I'm new to this entire installing your own audio system stuff... so I have a few basic questions to ask. (1997 F150)

1) The included wires go directly from the POWER IN on the unit and the end leads are just stripped. Does that mean I can just wire the leads onto the actual battery? Do I need a fuse or anything?

2) So I don't need to go wiring crap throughout my truck, is there a simipler way to get power from the fuse box or something? I noticed some open plugs underneith the driverside console, but I didn't want to plug anything in that didn't fit. :P

3) Do FM Modulators work as well as they advertise?

 

what are you installing?

 

First: ANYTHING you install should be fused..
Second: What are you talking about?

 

Yeah, I just dug up some more documentation that I never saw before... I noticed that I completely skipped a step.

http://www.ssiamerica.com/products/neo35/

Ok, so now I guess you can say my only real questions are how to properly set up an FM Modulator with the stock stereo unit. The documentation tells me to hook up the FM antenna output to the exissting car stereo with FM Tuner and simply use the FM antenna input to the antenna.

As you can see, it's a bit...vague. Can anyone with experience in FM Modulators help me out here?

The last question is still about power. I found the fuse bit that I couldn't find before. It says to run the red wire to accessory power (ignition switch) to the fuse box which then goes to the battery. The ground cable goes to the car chassis. How would this work?

Here's the included picture:


<b>FM MODULATOR</b>
<img src="http://epon.sepwich.com/neo1.gif">

<b>RCA Hookup</b>
<img src="http://epon.sepwich.com/neo2.gif">

 

this ain't rocket science dude. unplug your antenna from the radio and plug it into the antenna socket in the modulator. Plug the antenna end from the modulator into the antenna socket in the radio. From your diagram it doesn't look like you need a constant power source, so get your test light out and find an empty switched accessory power source in your fuse box and plug your red wire into it. Find a good chassis gground for your ground(black) wire. If you can't find an empty acc spot in your fuse box you can run your wire to the back of the radio and splice it into the acc. power wire for your stereo. If you're still having problems figuring it out you should suck it up and take it to a pro.
Good luck!

 

3) Do FM Modulators work as well as they advertise? [/B][/QUOTE]

FM mods work quite well with some minor frequency loss that you most likely will never notice unless you're an audiophile who spends a lot of time listening to your stereo without the truck running. With your stock system it should sound just fine.
p.s
from your wiring diagram it looks like your wiring harness has fuses in it already. If not FUSE IT!