I need help with first gen 84' radio wiring.

[MadMax_636]

I cant find a diagram anywhere. Either in my book or on here. Ive got a new radio (New to me) and I wanna wire it properly. When I bought the truck it had a radio but it was wired to the battery so it had a constant 12v even when the key was off. So my battery would die. I pulled that radio out after a week of owning the truck... I wanna wire the 2 main speakers in the dash and just have it key on power.

 

[SenorNoob]

84 probably didn't have a factory radio. So look for an unused fuse that has ignition power and run from there.

 

[MadMax_636]

84 probably didn't have a factory radio. So look for an unused fuse that has ignition power and run from there.

Ive got factory placement speakers. In the dash.

 

[SenorNoob]

Are you sure the dash is original? I had an 86 that didn't have either. Just a vaguely radio sized blank on the dash.
Maybe look up the wiring for a newer model (up to about 88) and see if you can matching wires on your truck? (Ford didn't change much if they didn't have to.)

 

[RobbieD]

The dash speakers, for all 1984 Ranger radio types, are:
Black / White hashes = speaker (-) (this is a common ground for both speakers).
Orange / Lt Green hashes or dots = driver's dash (+)
White / Lt Green hashes or dots = passenger dash (+)
BUT, I do remember the front speaker (+) colors being backwards in a lot of Fords from "back in the day".
You have switched (+) 12 volts at the radio as Yellow / Black hashes, and a rheostated (dash light dimmer) (+) 12 volt wire as Lt Blue / Red stripe. If you need constant (+) 12 volts, you'll have to run it (the Yellow / Lt Blue dots at the cigar lighter is a good place to get it).

1984 was the last year for the "3 holer" radio- back when car radios proudly had a volume knob on the left and a tuner knob on the the right of the station dial. '85 started single DIN, and it's getting kinda hard these days to find a good 3-holer dash panel.

 

[RonD]

I am sure you have looked here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/radio_wiring_diagrams.shtml

That page has the "common" wire colors used by Ford for radios and speakers

Radios with a Clock and electronic Pre-sets NEED 12volts all the time but its a very low amp draw, 0.03amps max
These have a separate wire for that and a separate power wire that is ACC/ON only power

You can test cab fuse panel for fuses with power in ACC and ON but no power with key OFF, there will be a few
You can add a "fuse tap" to use any fuse that has those requirements, or just key ON power if you like

 

[MadMax_636]

Alright,

I am sure you have looked here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/radio_wiring_diagrams.shtml

That page has the "common" wire colors used by Ford for radios and speakers

Radios with a Clock and electronic Pre-sets NEED 12volts all the time but its a very low amp draw, 0.03amps max
These have a separate wire for that and a separate power wire that is ACC/ON only power

You can test cab fuse panel for fuses with power in ACC and ON but no power with key OFF, there will be a few
You can add a "fuse tap" to use any fuse that has those requirements, or just key ON power if you like

Yeah, I looked there. I gave up on that page since it was 1990+ Rangers.
I did find these 2 links

https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/EDiagrams/files/Diagram_radio_typical_1of2.JPG

https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/EDiagrams/files/Diagram_radio_typical_2of2.JPG

I couldnt make much of it since I dont have the entire harness anymore so things like the wire colors and such. I couldnt make out.