rap factory stereo in 03 f150

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Relays
Forum Discription: Relay Diagrams, SPDT Relays, SPST Relays, DPDT Relays, Latching Relays, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=106349
Printed Date: July 07, 2025 at 5:14 PM

Topic: rap factory stereo in 03 f150

Posted By: hg1027
Subject: rap factory stereo in 03 f150
Date Posted: July 24, 2008 at 9:43 PM

I'd like retained stereo power in a 2003 F150. I've looked at the relay circuit, and I'm confident I can build it, but I'm not sure where to hook it up exactly. Has anyone done the job and have suggestions on where to tap in to everything? Pictures would be awesome.

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2003 Ford F-150, soon to have the stereo on and the keys in the pocket.

Replies:

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: July 24, 2008 at 10:08 PM

DOOR TRIGGER|blk/yel & blk/pnk |- | Blk/Yel is the color of the drivers door switch. You can find it in the harness that goes into the drivers door. You need to connect the green wire on the following picture to the above wire.

posted_image

You need to cut the accesory wire a few inches before the plug on the back of your radio. This wire is BLACK/ Violet and is located in the corner of the plug. It is either the corner pin or the pin next to it. You now have 2 ends of that wire, the wire that is still attached to the vehicle needs to be insulated so it will not ground out to the back of the radio. Now the end of the wire that goes to the radio needs to connect to the wire labeled Radio's Accessory Wire.

Posted By: hg1027
Date Posted: July 25, 2008 at 7:45 AM

Awesome!!! I'm going to tear in to the door right now. Thanks.

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2003 Ford F-150, soon to have the stereo on and the keys in the pocket.

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: July 25, 2008 at 7:58 AM

You can access the wire inside the kick panel. You do not need to take the door apart.

Posted By: hg1027
Date Posted: July 25, 2008 at 9:40 AM

Alright, got the kick panel off and the camera charged up. I pulled a plug that has a BLACK / YELLOW wire going through it:

posted_image

It's the wire in the corner. I can't see where this bundle goes through the body and to the door on the cab side, but it goes in the right direction. If anyone can confirm that I'm looking at the correct wire, or tell me how to be sure, that would rock.

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2003 Ford F-150, soon to have the stereo on and the keys in the pocket.

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: July 25, 2008 at 10:39 AM

The wire in the corer of the plug was for the accessory wire of the radio. I have no idea where the door trigger wire is located but since you found it I guess it too is in the corner of the plug.

The info above the diagram was for the door trigger wire. The info below it was for the accessory wire of your radio.

Posted By: hg1027
Date Posted: July 25, 2008 at 8:56 PM

Well everything's hooked up, power from battery to relay is through 18awg, ground is 22awg, door trigger is 22, power from relay in to wire is 22. The stereo gets enough juice to power up and initialize, but then nothing. One of the relays switches a few times and gets warm, so I've either already blown it or i'm about to. If anyone has any ideas, i'd love to hear them. I'm going to go figure out exactly which is switching and when, and I'll report back in a few.

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2003 Ford F-150, soon to have the stereo on and the keys in the pocket.

Posted By: hg1027
Date Posted: July 25, 2008 at 9:14 PM

Relay hooked to door trigger switches properly (when door opens/closes) relay to stereo does not switch. Theft light is blinking. Any ideas?

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2003 Ford F-150, soon to have the stereo on and the keys in the pocket.

Posted By: hg1027
Date Posted: July 25, 2008 at 10:30 PM

Success!! Thanks a lot, this is exactly what I wanted.

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2003 Ford F-150, soon to have the stereo on and the keys in the pocket.

Posted By: hg1027
Date Posted: July 25, 2008 at 10:30 PM

I know it's hard to see, but the stereo is on.

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2003 Ford F-150, soon to have the stereo on and the keys in the pocket.