New receiver install

[Mike K]

I'm trying to install a new cd receiver in a 1993 Chevy Cavalier. I bought a wire harness and the harness has an extra wire, it's orange. The receiver wiring doesn't have an orange wire. Should I just let it alone? Also, how do I get the factory radio out? If nobody knows, I'll just figure it out as I go along. Thanks

[Sluttypatton]

Aftermarket wiring harnesses wires rarely match the factory wires coulors. Get a wiring diagram for your car and match the proper wires, the colours probably wont match. To get the factory radio out, remove any dash peices needed in order to get to the radio, undo any screws or bolts holding it in, and cut the wires from the factory harness plug. DO NOT cut the tick wire pluged into the back of your stock deck...pull it out, its a plug.

If you don't have a manual for your car, get one...it will have the nescessary wiring diagrams. Or you could find out by trial and error...factory wires are all different colours but here is somewhere to start from:
red - usually 12v constant
yellow - usually 12v switched
Any pair of wires that are the same coulor are almost always speaker wires, one will have stripe on it - the striped wire will be negative. Example: Two wires, pink and pink with white stripe - pink is speaker x positive, pink w white stripe is speaker x negative.
black - almost always ground
Antenna - the big thick plug that you plug into the back of your deck
blue (only on aftermarket decks) - usually remote amp turn on

Thats the best I can do. To be sure, get a manual for your car.

[Mike K]

Which manual, the one that came with the car, or some other kind? Thanks for the help.

[dshel5150]

i found this in another post on this forum...goto http://www.carstereohelp.com/stereor...yCavalier2.htm toward the end of these directions i think it shows you how...hope that helps a little

[Sluttypatton]

The best manual to use for wiring diagrams would be a Haynes manual...they are very good. You can get them at most auto stores (in Canada, canadian tire stocks them), or order one online.

[mtkohl]

Originally posted by Mike K
I'm trying to install a new cd receiver in a 1993 Chevy Cavalier. I bought a wire harness and the harness has an extra wire, it's orange. The receiver wiring doesn't have an orange wire. Should I just let it alone? Also, how do I get the factory radio out? If nobody knows, I'll just figure it out as I go along. Thanks

Okay, let back up and ignore everyone else for a sec........you said you bought a wiring harness. Therefore, you are not trying to splice into the car factory wiring are you??? No, otherwise you are defeating the purpose. The stereo you bought comes with its own harness with the NEW AFTERMARKET STEREO PLUG on it, correct?? This harness you bought is supposed to plug into the CARS FACTORY WIRING PLUG correct?? If I'm wrong, ignore me too....but I think our buddies may have misunderstood what the hell is going on. So you have an end for plugging into the new stereo, and an end for plugging into the old factory wiring. These two harnesses connect to EACH OTHER via their independent wires.

That said, yes, it is okay if the orange wire on the HARNESS THAT YOU BOUGHT doesn't connect to anything on the new receiver harness. This wire is for the illumination switch, and not all aftermarket stereos have that. I know that the last two Pioneer stereos I bought didn't have it either. All that wire does is control the dimming of the faceplate as you change the dimming of your dash lights. Thats it.

I think everyone else is trying to talk you through connecting your receiver harness (that came w/ the new stereo) to the factory wiring by hand. I have never done that.....its unnecessary when you can spend 10 to 15 bucks to get the plug-in adapter, which you were smart to do. That way, everything DOES INDEED color coordinate, and you don't have to screw with the retarded wiring scheme chevy came up with (and yes, I put one of those stereos into a '97 Cavi.).


Now, if you don't mind too much, I am going to vent for a second....not at you but at the rest of these electronically imcompentent monkeys. IF YOU DON"T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, QUIT POSTING REPLIES!!!. This is the fifth post of mine this week correcting some idiot on stereo installations. Don't bother posting to this P.O.S. forum if you have stereo questions........consult an expert, or just track me down, cause no one else here (at least no one that replies) seems to know what the fuck they are talking about.

Okay, I'm done. Good luck with your install. Any more questions, don't hesitate to ask. Just don't ask these people that don't know what the hell they are talking about.

[mtkohl]

Also, if you haven't done so already.....wrap some electrical tape around the end of that extra orange wire as to insulate it. You could potentially short out your lights (and worst case scenario....start a fire in you dash) if the bare wire comes into contact with a ground somewhere behind the dash. Good luck

[Mike K]

Originally posted by mtkohl


Okay, let back up and ignore everyone else for a sec........you said you bought a wiring harness. Therefore, you are not trying to splice into the car factory wiring are you??? No, otherwise you are defeating the purpose. The stereo you bought comes with its own harness with the NEW AFTERMARKET STEREO PLUG on it, correct?? This harness you bought is supposed to plug into the CARS FACTORY WIRING PLUG correct?? If I'm wrong, ignore me too....but I think our buddies may have misunderstood what the hell is going on. So you have an end for plugging into the new stereo, and an end for plugging into the old factory wiring. These two harnesses connect to EACH OTHER via their independent wires.

That said, yes, it is okay if the orange wire on the HARNESS THAT YOU BOUGHT doesn't connect to anything on the new receiver harness. This wire is for the illumination switch, and not all aftermarket stereos have that. I know that the last two Pioneer stereos I bought didn't have it either. All that wire does is control the dimming of the faceplate as you change the dimming of your dash lights. Thats it.

I think everyone else is trying to talk you through connecting your receiver harness (that came w/ the new stereo) to the factory wiring by hand. I have never done that.....its unnecessary when you can spend 10 to 15 bucks to get the plug-in adapter, which you were smart to do. That way, everything DOES INDEED color coordinate, and you don't have to screw with the retarded wiring scheme chevy came up with (and yes, I put one of those stereos into a '97 Cavi.).


Now, if you don't mind too much, I am going to vent for a second....not at you but at the rest of these electronically imcompentent monkeys. IF YOU DON"T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, QUIT POSTING REPLIES!!!. This is the fifth post of mine this week correcting some idiot on stereo installations. Don't bother posting to this P.O.S. forum if you have stereo questions........consult an expert, or just track me down, cause no one else here (at least no one that replies) seems to know what the fuck they are talking about.

Okay, I'm done. Good luck with your install. Any more questions, don't hesitate to ask. Just don't ask these people that don't know what the hell they are talking about.

Thanks, that clears up alot of things. Yes, I did buy a harness and the new receiver does have a plug for itself. If I can find my damn wrenches I can hopefully get it installed tomorrow. Thanks again. I'll be sure to insulate that extra wire. Making the connections with electrical tape should be good enough right?

[mtkohl]

Yes, definitely. Just wrap the end a couple of times. I apologize again for using your post to vent......but then again I wasn't about to let someone else make something so damn simple more complicated than it needs to be.

How is it going taking the dash and stuff apart. I know that on my '97 it wasn't hard, but took some time just cause there was so much to remove. Plus I had a security system with a little LED in the dash that meant I couldn't pull the dash too far from where it was. You want a fun job on that car though??? Try replacing the rear speakers in that are in that rear deck. If you want to drop them into place like you are supposed to, you have to more or less dissect the entire rear of the car. I had to take the seat out, then both rear plastic sides, then the deck top of the rear deck........then custom fit my 6 1/2" speakers in the 6x9 holes.....then put it all back together again. Made for a fun afternoon.

Again, good luck. If you need anything, like I said, I've done a bunch of stereos, and that includes the Cavi. Laters

[mtkohl]

Oh, crap...I read your reply wrong about insulating the connections. I thought you meant just that orange wire. Well, make sure to cover the end of that wire definitely. But ya, you can insulate all of your connections with tape too, but be very careful about how you connect the wires. If you are just gonna twist em and tape em, make sure they are secure. I suppose you probably don't have much experience with soldering, but that is the best way to connect them. What I did on my new Dakota, and this is just me, I soldered each wire together, then covered all the connection with heat-shrink tubing. I get kinda anal that way.

But in my old Cavi, I just twisted them togther tight, and then shrink-wrapped em. I just like the heat-shrink better than tape cause it doesn't tend to peel off or leave sticky shit all over. You can get it relatively cheap at an auto parts store or even Home Depot. Just my suggestion. You don't want an inferior install in your nice car.

Most importantly, just make sure they are all tight, and insulated well.

[AirAllen01]

If you're gonna connect two wires, then spend the extra few dollars it will take to buy screw connectors. It's what they're made for. All you do is twist the wires once or twice and then stick the connector on and twist it. It will twist the wires for you and hold them together, while keeping the connections insulated. You can find them at any hardware store, or stereo shop. Good luck.

[mtkohl]

Ya, those work good too.

The only reason I would hesitate is that the screw-on connectors get kinda bulky when you get like 10 of em bunched up and they tend to get caught on stuff. But if you are willing to accept/deal with that then those are a good alternative.

[SolTheHoelessPimp]

another good way is to get the shrink wire insulator, you slide it ove one wire, connect the two, then slide it over the connection, apply a little heat, then you got a tight waterproof connection.

[Mike K]

Thanks for all the replies. I just took the radio out, alot easier than I thought. Took about 5 seconds. I connected the wiring harness and everything and it all works. Except I think I need an antenna adapter, is this true? It doesn't fit anywhere. Also I had to get a size adapter and I can't figure out how to attach the radio mounting bracket to it. Can I just screw it on? Thanks

[Sluttypatton]

By the way, mtkohl, calling me an "electronically imcompentent monkey" is ridiculous. Try installing a cd player in any other car, the aftermarket wiring harness must often be spliced onto the factory one...very few i have had have come with an adaptor plug. Go to an intallation place and see if they connect it with a plug or with crimp connectors. I have worked A&B sound as a car audio installer, and I think that outburst was uncalled for, I find it very offensive that you call me incompetent. I am quite knowledgeable in car audio and almost all of the cd players I have installed must be connected by cutting and crimping, not simply pluging in a plug. I geusse I did misunderstand him when he said he had a wiring harness, but the vast majority of aftermarket wiring harnesses must be connected with crimp connectors. I am glad you were able to better answer his question, but I think your outburst was completely uncalled for. From what I understood I thought he meant he was using the wiring harness that comes with the cd player and must be spliced on.