how do you guys get so fast?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=33552
Printed Date: April 20, 2024 at 11:02 AM

Topic: how do you guys get so fast?

Posted By: saleengt
Subject: how do you guys get so fast?
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 4:51 AM

I still cant figure out how some installers do it so fast? i have been doing this on and off for 2 years and i am still not as fast..are there some tricks of the trade to keep the speed and acuracy? as in what to do first, eg..amp install..

Replies:

Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 11:08 AM

more often than not it's mental..... battle plan the install in your head long before you start taking things apart... i've usually planned the whole install in my head before the car hits my shop.... also, some guys are more organized than others... i had a guy here a few years back... i would give him a list of things to run out and get and he would drive to point A to get one thing, passing B & C on his way, etc. whereas i know every stop in advance and hit them all in the direction i'm going... installing is very much the same...if you are installing the HU, make sure to account for what you need re: the amp and speakers while you are there... you'll usually shave an hour or two off a system install just by being organized.....

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Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979

Posted By: Alpine Guy
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 11:09 AM

Uhh, nope,, theres no real basic tips. Just after a while you start knowing cars and what to look out for before hand. When i started a year ago it took me 1.5 hours to install a deck. Now it takes 45min set up and out the door on most cars. I have to work fast because my boss is an ass and expects everything done lickity split with a low quality = low cost kinda attidude.

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2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 11:59 AM

Practice, practice, and then a little practice.

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Posted By: Sweekster
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 12:11 PM

In addition to what Kevin said about planning, it will also depend on your experience (we've all got to start somewhere). Most of the more experienced installers will take less time because they have done the same make of car more than once. Usually, if its the first time you're working on a car, it'll take less time to do that same type of car a second or third time. And some cars are just easier than others. I'm sure there are a lot of people here who have had a run in with Bose equipped mazda rx-7s and that rediculous "wave tube" (what were they thinking??!!). You'll might also spend less time doing a system in a ford focus than you will with a chevy monte carlo with class II databus wiring.

Trust me, the people you see getting a job done fast AND clean, have been doing it longer than you think.

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Duane...

If you think you're confused, imagine how you feel. posted_image

Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 12:54 PM

Most of the time people who can do a car in under an hour have done 100's of them. Some installer's only do one or two dealership type jobs and are acustomed to certain vehicle models. For all the other installer's, iy's a matter of trial and error when it comes to taking off panels and such. Give it time and experience will follow.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 1:20 PM

Remembering what you have already worked on and remembering what you installed into it that either worked or did not work is a big start as well. A game plan is a must, it will develop over time. Some vehicles are easy, others are not, remember which one each is and that is a good start.

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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.

Posted By: icu400
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 2:05 PM

I did my own install in about 4 hours. First one. This included bypassing a factory amp for my hu, installing new door speakers in 2 doors, installing a hu, installing and running wires for my amp, as well as the turn on lead/rca's, and then installing my 2 subs in the box in the back (explorer).

Not bad I think, for my first time. I am sure it could have taken me days to do but I had been planning the thing for a week or two so I know exactly what I had to do. I had a good time, and it worked out well, no problems at all.

Posted By: Helpme9
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 3:49 PM

you do it for a living. and u use strats experimenting which ways take longers. coming up with ideaas. on how to run wires and etc.
Some times setting things up before running them can be quick. everyone does it differenlty

it'll take time before your potentiial skill will reveal

your need for speed~!

Posted By: Teken
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 5:31 PM

Alpine Guy wrote:

I have to work fast because my boss is an ass and expects everything done lickity split with a low quality = low cost kinda attidude

LMFAO . . . posted_image

Regards

EVIL Teken . . .

Posted By: nickch
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 5:44 PM

I've never installed a car stereo let alone an amplifier in my life, tho i have pretty ok electronic skills. I've been on the net very often now reading everything i can about installing car stereos and amplifiers and wiring etc. And now i'm just waiting for all my components to arrive and for me to finish my exams at the end of the month. I've already been planning at night in my head and i've pretty much got a rough sketch of how my system will look like and i'm pretty confident i can pull this off as i pretty much understand everything that has to be done. are there any dos and donts b4 i continue?

Posted By: 12V_REP
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 5:48 PM

Don't worry about being fast, be concerned with being good.

Posted By: Teamrf
Date Posted: June 09, 2004 at 6:15 PM

I think repetition has gotten me faster over time.

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~The Rookie~
Rookie of the year that is...
Don't let the smoke out of your equiptment..it doesn't go back in.

Posted By: thepencil
Date Posted: June 10, 2004 at 11:42 AM

Saleengt,

I wouldn’t worry too much about speed. It will come naturally with experiences and practices. Concentrate on doing the job well. It will cost you more if the customers has to come back to get it done right the second time.

As for suggestions to improve your speed and accuracy I have a few which may or may not work for you, but again nothing can beat experience, being organize, well prepare and most importantly teamwork. When you work in a car that you have never work on before, spend some extra time and try to remember what you did that work well. The next time around you will know exactly what to do. If you are organized on the job it is a lot easier. I lay all my tools out at the same spot and expect everyone at the shop to put it back after they finish using them. If you have some down time prepare most of your common wiring ahead of time. Most of our harnesses are butt connected and ready to go. Installation kits are cut and ready. Believe me, if these things are done ahead of time you shave off at least ten minutes of the work time. At my shop, head unit for most Chrysler, GM and Honda are install between 9-12 minutes, amplifiers and a head unit are about 45 minutes with adjustment, paperwork completed and out the door. If you work in an environment where teamwork is praise upon you can really see how efficient the jobs gets done. It used to be about an hour to install a typical head unit before we devise ways to do things more efficiently. This all depends on the environment you work in and how well you get along with other people in the shop. At my shop everyone pretty much naturally develop their own role. What we end up doing now is that we would do thing we were most efficient at and at same time enjoy doing it. We are very lucky that it happens that one of us enjoy taking things apart and one enjoys wiring up things and one doing the paper work and showing the customer how to push all the button when the install is done. It gets boring after awhile, but to keep things interesting we would switch our roles on a not so busy day. The average install that takes 10 minutes to do would turn to 30 minutes. Finally, work with someone who’s got fifteens years of experience at least once. You won’t regret it. It’s quite a show.

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Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. posted_image

Posted By: auex
Date Posted: June 10, 2004 at 5:26 PM

Caffiene?

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Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: June 10, 2004 at 5:33 PM

auex]C wrote:

ffiene?

Ah, one of the basic food groups.

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Posted By: Manoftools
Date Posted: June 10, 2004 at 5:34 PM

One trick that I have learned for remote starts is to print off the techsoft of any new vehicle and as I am working on the car I make notes to myself as to where the best place to find wires are, how they test if it test funny... things like that. Then I three hole punch it and put it in a binder. The first time I work on a car it takes me a little longer, but the next time I can reference my sheet and it makes the install much quicker. Works for me, because I have a hard time remembering all the tricks I have devised for the more rare vehicles.

Posted By: NINsane18
Date Posted: June 10, 2004 at 8:18 PM

lol, the caffiene makes one have to brace there arm while using a soldering gun so you do not burn every wire under the dash :) or am i the only one who gets jittery after drinking the 1 liter of coke in the morning?

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Tim-May!

Posted By: auex
Date Posted: June 10, 2004 at 8:43 PM

1 liter of coke? Try 2 energy drinks, monster, a double shot espresso, and a 2 liter of mountain dew and that is before lunch. JK most of the time it is just 2 monsters.

-------------
Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

Posted By: Alpine Guy
Date Posted: June 10, 2004 at 9:35 PM

Everyday i have a bagle, toasted, plain cream cheese, 1L of chocolate milk all before my fist install, , then im ready , , ,after that i sip on a 2L bottle of pop that is perfectly measured to last me 6 work days hehe

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2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.

Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: June 11, 2004 at 3:48 PM

DYohn] wrote:

auex]C wrote:

ffiene?

Ah, one of the basic food groups.

...and Oreos! BWAHAHAHA

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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

Posted By: Ravendarat
Date Posted: June 11, 2004 at 9:23 PM

On Boxing day I did a total of 9 liters of coke before the day was done (The drink, not the contraband). If that doesnt get you moving nothing will. Dont sacrafise quality for speed, all itll do is loose you customers and rep.

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double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

Posted By: auex
Date Posted: June 11, 2004 at 9:36 PM

Oh, sh*t I just realized where your sig is from. Funny.

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Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

Posted By: Ravendarat
Date Posted: June 11, 2004 at 10:53 PM

If you mean mine, then ya its one of my favorite movies ever

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double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

Posted By: saleengt
Date Posted: June 12, 2004 at 12:37 AM

thanks again for all the tips, much appreciated..i think thats how its spelt :-)

Posted By: flynntech
Date Posted: June 12, 2004 at 12:57 AM

This thread's about over, but I'll add mine:

I also think the best way to speed up is to watch the most experienced people. Don't think of yourself as slow, just observe and emulate if you see a good idea. Don't confuse this with hack work!

I worked in a bay before and I thought I'd do alright, but I was a little slow at first. After watching some of the guys, I picked up tricks here and there.

It frustrated me because I can do very good wiring and soldering....after all, I am a tech, but wiring cars is a whole new game! I'm very fast with mechanical work too, I can change a timing belt or whatever as fast as any mechanic.

The trick is to know what has to be done, have all of your tools and supplies where you need them and stay organized.

In regards to putting the butt splices on the harnesses, that could save you time if you crimp twice, but you really only need to crimp once. Pigtail the harnesses together, cut it down and crimp it. Solid 'caps' are great for this, but the open end is great for testing or adding wiring in the future. It struck me as odd at first, but after I did it once, I kept doing it. Much better crimp too. That is one 'trick' I learned working with the pros, excellent time saver for HUs.

Personally, I like to solder and I can do that very fast, but most shops won't encourage that.

I also broke my thumb in high school and never got proper medical attention, now it is about 50% dexterity of my right...but only thousands in surgery can fix it if it's possible, extensive manual labor is not for me. If anyone knows a good hand surgeon, please let me know! ok, time for zzzzz zzzzzz

Posted By: Alpine Guy
Date Posted: June 13, 2004 at 10:32 AM

Crimping deck wire harness's is probably the hardest thing to do, , , shure your done in like 5 min, , but it takes 30 min to figure out how to cram that fat bundle of crimps behind the radio.

Twist and solder is the best, cleanest, safest, most tidy way to do anything. Theres no way around it! If my boss told me to stop soldering and start crimping, id give him the ol finger and walk right out the door.

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2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.

Posted By: flynntech
Date Posted: June 13, 2004 at 5:38 PM

All connections on N.A.S.A. space craft must be soldered.

I do installs in my front yard and I solder everything.

I put in a HU and soldered it, then put a crimp over it just to save time, at that point, the crimp doesn't hold anything together, it just insulates it. When I have time to kill, I'll do a smooth western-union splice with perfectlky fitting shrink tube....never have problems fitting that into a tight spot!

The shop I worked at always had cars coming back, non which were mine. The problem was always a bad crimp connection or a bad ground. Once, an installer dropped the cross-over units inside the door plastic, they got all wet and caused the speakers to crackle!