Replacing car stereo

[trillestranger]

Is the wiring harness really necessary when upgrading my ranger's car stereo ?

I don't see why I couldn't cut off the connector at the end coming out of my ranger and crimp the wires with the wires coming out of my new stereo

does anybody have a ranger car audio wiring diagram so i know which wire is what, there is one for my stereo in the box

 

[trail B2]

I googled Ranger stereo wiring harness and there is several places you can buy the plug to fit so you can tie to a pigtail instead.That would be considerably better.When you do actually hook up the power use a volt meter for the power sources.Use the ohm meter for ground connections.I have found that connecting the speaker wires to a small battery makes the appropriate speaker crackle a little bit to know what goes where.If you can find a wiring diagram it's always a help.

 

[Gatorjoe]

Just my thoughts, but why not pay the extra $10-15 and do it right along with making life a lot easier?
To answer the question, no, you don't need it. But it'll make life easier, for one, no hunting down wires, for two, you aren't trying to work inside the dash. Much easier to get the ford harness, hook it all up outside the vehicle, then just plug it in.

 

[kryptonitecb]

^^^^^
DO THIS!!!

From one perspective I have bought a few used vehicles and had to rehack wiring harnesses to replace stereos. It really is $10-$15 for a harness that takes seconds to install.

Step 1: unhook stock stereo

Step 2: plug in adapter harness

Step 3: plug harness into "new" stereo

Versus the ½ hour it takes to redo all the connectors.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[trillestranger]

you guys are right i went ahead and bought the wiring harness and got all the wires crimped, but now my stereo won't turn on when i turn on the car, any ideas what to look for ??

 

[Gatorjoe]

No power has to come down to fuse, ground, constant 12v, or ignition 12v. I'd check the fuse, then double check your connections. Both to make sure everything is where it belongs and also to make sure the crimp connectors are right. I personally only use bell style crimps or wire nuts on my stereos.

 

[kryptonitecb]

I personally only use bell style crimps or wire nuts on my stereos.

Wire nuts are for home use and have no place in a vehicle.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[Gatorjoe]

Wire nuts are for home use and have no place in a vehicle.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

Not sure why this would be. But I should amend my statement anyway...
I personally use bell style crimp connectors for finalized wiring, and wire nuts for temporary wiring. Since I am constantly changing things in my vehicle, be it lighting, amps, stereos, where grounds are run, etc.

I'll personally always prefer solder and heat shrink, but I am usually working on a time crunch and do it the quicker way.

 

[1340flh]

Not sure why this would be. But I should amend my statement anyway...
I personally use bell style crimp connectors for finalized wiring, and wire nuts for temporary wiring. Since I am constantly changing things in my vehicle, be it lighting, amps, stereos, where grounds are run, etc.

I'll personally always prefer solder and heat shrink, but I am usually working on a time crunch and do it the quicker way.

Solder&heat shrink is the way to go once I get everything sorted out,Ive used the connectors before(bell crimp/butt crimp/wire nuts) even so far as twist the connections together& black tape. Solder&heat shrink just looks more professional&ya get an absolute connection

 

[mobileaudio219]

Not sure why this would be. But I should amend my statement anyway...
I personally use bell style crimp connectors for finalized wiring, and wire nuts for temporary wiring. Since I am constantly changing things in my vehicle, be it lighting, amps, stereos, where grounds are run, etc.

I'll personally always prefer solder and heat shrink, but I am usually working on a time crunch and do it the quicker way.

House wire is usually single strand, or at least has a lot lower strand count. Which is what wire nuts are designed for... also, you're house doesn't/shouldn't be bouncing down the road...

 

[trillestranger]

i'm sure all the connections are right except for the ground.. there was a black wire (the ground) coming from the wiring harness i purchased, the ground coming from my stereo had a little metal "U" on the end of it, I chopped it off and crimped it to the same black wire on the wiring harness, that could be my first problem but doesn't seem easily fixable now that I've chopped it off

If it's not that it has to be the fuse right ? How do I check those ?

 

[MPRanger]

Easiest way is with a test light. Ground the light to your car and then turn on the ignition. Touch the tip of the light to the small flat metal pieces protruding through the top of the fuse. If the light lights up when you touch both metal pieces the fuse is good if it only lights on one the fuse is bad.

You can also pull the fuse out and look at it. If the arch in side the plastic is broken the fuse is bad.

 

[Rogue_Wulff]

One of the best things about using the adapter harness, is if the replacement radio should fail. It is SO much easier to transfer the adapter harness to another radio, while sitting at a bench, than it is to rewire the new radio thru the dash.
I just went thru this myself yesterday. Someone stole the faceplate for my sister's radio, and the replacement faceplate would have been more than a new radio. Thankfully, whoever installed the previous radio had used the correct adapter harness, so all wiring connections could be made outside the car, then simply plugged into the stock connector during install.

I consider the $10-25 investment for an adapter harness as a small price to pay, in the grand scheme of things. Especially when the connections can be made in a location where you have ample room to work, rather than doing them thru a rather small opening in the dash. All it takes is 1 or 2 of these connections failing, to really ruin an expensive stereo........

 

[EMB1230]

Not to mention that most if not all adapter harness are color coded so all you have to do is match up the colors, could not be any easier!

 

[adsm08]

If you are like me, and your radios last 5 years and your truck lasts 25 years (and still going strong) you will eventually wish you had used one when you don't have any harness left to splice to.