Owners of a 1998 Dodge Ram truck may find the need to replace their factory installed stereo deck for a variety of reasons. One common occurrence is a malfunctioning stock deck. You can have your stereo serviced by a professional audio technician, but the cost of the repair can approach the overall cost of replacement. Another common reason for replacing the stereo is to upgrade to a more capable and more powerful stereo. You can find a wide assortment of aftermarket stereos that are compatible with the Dodge Ram--models that will deliver the performance that you desire out of your car stereo system.
Lift the hood of the Dodge truck and loosen the nut on the negative battery terminal with the 10-mm wrench. The nut holds the negative battery cable to the negative lead post of the battery. Move the cable away from the lead post until the installation is complete. Move to the inside of the Ram truck.
Grab the main dash panel at one of the upper corners. Pull the panel from the dashboard with a moderate amount of force. If the panel is difficult to pull from the dash, use a trim panel removal tool to pry the panel from the dashboard.
Remove the two 10-mm bolts on either side of the stereo mounting dock with the wrench or socket and ratchet.
Pull the factory stereo from the dash and disconnect the wiring connected to the rear panel. Pull the black antenna cable from the FM antenna outlet.
Plug the stereo wiring into a wiring harness adapter.
Slide the faceplate adapter into the stereo mounting bracket of the Dodge truck. The faceplate adapter will snap into place once it is fully seated in the dash. Pull the stereo wiring, with wiring harness adapter connected, through the faceplate adapter to the front of the dashboard.
Plug the wiring harness adapter leads into the corresponding outlets on the rear panel of the aftermarket stereo. Plug the antenna cable into the outlet marked "FM" on the back of the new radio.
Slide the stereo into the stereo dock via the faceplate adapter until it snaps into place.
Align the main dashboard panel onto the dashboard of the Dodge Ram. Press firmly around the perimeter to snap the series of clips on the backside of the panel back into place.
Place the negative battery cable clamp around the Dodge truck's negative battery terminal lead. Tighten the clamp to the post with the wrench. Close the Dodge Ram's hood.
