Halfords fitting service : Car stereo

Windsor70

Hi

Just looking for advice as to whether the Halfords fitting service is any good? I have inherited a cd player, and according to halfords site, it will fit in my car if I buy a new thingy to replace the old one where the current radio stereo is and I need some metal bits (forgot what they are called too). They seem reaonable for the fitting service?

Has anyone used them before/recommend or not?

Thank you in advance

Lum

Can we get the car model/make/year and also what radio you are trying to fit?

The job may be as simple as getting a set of radio keys, sliding out the old radio, connecting the cable up and sliding the new one back in, or it may be more complicated.

In any case, a local independent will probably do a better job for cheaper.

Windsor70

Lum wrote: »

Can we get the car model/make/year and also what radio you are trying to fit?

The job may be as simple as getting a set of radio keys, sliding out the old radio, connecting the cable up and sliding the new one back in, or it may be more complicated.

In any case, a local independent will probably do a better job for cheaper.

Thank you for the reply. My car is a 51 plate Ford Ka. The car stereo is a JVC KD R321. I think because I have the original Ka radio that I need a new silver face plate? Sorry not very clever with car stuff.

roadiegirl

I just took a radio I was given into them (brand new), and they said they charge £70 for the fitting, as it is not there own and for the liability incase anything goes wrong (or something along those lines), I managed to get a garage near me to fit it for £10, so saved myself a fair bit of money!

Windsor70

roadiegirl wrote: »

I just took a radio I was given into them (brand new), and they said they charge £70 for the fitting, as it is not there own and for the liability incase anything goes wrong (or something along those lines), I managed to get a garage near me to fit it for £10, so saved myself a fair bit of money!

Thanks Roadiegirl, that is really cheap! Is your car a Ka too?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

http://productfinder.autoleads.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?&m=FORD&f=KA&id=525&pID=7771 http://productfinder.autoleads.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?&m=FORD&f=KA&id=525&pID=7729 may require an aeriel adaptor these simple things are what you need to complete the install.

removal of the stereo is pretty simple with a set of DIN stereo keys.

i couldnt charge anyone £70 for a 10 min job and they will charge you for the extra bits you need so 70 will run into £100 for the added extra's you need.

Windsor70

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

http://productfinder.autoleads.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?&m=FORD&f=KA&id=525&pID=7771 http://productfinder.autoleads.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?&m=FORD&f=KA&id=525&pID=7729 may require an aeriel adaptor these simple things are what you need to complete the install.

removal of the stereo is pretty simple with a set of DIN stereo keys.

i couldnt charge anyone £70 for a 10 min job and they will charge you for the extra bits you need so 70 will run into £100 for the added extra's you need.

Thank you Atrixblue, it sounds simple, when I read about talking the radio out with the keys etc. I don't mean to be completely dim, but does this mean that any stereo will fit in my car as long as I buy the face plate thing? Will the one currently in my car not go back in again if I remove the Ka radio?

Do all local garages fit car CD players? Sorry for all the questions and thank you in advance for your help

atrixblue.-MFR-.

make sure you have the ford stereo radio code before removal (if not nothing to worry about can obtain them here free), yes it will fit right back in once removed the old one face plate and wire harness,jvc cage harness. yes you will be able to fit any radio (single DIN) into the slot with the facia surround.

local garage will fit them for around £10-£20 providing you buy the bits above.

my advice would be if your running your standard speakers in it dont crank up the volume. they are only something like 20watt speakers in that ka, and putting that JVC in them will run 50WATT to them ending their life if you whack up the bass, middle and trebble.

i have th jvc 311 model down from yours, its a nice stereo easy to navigate once you read the manual.

hitting menu and hold then release will give you options, scroll with the knob till you hit pro-eq press in the silver knob and set your bass middle an treble so that the speaker run them good enough not to make the go boom!

Windsor70

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

make sure you have the ford stereo radio code before removal (if not nothing to worry about can obtain them here free), yes it will fit right back in once removed the old one face plate and wire harness,jvc cage harness. yes you will be able to fit any radio (single DIN) into the slot with the facia surround.

local garage will fit them for around £10-£20 providing you buy the bits above.

my advice would be if your running your standard speakers in it dont crank up the volume. they are only something like 20watt speakers in that ka, and putting that JVC in them will run 50WATT to them ending their life if you whack up the bass, middle and trebble.

i have th jvc 311 model down from yours, its a nice stereo easy to navigate once you read the manual.

hitting menu and hold then release will give you options, scroll with the knob till you hit pro-eq press in the silver knob and set your bass middle an treble so that the speaker run them good enough not to make the go boom!

I have only one working spearker as well, just for good measure! So need to get that sorted too. You've been a great help, thanks alot :T

paulmx3

you can get the full fitting kit for the ford ka on ebay and its a 5 minute job to change it.

dont worry about turning the volume up either,although it might state 4x50W on the stereo it will be more like 4x12W at best,you will be able to tell if the speakers are struggling because they will start screaming at you...lol.

the only awkward thing for you is working out why one speaker isnt working,it could just be a dodgy cable,or a dodgy speaker,i dont suppose you have access to a multimeter do you?

Lum

If you want to be really cheeky, go to Halfords, grab one of every radio key they sell, ask if you can try them in your car to see which one you need.

Go to your car, remove the radio with the keys, unplug it, go back to Halfords apologies but none of them worked. Drive home.

If you feel guilty about this, just compare the prices they charge on any random item to the price you can buy it elsewhere.