how’d you get your start?

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tommy...

Gold - Posts: 1,901

Joined: December 10, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: January 15, 2010 at 6:49 PM / IP Logged

You might just want to look at a in-dash nav,dvd, combo unit...Not to much more and it is all-in-one...! Heres a Kenwood unit...There are plenty others... http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entertainment/Mobile_Video_n_Navigation/Navigation/DNX9140 ... Is there a factory amp...? Here are the 2 harnesses available for your truck...One is non-amplified,other is for amplified...

Search Results Click part for more detailed product information.
	Metra Electronics Corp. 70-1761 Toyota 1987-Up - Into Car
	Metra Electronics Corp. 70-8113 Factory amplifier integration harness

M.E.C.P & First-Class

Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!

tommy...

Gold - Posts: 1,901

Joined: December 10, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: January 15, 2010 at 7:07 PM / IP Logged

The Kenwood eXcelon line is pretty good all the way around...price , sound...! There are defitnely better speakers out there but i think you would be more then satisfied...! Memphis is another pretty good speaker with a decent price point...I believe you have 6.5 all the way around... I think a 4-channel amp from either 2 of those companies would be good...again plenty of others...! A sub by either 2 would be good... Lots of great pricing from holiday left-overs...Are you buying locally or on-line...? If your friend works at a shop...See if he can come close to the internets pricing...If so go through him...Then warranty issues will be so much more efficient and less of a headache...! Especially if it is not much more...! Verify that you installing them does not void the warranty with that shop...Some do...! How i would go about it...Do the alarm-r/s first... Wouldnt it suck to put all the audio/nav equipment in and thats when his truck gets broke into...Then the stereo/nav/dvd/cd/etc...Then the interiors amps speakers,subs...Pay close attention to your amp's setting(gain setting) and read through that here on this site a few times...Theres a upgrade to the factory wiring called "The Big3" that you might want to do...At least pay attention to the ground lead from negative terminal to chassis(as well as the others)...TAKE YOUR TIME...And as a side note some insurance companies offer a discount with an installation of a car alarm(passive/active arming)...

M.E.C.P & First-Class

Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!

t&t tech

Platinum - Posts: 2,608

Joined: October 05, 2008

Location: Trinidad and Tobago

Posted: January 16, 2010 at 1:32 PM / IP Logged

Competition can be tough when you're just starting out, and you have to build a reputation against competitors that already have theirs built, but, work diligently and skillfully, deal with your customers tactfully and strive to always deliver quality work, and, ALWAYS ensure the customer is satisfed, and before you know it you'll be right up there with the big guns!

At the start you will have to work harder but as your rep builds you'll find the word of mouth about good service just spreads, so customers will just come knowing that the quality being delivered is of standard, and you'll just have to focus on maintaining the rep!

P.S. I really hope i get my own shop one day! LOL!

commit your way to jehovah and he will act in your behalf. psalms 37:5

kr tony

Member - Posts: 22

Joined: January 04, 2010

Location: Texas, United States

Posted: January 16, 2010 at 3:13 PM / IP Logged

Man, you guys have been more than helpful! Thank you so much for the comments and tips!

@tommy: Thanks for the links to the audio equipment. Just like you said, I'd like something that's going to sound great, but i don't need anything high end or "top of the line," so I think that Kenwood product will suffice perfectly! I'll definitely consider going through my buddy for product, but my first consideration was to just purchase online so we'll see (I suppose it'll be who can offer the best deal, LOL).

@t&t tech: The one thing that our company is known for right now is superior customer service (not to sound prideful). If I can successfully pass this "test" and get an installation division going for us, I know the same attitude will transfer over, so as you said, I hope it's only a matter of time for positive customer referals.

PS: Keep me posted about that shop, hahaha! :)

-Tony

blade7022

Member - Posts: 7

Joined: January 14, 2010

Location: Wyoming, United States

Posted: January 18, 2010 at 1:46 PM / IP Logged

Thats awesome, you should be excited. I have been doing installs for the last 9 years. Never worked for pay though, always for friends and family. But lately, been thinking about trying to do some on the side installs. So thats how I got started. Good luck to you!

2001 Tahoe LT

JBL W15GTix2-JBL BP1200.1 Stinger 15 Farad Capacitor.

Sony MEX-BT5000-Kenwood KNA-G510-Kenwood LZ702W Touchscreen

metz35

Copper - Posts: 458

Joined: January 13, 2003

Location: Pennsylvania, United States

Posted: January 23, 2010 at 8:58 AM / IP Logged

my story is about the same, started working on my own car when i was 15/16, then in 1996 i had a friend who was selling audio equipment at circuit city(when they were booming), got me a job in the bay, been doing it ever since, i even remembering being only 17 and only allowed to do installs and not driving cars because i wasnt 18.lol pay was 8$ hour plus bonus. HAHAHA

kr tony

Member - Posts: 22

Joined: January 04, 2010

Location: Texas, United States

Posted: January 23, 2010 at 10:57 PM / IP Logged

LOL, $8/hour back in '96 and only 17 years old?! You were bankin man! :)

Just to keep everyone posted:

Had a minor setback this weekend. One of my boss' family members borrowed his truck for the weekend and I didn't know. :(

Kind of bummed out that I didn't get to start today (was looking really forward to the alarm/remote start install). The good news is that I'll have more time to continue learning. I work with my father in law, so any chance I can break away from my desk I got to hang out in the engineering room with him to work on my soldering skills and electronics knowledge.

In the end I know it'll all work out (just looking forward to showing my boss the final product)!

-Tony

jeepindonny

Member - Posts: 4

Joined: December 25, 2009

Location: Georgia, United States

Posted: January 24, 2010 at 7:44 PM / IP Logged

I started around 15 or so tinkering with friend's cars. At age 19 I had a friend that owned a shop. Started working with him doing heads and fours. Worked for another shop for about a year and then got out of it and started doing it out of my home. Had some of my work featured in Minitruckin' mag so started to get a following. Was at the local HiFi buys ( Tweeter ) one day picking up some equipment for an install. They asked who was installing it. I told them I was and they jokingly asked if I wanted a job. I said yeah. They gave me a one day trial. At the end of the day I was hired. Worked there for years, but now back on my own working part-time out of my home and part-time doing automotive upholstery.

I'm excited for you too man! It's so rewarding to see a nice install that sounds good, that the customer loves and you can stand back and say; " I did that. "

Donny

Life is a series of temporary situations.

tommy...

Gold - Posts: 1,901

Joined: December 10, 2004

Location: United States

Posted: January 24, 2010 at 8:02 PM / IP Logged

kr tony wrote:

Man, you guys have been more than helpful! Thank you so much for the comments and tips!

PS: Keep me posted about that shop, hahaha! :)

My point was that you will have to send the unit back...pay for shipping...then wait 5-15 business days to get it back...then re-install...Possibly even reconnect factory wires so he at least has a radio to listen to during repair/replacement...(if the radio or amp or etc...was what went bad)...It is just easier to have the warranty done locally...especially if the prices are close...!

M.E.C.P & First-Class

Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!

kr tony

Member - Posts: 22

Joined: January 04, 2010

Location: Texas, United States

Posted: January 25, 2010 at 1:42 PM / IP Logged

@Donny: That's a really cool story man! I'm stoked about the opportunity and hope I can pull through, LOL! :)

@tommy: Point taken, I completely agree (didn't think much about returns and such, good point). I'm supposed to meet with my buddy for lunch tomorrow so I'll def. mention this stuff to him to see what kind of deal he can work for me.

-Tony

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