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I need help with first gen 84' radio wiring.


MadMax_636

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2019
Messages
547
Age
30
City
Georgia
Vehicle Year
1984
Engine
2.8 V6
Transmission
Manual
Total Lift
However much it goes up when I get my fat ass out.
Total Drop
How much it goes down when my fat ass gets in.
Tire Size
Dry rot and old
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.
 
84 probably didn't have a factory radio. So look for an unused fuse that has ignition power and run from there.
 
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.
 
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.)
 
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.
 
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
 
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

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.
 

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