stereo wiring
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=32996
Printed Date: May 10, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Topic: stereo wiring
Posted By: Donnabopp
Subject: stereo wiring
Date Posted: May 30, 2004 at 6:23 PM
Trying to replace original radio in 86 Mercury Marquis. Wire colors do not match up at all. Please help!
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Donna Bopp
Replies:
Posted By: Djmajicmark1
Date Posted: May 30, 2004 at 6:26 PM
Did you buy the wire harness for the car, that should be just plug and play.
Posted By: Donnabopp
Date Posted: May 30, 2004 at 6:34 PM
No, I was trying to avoid the expense. ------------- Donna Bopp
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: May 30, 2004 at 6:49 PM
Don't. A harness adapter costs less than $20 and will not only make your life and the install easier, it will make the install more professional and reliable. Don't scrimp on critical items like a wiring harness adapter! ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: Donnabopp
Date Posted: May 30, 2004 at 7:06 PM
Thanks for the advice. Will I find the correct harness adapter at my local Wal-mart?
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Donna Bopp
Posted By: Donnabopp
Date Posted: May 30, 2004 at 7:07 PM
By the way, I have already cut all of the wires in preparation for connecting them to the new stereo. Will this cause problems hooking it up to the wiring harness?
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Donna Bopp
Posted By: FZRaven
Date Posted: May 30, 2004 at 7:18 PM
Well if you've cut the wires, dont bother buying a hardness. Um not sure where to get hold of a wring diagram for that car, but when you do make sure to solder and heat shrink your connections. That crimp stuff dont work to good, and it makes a real mess.
Posted By: Manoftools
Date Posted: May 30, 2004 at 7:20 PM
If you cut the plug off the factory wiring, then you have already made a wire harness unusable. Now you will need to test each wire to be able to wire your radio harness to your factory wiring.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: May 30, 2004 at 7:21 PM
Donnabopp wrote:
By the way, I have already cut all of the wires in preparation for connecting them to the new stereo. Will this cause problems hooking it up to the wiring harness?
You cut out all the wires from your car? Oops, bad move. Yes, this will make the adapter useless. Your best bet now if you still have the connector you removed is to replace the factory wiring by carefully soldering all the wires back where they came from and getting a wiring adapter. Otherwise, find your car in the vehicle information database on this site and try to manually connect the new stereo, or take it to a professional and pay for them to install it for you. Sorry. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: Donnabopp
Date Posted: May 30, 2004 at 7:28 PM
Thanks for your help. I was able to find out what each colored wire's function is on this site, so I will try to manually connect. Wish me luck!
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Donna Bopp
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: May 30, 2004 at 8:02 PM
Here's a tip: a regular D battery will make a speaker work. You can use one to double-check the speaker wiring to each speaker before soldering. Going by the wiring information, touch the speaker positive wire to the battery + while touching the speaker negative wire to the battery -. This will cause the speaker in the car to make a sound, and you can verify that you are wiring to the correct speaker. Taking this test procedure one step further, also check for polarity. The speaker cone will move outward (looking at the installed speaker, toward you) when you connect the wires to the battery as described above. If you are able to access the speaker locations, have a helper look at the speaker while you touch to the battery. In the event the speaker cone moves in, or away from you, the wires have to be reversed. This will ensure correct polarity for all speakers. Make sure you tape and label each wire (e.g. "front left +") as you test the wires. Then the soldering can be done all at one time. After soldering each wire, tape well with electrical tape. Oh yeah...and good luck! ------------- Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
Posted By: Alpine Guy
Date Posted: May 30, 2004 at 8:09 PM
On every cd player box there should be a big ass sticker saying, DON'T CUT YOUR F'ING HARNESS!! Then in the manual's on page 1 they should tell you to buy a proper harness, , then should say " if your a cheep bastard please turn to page 12" then they turn to page 12 and it triggers a bomb... end of story.. .............,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, or it could say.. tap into the wires, don't cut them, you cheep bastard. As you can tell, i do to many install fix's from those do it yourselfers. ------------- 2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.
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