Strange speaker wires

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Jul 4, 2022 | 06:07 PM

indy358

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5th Wheeling

Joined: Aug 2012

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Strange speaker wires

I just purchased a 96 F150 XLT ext cab. It has a aftermarket radio. Only the driver rear speaker was working so I pulled the head unit to investigate. The power plug was intact but the speaker plug had been cut off and the speakers wired direct to the head unit. As I was trying to sort out the mess I noticed the wires in this 96 were smaller and different colors than in my previous 95 and 93 models. I looked up several diagrams of the factory wiring and they were all the same, non of the speaker wire colors matched. I'm 99% certain the wires are factory as they are loomed to the power wires with cloth tape under the dash.
Has anyone else come across this? I managed to isolate each speaker so I know what wires go where but I'm going to have to pull the speakers to confirm +/-. I'm hoping someone has dealt with this and can save me pulling the door panels.

Jul 4, 2022 | 06:24 PM

Conanski

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Joined: Jun 2006

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From: Ottawa, Ontario

Quote:

Originally Posted by indy358

As I was trying to sort out the mess I noticed the wires in this 96 were smaller and different colors than in my previous 95 and 93 models. I looked up several diagrams of the factory wiring and they were all the same, non of the speaker wire colors matched.

Wiring colors cannot be relied upon from once year to the next and that is nothing unusual for these trucks in my experience.

Jul 4, 2022 | 09:02 PM

AuroraGirl

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Helpful?

Jul 4, 2022 | 09:22 PM

wwhite

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Joined: Aug 2014

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Maybe you have premium sound system, which has an additional external amplifier.
That could explain the difference in wiring you are noticing.

Jul 4, 2022 | 10:21 PM

indy358

Thread Starter

5th Wheeling

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 49

Likes: 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conanski

Wiring colors cannot be relied upon from once year to the next and that is nothing unusual for these trucks in my experience.

You are correct but considering all of the schematics I found online seem to match up to what I remember from the other two trucks it was strange that these were different. Also the wires in the 96 are of a smaller gauge which I also found strange.

Jul 5, 2022 | 12:16 AM

AuroraGirl

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The rest I throw in because it dpeends on what you have on yoru vehicle. So hopefully it helps
heres what @wwhite was saying maybe you have

Jul 5, 2022 | 02:50 PM

Scndsin

FTE Chapter Leader

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 12,317

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From: Central Mississippi

I ran across tip, maybe from Crutchfield for testing speaker wiring polarity with 9 vlt battery.

You brush the leads at the head unit end across the battery terminals & you will only get scratching sounds with correct polarity.