How to Install a Flip Down DVD Player in a Car

Incorrectly installing a flip-down DVD player in your car can cause damage to your car and DVD player. Installing a DVD player in your car proves to be a great project to complete before taking a long trip. The installation process requires regular household tools and takes only an hour to complete. You do not have to cut any holes in the ceiling or install any wires, as this process uses preexisting ceiling holes and wires.

• 1

  Insert the head of a small flat-head screwdriver between the ceiling and the dome light. Gently pry around the base of the dome light to create space and loosen the dome light. When the dome light is loose, remove it from the hole in the ceiling and disconnect the wire harness.

• 2

  Tuck the wire harness up into the ceiling hole where the dome light was. Place the mounting bracket over the ceiling hole. Position the bracket until it rests flat. Use a carpenter's knife to trace around the mounting bracket and to cut the headliner beneath the bracket. Remove the bracket so you can remove the piece of headliner that you cut. Removing the headliner from beneath the bracket allows the bracket to rest flush against the ceiling thereby reducing vibrations in the DVD player.

• 3

  Pull the wire harness down from the ceiling hole and feed it through the slots in the bracket. Place the bracket back in place on the ceiling and use a drill with machine taps to drill out four holes, one at each corner of the bracket, into the ceiling. Do not drill through the ceiling. A Machine tap creates threaded holes that allow screws to be screwed into them.

• 4

  Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to tighten the screws that came with the mounting bracket into the drill holes you created. Plug the wire harness into the DVD player and position the DVD player onto the mounting bracket.