Quick Radio Wire Question
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 438
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From: northern cali
Quick Radio Wire Question
Hey All,
My question for today is about my radio: I grabbed an OEM radio at the salvage yard this weekend (i was giddy with the thrill of disassembling trucks!) just hoping that it might actually work when connected. (I think it came from an 84 but i could be wrong.)
Now based on what i've found on the forums about the wiring, I seem to have fewer wires coming from the back of it than other people do. As you can see from the pic i have:
yellow with brown
blue with red
black with white
black with green
The wiring from my truck dash looks like solid yellow, then 4 strands of speaker wire (even though i only have 2 speakers) and of course the antenna plug.
Am I missing any wires? Will this work? Is there anything I need to know about connecting things up?
As always, thanks so much for any help!
My question for today is about my radio: I grabbed an OEM radio at the salvage yard this weekend (i was giddy with the thrill of disassembling trucks!) just hoping that it might actually work when connected. (I think it came from an 84 but i could be wrong.)
Now based on what i've found on the forums about the wiring, I seem to have fewer wires coming from the back of it than other people do. As you can see from the pic i have:
yellow with brown
blue with red
black with white
black with green
The wiring from my truck dash looks like solid yellow, then 4 strands of speaker wire (even though i only have 2 speakers) and of course the antenna plug.
Am I missing any wires? Will this work? Is there anything I need to know about connecting things up?
As always, thanks so much for any help!
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,437
Likes: 4
From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
I'll guess that the yellow with what looks like a fuse goes to ign+, white/red goes to dash light circuit and the other 2 go to a speaker. Ground is probably through the radio chassis
Methanoholic
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 6,442
Likes: 8
From: Maine (NorCal Native)
I agree to a point, then unsure.
Yellow = Ing/acc positive.
Blue/Red = Dash lights.
Ground is through the stud sticking out the back.
The speakers are where I am unsure.
Left and Right channel (second leg is ground)
or
Mono (both to one speaker)
Someone will be along shortly that knows for sure!
-Enjoy
fh : )_~
Yellow = Ing/acc positive.
Blue/Red = Dash lights.
Ground is through the stud sticking out the back.
The speakers are where I am unsure.
Left and Right channel (second leg is ground)
or
Mono (both to one speaker)
Someone will be along shortly that knows for sure!
-Enjoy
fh : )_~
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,089
Likes: 1
From: Illernois
Thats the same as my old radio that i replaced with a new MP3/cd player.
The wires should go to illumination, speakers, and power...i believe
i think on the top of my radio it had a sticker telling what each wire was? Tomarrow i will take a look for you and tell you what i find.
The wires should go to illumination, speakers, and power...i believe
i think on the top of my radio it had a sticker telling what each wire was? Tomarrow i will take a look for you and tell you what i find.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
Look at the tuner, it's AM only.
LightBlue/Red stripe == dimmable dash backlight
Yellow/Black hash == switched power supply, I believe 15A but not sure.
The black with colored hash marks are speaker wires.
Ground is the big bolt in back.
Hopefully, 81-f150-explorer will be by sometime to confirm, he's got all wiring diagrams.
LightBlue/Red stripe == dimmable dash backlight
Yellow/Black hash == switched power supply, I believe 15A but not sure.
The black with colored hash marks are speaker wires.
Ground is the big bolt in back.
Hopefully, 81-f150-explorer will be by sometime to confirm, he's got all wiring diagrams.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: Liverpool, NY
hey that looks like the one i got only mine has a casette below the needle. I agree, looks like power, illumination and speaker left/right with chassis as ground. I got done tearing one of those apart a few weeks ago. Found it under the trailor and it smoked with i hooked it up. Oh well.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
you can plainly see there is no FM dial, which means it's an AM-only radio with one
speaker.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 398
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From: Liverpool, NY
well seeing how i've never seen an AM only radio, i think that was bit uncalled for.
It wasn't till I got the casette deck that I have in there now that I found there's no controls for bass.
EDIT: You might need to splice in the wires since it doesn't have the 4-prong socket on it. Not hard to do, just need tape cutters and wire srippers.
It wasn't till I got the casette deck that I have in there now that I found there's no controls for bass.
EDIT: You might need to splice in the wires since it doesn't have the 4-prong socket on it. Not hard to do, just need tape cutters and wire srippers.
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Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
adjustment.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: Liverpool, NY
even though what i've got has both fm and am selection? I usualy don't stick to origional parts when I buy a truck, but I figured I'd be different. The difference between the Ford radio's is all new to me.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 438
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From: northern cali
hahah...see this has gotten more complicated than i thought it would be already...i know it's an AM radio so i'm cool with that but i had no idea that would impact the number of speakers i got sound through...see how spoiled i am? AM goes through all the speakers in my every day driver so it never crossed my mind that i might have a speaker issue...will it still work with 2 door speakers?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,429
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From: patricia ab canada
don't twist and tape them.thats hacker wiring.you don't have to solder the wires ether.just go out and buy a crimping toll and various connectors.i only solder and heat shrink wire, if it will be exposed to the elements.