#car upgrade

[rflog]

I miss doing longform project writeups here; it's been a while! I recently replaced the old stock stereo in my 2009 car with a modern system (nothing fancy, just a super basic bluetooth stereo because I was tired of not having the AUX cable adapter for my phone since phone manufacturers decided to hamstring the world's phone users by removing AUX jacks).

It came out surprisingly affordable to upgrade, at $62 total! After-tax cost breakdowns:

Bluetooth stereo: $23

DIN dash trim (Metra brand): $20

Radio wiring harness (also Metra): $10

Antenna wiring harness (optional): $9

Replacing an older stereo is theoretically straightforward, but annoying in practice because you have no idea what you need until you actually open up the car and realize you were supposed to buy another simple part they didn't tell you about. I got mad and wrote this post up because I had already yanked the old stereo out of my car before realizing I was supposed to buy a wiring harness, and then my car dash had a big hole in it for a few days while I waited for it to ship.

What you need to wire up an aftermarket stereo:

The stereo kit, which should come with plugs that are compatible with the stereo itself

"Dash trim kit": the molded plastic piece on your dashboard that components are mounted into. It should be made for your particular car. This is only necessary if your new stereo mount is different from your old stereo mount.

"Radio wiring harness" (connects stereo to power & speakers) and "antenna wiring harness" (if you also want radio reception). These are sockets matching the proprietary connectors for the wires coming out of your car.I had to buy mine online, but check your local auto parts store catalog and mechanic first.

Either soldering equipment (soldering iron, solder, electrical tape, wire stripper, and "helping hands"), or you pay someone else to install it for you, in which case you probably aren't reading this post lol

(My new stereo conforms to the "single DIN" dimension standard. DIN sizing is blessedly standardized across cars. Single DIN is the smaller size that lets you install a little snack compartment or drawer beneath your stereo, and double DIN is the bigger size that's usually used for a touchscreen.)

You probably can't just buy a single cable that will connect your new stereo directly into your car, for many reasons. Car manufacturers are based all over the world, and cars in general are extremely non-standardized. Different cars and stereos all use different plugs, and it would be too difficult for each stereo manufacturer to provide a different wiring harness for every possible car model out there.

Also, it is beneficial for every electrical connector in your dash region to be shaped differently, so that you can't accidentally plug it into the wrong socket. At first I was annoyed to see five totally different proprietary connectors when I opened up the dash, but after failing to label three of them, I was very glad that they were all different shapes.

So unless you wanna sit in your car soldering your stereo directly to your car with no takebacks, you probably want to make yourself that custom stereo<>car cable by getting the radio wiring harness & antenna wiring harness that fit your car model, then soldering them to the cable that came with your stereo kit. Thankfully my cables seemed to come with a standardized coloring scheme for the wires, so it was easy to match them up.

Tools you need to replace your old dash & stereo (I winged it with whatever was in my toolbox...but most people have fewer tools than me)

Either an auto trim remover kit, OR two small pry bars, a flathead screwdriver, and something long and flat such as a butter knife for leverage

Philips screwdriver -- a ratcheting one is helpful, but not required

Any additional tools as recommended by your car's service manual (or friendly local Youtube). For example, my car's service manual called for an 8mm socket wrench with a 6" extender to remove a bolt securing the stock radio.

Having two mini pry bars was helpful for taking off the retaining clips without breaking them. They are very fiddly.

Also, my stereo felt slightly wobbly in its thin sheet metal mount. So I stuffed a bit of cardboard between the stereo and the snack compartment as a makeshift shim, and am just crossing my fingers that something so close to the back of the engine won't catch on fire. Maybe the proximity to the AC helps.

#car upgrade #car stereo #wiring #physical

[caraccessorie]

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#car accessories #carlifestyle #car upgrade #car care #car headlight #headlights

[colightled]

Where you usually install the car lights?Ditch bumper or top?

#off road #led light #jeep #accessories #car refit #car modification #car upgrade #vechicle

[whitewashrepair]

#cars #car repair #car maintenance #car problems #car mechanic #autos #autorepair #auto repair shop #auto mechanic #car services #car service center #car makeover #classic car #concept car #car upgrade

[fandomfrolics]

1x10 || 3x01

#ted lasso #ted lasso edit #ted lasso s3 spoilers #finally gathered the courage to watch this episode a second time #it turns out there's more than just sad ted??? #(sad HOT ted) #anyway these guys are too obsessed with parallels they need to chill #not pictured: nate's reaction to Jamie's comments when he's showing the team #how things change!! #I feel like 3x01 Nate is an amalgam of all these different things from s1 #ted's first presser almost panic attack and Nate's first presser almost panic attack #Rebecca's eat this wear that and Rupert upgrading Nate's car #Jamie's this team got relegated without me and Nate's Richmond would be nowhere without me #(wait that's 2x12) #anyway!!! #I'm soooooo happy with how s3 Nate is being handled so far #jamie tartt #nathan shelley #my edit

[emomomortal]

guys I come in peace. i've brought more bee and sari for the masses

#plus just them by themselves #tfa #transformers animated #tfa bumblebee #tfa sari sumdac #sari sumdac #the first drawing is a redraw of a deleted storyboard #that was shown at the tfcon 2024 tfa deleted scenes panel #I got the screenshot from keyan carlile's yt if you wanna check it out #ALSO I HAVE THIS HC #WHERE SARI SEES BEE'S [fake] CAR ROOF KIBBLE ON HIS CHEST THING #AS LIKE A SAFE SPOT OR SOMEWHERE TO JUST HANG AROUND #and I drew upgraded sari for the first time she's still cute #also i think she'd have a bee plushie #these are all self indulgent. they've plagued my brain for months

[rickybaby]

“I don’t think it’s fully sunk in …”

#I hate the uncertainty of it all #I don’t get what’s happening with his car #new parts have been added to address some issues but still quite not there??? #no hope for Suzuka or China as it is #hopefully the upgrade in Imola finds something #daniel ricciardo #aus gp 2024

[themoon-andtosaturn]

getaway car // metlife n1

#we've upgraded to include text #song: getaway car #era: reputation #era: eras #getaway car #reputation #taylor swift #the eras tour #userrcmanticpoetry #tswiftedit #tscreators #tswiftgif #networkthirteen #tswiftdaily #usertaylorswiftdaily #tsgif #for emma #mine. #tegan .gif #100. #200.

[petit-papillion]

What a difference the floor upgrade in Suzuka made for Charles...

Source: The Race

#just imagine if they could've had this upgrade earlier in the season #that small operating window was a killer #i think this also illustrates once again #charles's ability to adjust his racing style and still do well #but he's on whole nother level when he can drive a car the way he likes it #charles leclerc #f1 2023 season

[skitskatdacat63]

2023 United States Grand Prix - Sprint - Fernando Alonso

#making these as cope for the mental damage i received today #I HATE THIS OLD MAN!! STOP MAKING ME SAD!!! #and also stop looking so fucking sexy while you're depressed god damn #ASTONNNNNN FIX YOUR CAR!!!! #my fav moment of this wknd actutally was when my dad(known fernando stan) texted me after quali: #'they brought upgrades? more like fucking downgrades.' #im havinf fun dw!!! it just sucks a lot that my guy isnt doing well :( #killing myself out in the heat and my guy isnt even in the top 10 UGHHHHHHHHH #also guys the america hat is so ugly and expensive...but i kinda want it...should i buy it #i need to buy some nando or osc merch to feel fufilled this wknd hahaha so lmk :) #fernando alonso #f1 #formula 1 #2023 us gp #2023 us grand prix #2023 united states grand prix #223 united states gp #fa14 #we do a little bit of f1

[steviespanties]

Steve didn't think he could sink any lower on the social totem pole after his breakup with Nancy. And then he starts hooking up with Billy Hargrove and finds himself on his knees between Billy's legs in an ugly second floor bathroom over and over again. Music filters muffled through the door from downstairs. It's not even a big party, he barely had a reason to come here except for Billy.

It rankles a little, how far he's willing to sink for stolen away moments like these.

Billy ruffles with his ring-wrapped fingers through Steve's hair, as always delighting in messing up any styling and disregarding any protests. The hands are a reassuring, heavy weight on his scalp. He watches Steve with hungry eyes that threaten to swallow him up whole. There's still a crinkle to them, a lingering hint of the laughter Steve coaxed out of him moments before they finally went upstairs.

The thing is, Billy in a good mood is still mean. But instead of pushing Steve's head closer to his crotch, he waits. Steve squirms in his grip. Feels himself get hard just from the anticipation.

"Go ahead," Billy grins down at him. And doesn't move an inch.

Steve's hands tremble a little when he reaches out to unzip Billy's pants. Stares at his cock as he slips it out, no underwear in the way, half hard already and only getting harder wrapped in Steve's hand. He stinks of sweat and perfume and it makes his mouth water.

Before he can lean forward and wrap his mouth around him, though, Billy's hands tighten their grip and keep him rooted in place. He makes a shocked, involuntary sound and his face grows hot at the realization how fucking eager he is. He swallows. Blames it on the alcohol.

"Oh Stevie, you know that's not how we do it." Billy's voice goes deep when he's turned on. It rolls down Steve's spine, followed by a shiver at the hot, delicious shot of humiliation when he realizes what Billy wants. What he always wants, even when Steve expects things to be straightforward.

It's pure instinct that makes him open his mouth. "Please let me suck your dick." Practice makes perfect and lately he's had an awful lot of practice feeling these words leave his mouth while he begs on his knees. He's painfully hard in his pants.

And above him, Billy grins. Almost carefully, he cradles Steve's jaw and brushes his thumb over Steve's lips. Slips into his waiting mouth and pushes onto his tongue till Steve sucks. "Oh, you will." A calm washes over them both. Steve's knees already ache and he can't get enough of it. "We're gonna have fun tonight," Billy says. And Steve knows he'll make good on that promise.

#harringrove #not the first time they leave a party together to fuck in the car #not the last time either #they do upgrade to Steve's bed after a while~

[caraccessorie]

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#car accessories #carlifestyle #car upgrade #car covers #car protection #car care

[shanks]

imagine losing to MadWolfLord1 and his homer simpson van, well I did and it wasn't even close

#he was zoomin #my shadowplay wasnt working so i couldnt record it but it was funny how fast he was #this car is class x with maxed upgrades and yet i was like a turtle in comparison

[rt3nenbaum]

aston martin arriving at suzuka with upgrades for only one car and the upgrades for the other one arriving later today which means fernando has to wait until fp3 to use the upgrades, they better make the amr24 a rocket ship because they already pissed me off

#this is not very big team that wants to win of you aston martin #why don't you have upgrades for both cars from the beginning #the way this teams does things amazes me sometimes #fernando alonso #aston martin #japanese gp 2024

[maxpadelchampion]

is everyone but ferrari having problems again???? the curse of australia is still lingering in the air

#Charles not complaining about the car thank god for small victories #charles pole AND p1 so true #literally williams is a disaster #dr3 spinning out of control #idk what’s happening at mclaren and frankly don’t care enough #and red bull apparently caused more problems not less during there upgrades this week #fun times all around to everyone but charles leclerc who is here on a MISSION #f1 #formula 1 #japanese gp 2024 #charles leclerc #also Mercedes continues to be a mid team this season wbk #also hbd op81 hope u have a blast out there today

[fereldanwench]

giving garry the prophet €$13k for his cause bc i got more eddies than i know what to do with lmao

#t: wench games #srsly i dont know what to do with all this money lmao #i have like 1.5 mil #bought all the apts #bought all the cars i want #bought all the clothes i want #got my preferred weapons and cyberware #which i just upgrade with crafting #which i also have an obscene amount of crafting materials #i guess i'll just collect the cars bc i really dont know what else to do lmao #g: cyberpunk 2077