Car/Truck Audio Installation Hack

10/31/2021 UPDATE: Best Buy recently changed the Best Buy Total Tech Program to TotalTech and along with the slight name change came a big change to the program as it applies to car audio installation.

It is now required that you purchase the equipment being installed from Best Buy and have the installation on the same receipt as the hardware being installed. This means that installation is no longer covered under the program for products purchased elsewhere or products that were purchased at a different time from Best Buy.

Definitely not an attractive option for me any longer, given that Best Buy has limited options for car audio products and also does not include the install hardware for free as Crutchfield does.

The original information below has been changed by the update above.
Since I am starting a fresh round of burn my money after trading in my Tacoma for a Tundra, I thought I’d share what I did with the Tacoma to get cheap installation of audio equipment, remote start, etc.

I’m going to preface this by saying that you will need to figure out which Best Buy store in your area has the most competent car audio installer. Once you find that out call directly to the car audio install area and only set appointments with that person.

Best Buy Total Tech Support (BBTTS) costs $199/year. It includes various benefits, but I will focus on the car audio installation benefits. When I purchased my Tacoma I subscribed to BBTTS and paid the $199 upfront.

Over the course of the next few months, I had them install a full speaker system, two amps and a subwoofer. I also had them install remote starters in my wife and I’s vehicles. The only costs I incurred for all of this aside from equipment and wiring, was one hour of labor to install sound dampening sheets, which is not covered. Since they will already have all of the panels and what not off though, you won’t get charged the labor rate for that part.

On top of installation being covered, removal of any equipment that they installed is also covered. When you decide to sell or trade the vehicle in, you set an appointment before you do so and take back your equipment-FOR FREE!

You don’t have to buy the equipment from Best Buy to get these benefits either, just take your equipment in and the install is covered. Since they installed it, the removal is now covered.

As soon as I figure out which plug & play harnesses I will need for a Tundra audio install, I will be heading back for that BBTTS membership and gladly handing over my $199. Then all that is left to do is set up install appointments and enjoy my time not installing stuff that I’m liable for when it goes haywire. If something does go wrong, Best Buy will take responsibility and do the fixin.

 

The most competent of the bunch of BB employees?
That ain't sayin' much.
You'd be lucky if said installer worked there for more than 6 months..

I'm sorry, but this post is one of the biggest epic fails of all time on this forum.
Do you work for Best Buy?

There is no way I'd pay BB or anyone else $200 are year for any kind of tech support.
Crutchfield gives it to you for free if you buy the product from them...

You can use this forum for free and get better advice on install and tech issues on Tundra audio installation than giving BB a dime.
There is a ton of install it yourself info already posted.

Again, sorry to be harsh, but that is just pissing $$$ away..
If it works for you, more power to ya.
I wouldn't let BB change a fuse in my fuse box..

BTW, welcome to the forum and thank you for your service..

 

I have always installed my own car audio but I know plenty of people that don't have the time to mess around with it or simply don't feel comfortable doing it so I see his point.

 

Well, that’s just, like, your opinion man.

No I don’t work for BB. I’d put the guy where I’m at against anyone. Experiences may vary, which is why I prefaced the post.

 

There's plenty of people not comfortable with working on their own gear, and if you're going to be doing alot of audio upgrades, $200 isn't bad for coverage of labor for multiple vehicles for a year. At the same time, have to agree with 1lowlife, I wouldn't let a BB employee touch my shit with a 10' pole. You may have found a unicorn employee at your BB CorpsTundra, but in general, anyone thats competent at something doesn't work at a box store.

 

@1lowlife it isn't tech support, its installation and future support. Thats a pretty good deal.

I knew an installer at Best Buy who was pretty damn good. I met him when I warranty replaced my sub twice and referred a friend to him for an install. He was there for at least 2 years and did careful work.

Not all best buy employees are the same. Pretty weak to paint them that way. If the installer I knew was still there I'd pay him without a second thought. I've been waiting for a weekend to completely redo my 12 year old install since before covid, I can't find the time. To pay $200 and have all my new stuff installed sounds good to me, nobody says you have to pay for a second year.

 

Fair enough, I may be lucky. On the other hand, there are not as many places that do car audio installation as there was in the late 1990s-early 2000s. Where did all of those old head installers go when those small businesses closed? I can’t say in general, but one of them installs my equipment at the local Best Buy.

 

Some best buy employees are better with cars than you would think. This guy has built a lot of motors from the crank up, he's a best buy employee. After this Summer I'll be heading to his place for help replacing my clutch because as good as I am with wrenches he's 10x better.

Again, pretty weak to paint people with broad strokes like that. It's like saying I wouldn't let the local butcher cut my steak even thought it's what he does daily.

 

As guilty as I may be of taking my experience with a local installer and inadvertently projecting that to encompass all installers, the naysayers are just as guilty of taking their limited experience and projecting it to others. Maybe we should all start our posts here by saying exactly how many stores we have dealt with installers. Judging by the fervent opposition, I’m going to say 1.

 

I have read lots of threads about installs gone wrong and clueless shops who couldn't get it right. Those are stereo shops- specialists. There are good and bad installers everywhere, your preface to seek a competent one is good advice. A competent installer is just that, where he works doesn't matter to me.

Audio install isn't hard. I've installed over a dozen systems without issue other than the occasional broken plastic door tab. I would still pay $200 for a head, amp, door speakers and sub no problem if I was comfortable with the installer.

 

I agree and at least the company will stand behind their work. The actual wiring isn’t difficult, especially with some time spent on here to get plug & play harnesses together.

What I don’t like to mess with is removing all of the panels and finding locations of everything and then being without my ride until I get it all back together.

In the time it takes to find, read and apply the information I need to remove everything the install could be done and I can enjoy my weekend.

Many people won’t chime in on this thread to say thank you for the info, I’m doing this, so they aren’t shouted down. They will take advantage of it though and that’s who the post is for.

 

There's not much shouting down on this forum, some spats here and there, but for the most part its a great community. I agreed with you before, 200$ is a good deal for a years worth of labor and coverage on your car audio if you don't want to do it yourself. As for BB employees and the like, guess I'm just out of touch. Back in my day when we walked uphill both ways in the snow, McDonalds wasn't career path and skilled people didn't stay at bottom rung stepping stone jobs for long.

 

Thank you for the info, I hope it all works out for you and anyone else that signs up for it.
I've had several experiences with BB in my 59 years, most of them negative.
Enough to know I won't give them another dime and/or minute of my time.

I'd rather do my own installs myself and do it right.
I certainly understand if you do not choose to do your own work.

Yes, you're correct, that is my opinion and few others agreed with me.
Good luck..

 

Seeing some of the terrible hack job installs from other shops that charged $600+ in labor, this doesn't seem like that bad of an idea.

If you aren't up for doing the install yourself, seems like its a good option for something simple like a speaker swap, head unit. At least its a big company, chances of them ignoring you or telling you tough shit it a lot less.

 

I can appreciate that. I definitely agree that the owner of a vehicle will take more care in their work. Since I choose to let someone more experienced handle it, I take my care on the planning end. Get the correct harnesses and locations together for plug & play and give that info to the installer. Of course this all assumes that the other person is competent.

 

I think the install being simple is the key here. We’re not talking about custom made sub boxes and tweeters custom built into panels.

We’re talking here’s $200 to remove all of my panels and put everything at A, B and C location, I’ll be back to pick it up later. For me that’s better than spending my whole weekend doing it.

 

I see what you mean, I guess the important thing is being able to determine whether the person you’re talking to knows what they’re doing before handing the keys over.

 

All my stuff is plug and play for the most part.
It would take a little time, but I could fairly easily put all the stock stuff back in mine.
If you add and amp, I put my 5 channel under the passenger seat where the stock amp is, you'll need this adapter for your non-JBL.
I think the 2021 Entune HU has different plugs in the back from previous year, I'm not sure about underseat OEM amp.

AutoHarnessHouse



Back in the day, 2015, we had to make our own...



Many of us pieced systems together;
HU, amps, and speakers and it took some time to get it right.

I've got a Kenwood HU (I'm on my 4th HU), Alpine 5 channel amp, Focal door speakers, and JL Audio twin 10" Stealthbox in my double cab.
Also sound deadened the entire rear seat and rear wall.
I will say the install and tuning was/is a learning experience as well as time consuming...

If I had it to do over again, I would put the speaker crossovers by the amp instead of in the doors.









This took me an entire weekend..





There is something to be said about buying a system designed for the Tundra.
Check out and search the forum for @james@tech12volts

He sales amp, speaker, and sub packages as well as individual components.
It would be worth looking into, if anything to give you some ideas...

For all your car audio and video needs (tech12volts.com)

Take your time picking out what you want and how you want it.
Maybe you can just to it once...

 

Well done, very impressive! I grew up bartering and trading car audio stuff with friends. System worth more than the car type of thing. I didn’t mind digging into my 84 Olds Delta 88 or anything else with a carburetor. When it comes to the new vehicles I’ve had though, I just can’t bring myself to do it.

I plan to keep it simple in the Tundra. I have a Kicker Key amp and a Kicker Hideaway sub/amp that I had in the Tacoma that I’m going to use. I’d like to put 2 Hideaway subs in there. I was hoping to do one under each front seat, but it doesn’t look like one will fit under the passenger seat. I was hoping to keep the space under the rear seat open, so it looks like I would have to mount the subs behind the seats. Then it becomes a matter of sound deadening the whole back and building a rack to attach the subs to. I wanted to avoid all of that, but you know how the mission creep goes.

I haven’t decided on door speakers yet, but I am thinking about going with Hertz DCX 170.3 6-3/4” components in the front and Hertz DCX 130.3 5-1/4” 2 ways in the rear. I also looked at the OEM Audio+ door speaker set, but I could buy the Hertz door speakers and a second Hideaway for the same $600 cost.

Tech12Volts has some awesome setups too. I may just go that route if I decide to jump to a separate sub and amp setup. I suppose if I have to sound deaden the back and have a rack back there for two Hideaways, I could just as easily throw a box with two 10” subs back there. Then I could put a Kicker Hideaway in her car as as a slight of hand gift as I siphon the money for the subs and amp out the back door. Might as well make the amp a 5 channel to run the speakers and subs and then the wife would get a Kicker Key amp in her car.

I also agree with you on the crossovers not being in the doors. Now I’m picturing a back wall full of subs, crossovers and amp. Thank you for helping my mission creep accelerate haha!

I appreciate the link to the harnesses. I haven’t figured out exactly which one I need yet. I’ve been reading on it and it seems that some folks tap in behind the head unit and others tap in at the factory amp under the passenger seat. I have non-JBL, but there’s still that distribution point or amp or whatever it is under there.

I’ll keep you posted. If you’re bored I have a spare room that you can occupy if you’d like to come to Michigan and enjoy some good ole audio install time haha!

 

UPDATE: Best Buy recently changed the Best Buy Total Tech Program to TotalTech and along with the slight name change came a big change to the program as it applies to car audio installation.

It is now required that you purchase the equipment being installed from Best Buy and have the installation on the same receipt as the hardware being installed. This means that installation is no longer covered under the program for products purchased elsewhere or products that were purchased at a different time from Best Buy.

Definitely not an attractive option for me any longer, given that Best Buy has limited options for car audio products and also does not include the install hardware for free as Crutchfield does.