Detailed Information on Removing & Installing a Sound System in a 2002 Dodge Dakota
- 1). Lift the Dakota's hood. Loosen the bolt at the end of the negative battery cable with a wrench. The negative cable connects the battery with the chassis of the truck for grounding. Remove the cable's clamp from the battery terminal and set it aside. Move to the inside of the Dodge.
- 2). Remove the two screws at the top edge of the driver's instrument panel with a Phillips-head screwdriver.
- 3). Grab the main dashboard panel and pry it away from the Dakota's dashboard. Set the panel aside. Remove the four screws (two on either side) from the stereo deck with the screwdriver.
- 4). Slide the factory stereo from the Dakota's stereo mounting dock. Disconnect the two stereo wiring connectors from the outlets on the back of the stock head unit. Unplug the antenna cable lead from the FM antenna input on the back of the stereo. Set the head unit aside.
- 5). Insert the aftermarket sound system head unit's installation sleeve into the empty stereo mounting dock. Bend the two metal tabs inside the sleeve outward with a flat screwdriver. Grab the stereo wiring from the inside of the stereo dock and pull them through the installation sleeve to the front of the dock.
- 6). Connect the stereo wiring to the wiring harness adapter. Plug the two plastic connectors into the wiring harness adapter leads.
- 7). Plug the wiring harness adapter lead connectors into the outlets on the back of the new stereo deck. Insert the Dakota's antenna cable lead into the antenna input on the rear panel of the new stereo unit.
- 8). Slide the stereo into the installation sleeve until it locks into place within the vehicle's stereo mounting dock. Place the main dash panel back onto the dashboard and replace the two screws at the upper edge of the driver's instruments. Move back to the Dakota's engine compartment.
- 9). Place the negative battery cable's clamp around the negative battery terminal post. Tighten the bolt on the clamp with the wrench and close the Dakota's hood.
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