wiring a radio without diagram
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=131927
Printed Date: May 11, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Topic: wiring a radio without diagram
Posted By: snoopy68
Subject: wiring a radio without diagram
Date Posted: August 01, 2012 at 10:58 PM
I am attempting to put a Craig AR7042 cassete player in m,y sons truck. I know the basics, power, memory and ground, but have no idea of the speaker wire colors! I found this forum and joined while searching the web for a diagram. Can any-ony help?
Replies:
Posted By: tommy...
Date Posted: August 02, 2012 at 9:31 AM
If you listed wire colors or took a pic... That would help... abit...
CRGAR7042-SM
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M.E.C.P & First-Class
Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: August 02, 2012 at 9:49 AM
Check the Hot Topics forum for a detailed tutorial on identifying audio system wires. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: tommy...
Date Posted: August 02, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Do you need help with the Vehicle side or the Radio side?
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M.E.C.P & First-Class
Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!
Posted By: snoopy68
Date Posted: August 02, 2012 at 12:18 PM
I am running new speakers and wiring on the truck but all I have on the radio are wires, the plug has been cut off. I have got it to where it will play and I can adjust the balance and fade but would love to make sure I have the + and- right Etc. As for colors I have blue, purple, white, grey, brown and green.Near as I can tell that is all of the speaker wires. I did a little research on Craig radio systems and found that most use a common negative for the front and the rear. I have it wired like that now and every-thing works but the left rear doesn't balance in and out like it should. What I have now is Blue-rear negative, purple-front negative, grey-left rear+,white-right rear+,brown-right front+, and green-left front+. I was hopeing someone might have a sticker that wasn't faded completely out like mine. Might be important if I put some power behind this thing.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: August 02, 2012 at 7:45 PM
Do you have an ohm meter?
If so, disconnect all speakers from the wires. Set meter to Ohms or Diode test function. Balance and Fader set to the middle positions. Black meter lead to chassis of the radio, then red lead to each of the 6 speaker wires, one at a time. There should be 2 wires that read very near 0 phms or .000 if on diode test. Those 2 wires are the negative for front and rear. It does not matter which. Now set meter to the lowest AC volts setting. Turn radio on, and fade to front and balance left, black lead to chassis of radio, red lead to each of the remaining 4 unidentified wires. Turn the volume up a bit and you should get a fluctuating voltage on the wire for the front left. Balance right and repeat with the 3 remaining wires. Then fade to rear and find the others.
My guess is white will be front left. Grey is front right. Violet is rear Right. Green is rear left.
Posted By: snoopy68
Date Posted: August 02, 2012 at 9:30 PM
I knew there must be a process, just didn't have a clue what it was. I consider it a good day if I learned something new. It has been a good day. Thank-you!
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