine, it is actually soaked through the wire good, and every exposed bit has been covered. The solder isn't just clumped up on top of the wire so its okay.

-Steven-

he had me worried I never knew there was a wrong way either

 

[Toofastgs]

Not a "wrong" way.
More for better looking wire, and for taping.
They way i was told and via MECP. Take both wires make an X twist wires till ends are flat. This makes it more stream lined and a lot easier to tape up.
As far as soder. You really dont have to use a lot. Just enough for it to flow between wires and that is it.

PS never touch the soder with the tip. Always heat the wire and the heated wire will melt the soder.

 

[s1795so2]

Actually that is the way most people do it, but the "best" (matter of opinion that is based on facts) and most secure way of securing the wire would be the hook and loop splice.

ps: the easiest way to solder, is touch the solder to the tip then put the melted solder on the top of the wire (this heats the wire up instantly to the temp of the melted solder) then move the soldering guns tip to the underneath of the wire and the solder will soak all through the wire and wall-ah you have a perfect solder joint instantly.

The only reason why people say not to touch the solder to the tip is they don't use the soldering guns enough and don't have to replace as often as someone who uses them everyday and/or just don't want to replace the tip or clean it properly. Trust me I have to replace soldering guns too often and old and crusty tips is the least of my worries.

 

[Sabrewings]

3rd. Having to "make room" for a radio. happens on a lot of cars.
Grand prixs, regals, monte, impalas. you have to break off the plastic part in the back. There are very few radios out that are short enough to clear it.

Not sure what piece you're talking about, but Montes and Impalas don't have to have anything broken off. I've installed plenty into both cars (including my own) and it could return to stock in ten minutes.

 

[Chleby]

I know what hes talking about breaking off...nothing that will prevent you from returning to stock just a piece right being the HU that wont let some aftermarket HUs that are deeper from fitting properly

 

[Sabrewings]

Behind my head unit is a solid metal wall, with a wire harness held in by a retaining clip and ground screw. That's it, and the items mentioned aren't in the way of the HU. Must be model differences.

 

[Ryan D.]

That 12 grand will buy him one hell of a wing.

 

[GR8racingfool]

I never trust those places, unless you know the installer really good, and request them if you cannot do it yourself. The installers in these places are fly by night, and have the attitude "this ain't my car, and they will never see the installment". :th_thumb-down:

My sisters 91 Cavalier went in to have a CD player installed. (I dont remember if it was Best Buy or CC) They ended up jacking the wiring up so bad that we had to replace the whole dash wiring harness cause not only did they make poor connections, they routed some unprotected wires bad, which rubbed on a few key ignition components, and shorted them out, leaving her stranded. My dad was not a happy camper, nor was I cause I had to help fix everything they screwed up.

Just makes me sick :th_sick2: that business do this kind of work.

But for that video posted...Honda wont release it? Huh?

Only way you will ever know if your getting a quality job is to either watch them like a hawk while they work, or do it yourself.

Trust me...its better to do the job right the first time, then have to trouble shoot later to figure out whats wrong. Again...trust me on that one. Fixed a few mistakes in my own car GM made on how they did some of their wiring. Sooooo not fun.

~F~