Stereo Issues

[PolarrrBearrr]

Alright, here is the tale of the stereo in my Bronco. I had the original for a long time, and then got a deal from my ex when she bought a new car and had the aftermarket stereo removed from the car she was selling. The new car had a better stereo, so she sold me the aftermarket.

Last summer, some **** decides that he wants the stereo from my truck. I lose the stereo, but pretty much just that. So, on the lookout for a deal, I come across a stereo for about what I paid for the other aftermarket one. I figured that since I replaced the stereo in my sister's Camaro, how difficult could it be for the Bronco?

After spending all day basically removing all the speakers because Ford decided to come up with their own color coding for the sound system, and hooking everything up, I got lights, but the LCD screen wouldn't light up. Then I remember that I had the stock stereo, dug that out, and it'll play tapes, but I get nothing on the radio. Any ideas? or should I just break down and go to a shop that does stereos?

Any insight at all would be a blessing. Also, what are the sizes of the speakers? I think the rears are 6x9s, but what are the fronts? And can I go bigger or would I want to?

Thanks all.

 

[bluesman17]

Always post the year of your truck as it makes it much more specific. Fronts are 6 1/2 rears are 6x8/5x7 (same size) 6.5 is the biggest you can go and most people who upgrade go to that size anyways so theres no need to because the next step up is component. The best I can do is after that is are you sure the antenna was plugged in?

 

[Seabronc]

You might want to consider upgrading the wire to the speakers, Ford stock is kinda small. I upgraded mine to 16 GA twisted pair. It takes a little work since the rear wires are routed along the driver side under the rug to the back and then across to the pasenger side.

No LED screen, sounds like a missing connection?

Good luck,

>-

 

[PolarrrBearrr]

Thanks for the sizes on the speakers. Sorry about the year, I thought I had listed it. It's an '88, but from what I understand it is a late year model '88, so there are some '89 components in it. (My mechanic and I found out the hard way when we went to replace the rotors.) Though in this case, I don't think that is the issue.

My first thought was that the antennae wire wasn't plugged in either, but I would have had to use a hammer to get it in any further, and that would have destroyed everything.

I'm pretty sure that one of the power cables is wrong. There is one for the ignition, and one for the battery, and something tells me that the stereo just isn't getting enough juice to power the LCD, though don't quote me on that. The problem is that the wiring harness colors are completely different then what's in the dash, which means that I can't be sure what is what, unless I tear apart the whole dash, and that seems a little too much. I mean, the wires (at least for speakers) are ususally a solid color, with the negative being the same color with a white stripe. Ford put in blue/red, green/pink, and a whole array of colors. I've never seen anything like this.

Can anyone definitively say that the pink/green is the wire to use for the faceplate power? It took me two hours to figure out that the yellow/green wire was the power wire to the ignition! Who the **** makes that color the ignition wire!? It's supposed to be red!

Am I the only one who has ever tried this?

 

[Seabronc]

Here are the Ford color codes for the radio:

Light blue with red stripe is for illumination ( comes from the light switch via fuse 10, 5 Amp)(hot when head lights are on)

Light green with yellow stripe from fuse 8 (hot at all times)

Yellow with black stripe from fuse 11 also goes thru the light switch and to the radio on orange with black stripe when the light switch is in the off state ( changes the brightness)(hot in accessory or run)

Red (believe it or not goes to ground) :blink:

Speakers

right rear feed is pink with light blue stripe, return is dark blue with orange stripe

left rear feed is pink with light green stripe, return is dark blue with orange stripe

right front feed is white with light green stripe (connects to black with light green stripe at passenger side kick plate), return is black with white stripe

left front feed is Orange with light green stripe connects to black with light green stripe at driver side kick plate), return is black with white stripe.

Good luck,

>-

PS

If you are going to deal with the wiring or vacuum system much, you need to find an EVTM (Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual), for your truck. They often come up on ebay.

>-

 

[PolarrrBearrr]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I think I know what went wrong. I think I had the illumination wire hooked into the headlights, and since I was working on it during the day, they weren't on. I'll try again tomorrow.

I'm a little confused, the yellow/black and the orange black are for what, exactly? I'm not really clear on that...

Thank you so much. It really sucks going camping with no radio on the way out to the site.

 

[Seabronc]

I'm not sure what the various 12V feeds do for the radio, but the light blue / red works off the dimmer part of the main light switch. The part that dimms the rest of the lights like instruments, ash tray light, heater controls, etc.

The light green with yellow stripe is the main 12V to the radio

the yellow / black line looks like it will change the brightness of the led display so it is brighter in the day and dimmer at night when the lights are on. I goes two places, one connection direct from fuse 11 to the radio. Also to the Main Light Switch and back to the radio on orange / black when the switch is in the off position.

>-

 

[Big Country]

well I guess i know who to ask when have wiring problems.

 

[PolarrrBearrr]

Ok, thanks again Seabronc. I'll see if I can't get it working today. I have a camping trip this weekend, and I want to listen to the radio on the drive out. We'll see. If not, there is the 'ole iPod, but I'm pretty sure its illegal to drive and listen to headphones.

But then again if they really looked close enough, the Bronco probably shouldn't be on the road anyway. I'll let you guys know what happens.

Just one last question, I know what a SUV is, but what's the MUV or whatever it is in your little caption at the bottom of your messages?

 

[PolarrrBearrr]

Ok, things are not going well.

Despite every combination I could think of, we still have no LCD screen. It's like it's in a sleep mode or something. Before everyone suggests getting a new stereo, I checked and it does work, LCD and all. It required taking apart another car, but at least it confirms that it works.

Here's what I've got coming off the stereo:

Red - Ignition

Yellow - Memory Backup

Black - Ground

White - Panel Light

Orange - Power Attenae (which I do not have.)

Then a whole array of speaker wires.

So, going off the color coding that Seabronc stated earlier, anyone want to make an educated guess as to what color hooks to what?

Or is someone just going to suggest going to a professional, and make me feel like a total idiot?

 

[PolarrrBearrr]

Hallelujah!

Ok, apparently, my "always hot" wire needs a working fuse (#8) in order to supply the right amount of juice. It also helps to connect both the power wire and the faceplate light wire to the always hot wire. While this means that at any point the stereo will play regardless of wether or not the key is in the ignition, it is an issue to deal with on Monday.

Bottom line is it works, but I just need to remember to remove the faceplate or I'll drain my battery. I think.

I guess I'll find out the hard way...

 

[Seabronc]

Ok, things are not going well.

Despite every combination I could think of, we still have no LCD screen. It's like it's in a sleep mode or something. Before everyone suggests getting a new stereo, I checked and it does work, LCD and all. It required taking apart another car, but at least it confirms that it works.

Here's what I've got coming off the stereo:

Red - Ignition

Yellow - Memory Backup

Black - Ground

White - Panel Light

Orange - Power Attenae (which I do not have.)

Then a whole array of speaker wires.

So, going off the color coding that Seabronc stated earlier, anyone want to make an educated guess as to what color hooks to what?

Or is someone just going to suggest going to a professional, and make me feel like a total idiot?

OK this should get you what you are looking for

Red - Ignition (stereo), to Bronco power plug yellow with black stripe

Yellow - Memory Backup, (stereo) to Bronco power plug light green with yellow stripe

Black - Ground (stereo), to Bronco power plug red wire (ground)

White - Panel Light (stereo), Bronco power plug light blue with red stripe

Orange - Power Attenae (which I do not have.), (cap and tape off)

Note on the Bronco red wire:

For the life of me I can't imagine why they used red here for ground but that is the way it is. The radio wires are indeed a strange selection of color codes. As far as I know all other ground leads in the truck are black.

Good luck,

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