Electrical

Tiny
DODGENWW
  • MEMBER
  • 1981 FORD F-150
  • 4.9L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 188,000 MILES
Wanting to know the wires and colors for the factory radio and where do they go? I am trying to hook up a Clarion dxz725.
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Monday, April 25th, 2016 AT 6:24 PM

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Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,689 POSTS
You are going to have to run many new wires. Our wiring diagrams forgot the radios, but as I recall, the switched 12 volt feed from the ignition switch is yellow with a black stripe. Test that one with a test light to be sure. You are going to have to add a constant 12 volt for the new radio's memory circuit. That must be tied in with another circuit that is always live such as the interior lights, horn, brake lights or possibly the cigarette lighter.

Most importantly, you will need to run new speaker wires. Two to each speaker. During that time period most manufacturers used a single speaker wire to each speaker, and the return was just attached to ground, meaning the body. Newer radios have 6 volts on all speaker wires so none of them can go to ground. If any speaker wire is grounded it will damage the output IC in the new radio.

Basically all you can use in the original plug is the 12 volt feed and the ground wire, which is black.
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Monday, April 25th, 2016 AT 6:45 PM

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