Question about my new aftermarket radio

[Corolla02]

Hey guys im new here and i just found this great site for my car ^^ today i purchased a sony Xpold head unit for my 2002 toyota corolla ce. I wired all the harness together but i havent actually plugged it into the car yet. My question is, is it okay to wire the harnesses by hand? I dont have a crimping tool, what i did was twisted the wires together very tightly and made sure they are secured and wrapped them with electrical tape. Now is is good enough fpr it to work without a crimping tool?

- Thanks everyone!

[all2baka]

If you're not going to crimp the wires and do twist instead, get some twist caps instead of just using electrical tape. Electrical tape can only last so long.

[Corolla02]

Originally Posted by all2baka

If you're not going to crimp the wires and do twist instead, get some twist caps instead of just using electrical tape. Electrical tape can only last so long.

Yeah im just not sure if its something thats okay to do. I mean im going to be wrapping the electrical tape all around pretty much just to be on the safe side. Should there be any problems? Sorry complete newb here!

[all2baka]

It's going to be a little messy in the long run with all the glue coming off. If you're not going to get a crimp tool, I guess you can substitute with a skinny needlenose plier to do the crimps.

[Crowbar911]

Not sure if its a good idea, but ive always used electrical tape and just used a lighter to melt the tape to form a good seal.

[The ///Man]

best to do it right, otherwise you might end up chasing little bugs here and there. I hope you didn't cut your stock connector and wire that way. An adapter harness is dirt cheap.

[fishexpo101]

Sounds like the OP is inferring if it OK to wire it up by hand, "literally". Strip some wires from a harness to the radio harness and twist them together and use wire nuts or electrical tape.

I would recommend soldering those unions and using some shrink tubing. The end job will look much cleaner and there will be less of a likelyhood that something will come off (vibration) and short across something important - read "expensive".

Like The ///Man mentioned - don't make more work for yourself later with possible intermittent electrical bugs - spend some time now, equals less time later.

[Corolla02]

Thanks everyone for their input on this. I decided to get it soldered just to be safe although i dont have a soldering tool i paid future shop to solder the harness for me and hopefully everything will work okay cant wait!

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Originally Posted by Corolla02

Thanks everyone for their input on this. I decided to get it soldered just to be safe although i dont have a soldering tool i paid future shop to solder the harness for me and hopefully everything will work okay cant wait!

Soldering is best, but you can get a set of crimpers and a box of crimp, spade and ring terminals from Harbor Freight for about $30 or less for everything.