- 1). Locate the eject button on your stereo faceplate. Typically, aftermarket stereos are designed with faceplates that can be removed for security purposes (most stock stereos that come with the car, however, some do not have this feature). The faceplate can be removed by the press of a button, usually located in one of the corners of the stereo faceplate. Once the faceplate is removed, the stereo is completely nonfunctional, and is effectively disabled.
- 2
Stereos cannot receive power without a fuseseries object on white: safety fuse image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com
Remove the stereo receiver from its housing in the dash of your car using your stereo removal kit. Although every stereo and every car is unique in its removal, typically this step involves a partial removal of the dashboard so that you can reach the bolt which holds the stereo in place. Once the stereo is removed from the dash, locate the fuse housed in the back of the stereo, and remove it from its terminal. These fuses are typically brightly colored plastic tabs, and are usually housed near the stereo's wiring. Once the fuse is removed, the stereo will be unable to receive power and will be completely disabled. - 3). Locate your stereo's amplifier. Typically, only aftermarket stereo systems are wired with amplifiers, so you should consult your owner's manual to see if you have an amplifier built in to your stereo system. As with stereo receivers, amplifiers have built-in fuses that are essential for the amplifier to receive power. Locate the fuse plugged into your amplifier and remove it from its terminal to disable the amplifier's power. Once the amplifier is shut down, the stereo will be unable to receive power either and will be effectively disabled as well.
- 1
Stereo wiring is typically conveniently bundled into one plugpower wiring image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com
Locate the wiring harness in the back of your stereo receiver. Although every receiver is unique in the design of its wiring harness, it should not be difficult to locate yours, because essentially every wire that runs to your stereo should be connected to your wiring harness and should look like a bundle of wires connected to a single plug. Unplug the wiring harness from the receiver with a gentle tug, and all the power that runs to your receiver will be disabled. - 2). Locate the red wire plugged into the terminal on your amplifier labeled "Power," and remove this wire from the terminal. Just as when you removed the amplifier's fuse in Step 3 of Section 1, removing the power wire from your amplifier will also disable your amplifier, and effectively disable your entire stereo system as well. Once you unplug the power wire, cover any exposed wire on the power wire with electrical tape to avoid causing any short circuiting.
- 3
Disabling the speakers of your stereo can be useful when you still need the receiver to have power.car audio speakers image by Alexander Zhiltsov from Fotolia.com
Unplug the wires connected to the terminals on your amplifier labeled "Speaker." Depending on how many speakers there are in your stereo system, the amount of wires you will have to unplug can vary, but typically there are about eight to 12 wires to unplug. Cover any exposed wire on the speaker wire with electrical tape as you did with the power wire, making sure to clearly mark which speaker wire belongs in which terminal so that you can return the wires to their place when you are ready. Although this will not disconnect the power from your receiver, it will disable any sound from coming out, effectively disabling the stereo without shutting down its power.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
