Totally confused, new stereo install, wiring doesn't match up with kit

[94_Mazda_4X4]

I have a 94 B4000 Extended cab. I received a nice Kenwood kdc-mp342u stereo for christmas. So I went out an bought the wiring adapter and those little metal clip release tools for the old stereo. What a pain in the ass that was. The clips were frozen shut.

Anyway I take it all apart and then I notice the old stereo and wiring consists of an antenna wire, a large wire clip, and a small wire clip with about 6 pins. The new stereo has one clip and an antenna hookup. The adapter is one large wire clip. So clearly something doesn't add up. I went back to the Best Buy and the smug stereo install "expert" told me since my old stereo is dolby, it must have an amp behind the glove box. I went out an took off the glove box and found no amp. I came back in asking if there was another adapter clip I could purchase and of course there isn't.

Also there doesn't seem to be anyway to anchor the new stereo unit into the hold, There are no places to screw the new holder in to. It's a perfect fit so I don't need the plastic adapter kit.

Has anybody gone through this yet with the extra wire clip? Is there an amp somewhere?

 

[Alex FX4]

i have the same receiver. its in a 99 ranger which may be completely different but if you post pics i could see if i could help.

 

[4x4fun]

first if her works at best buy hes not expert. second a pic will help, also both plugs might go into the one big plug.

 

[exbass94]

LOL Dolby has nothing to do with amps. It's a noise reduction system so you don't get an annoying hissing sound when playing cassette tapes. To install the new stereo, take the "cage" that's around it off. You'll notice there are a lot of tabs on it. Slide it into the opening in the dash, and bend the tabs out. This is what holds it in the dash. The factory amp *I believe* is somewhere behind the seats, I think in one of the back corners of the cab. You can either bypass it by running new wires from the head unit to the speakers, or get a different adaptor that has the right connectors on it.

 

[94_Mazda_4X4]

Here is the old stereo and it's connectors.

This is the adapter I purchased, it came with two probably for different models.

This is the wiring for the new stereo.

This is the back of the new stereo.

 

[94_Mazda_4X4]

LOL Dolby has nothing to do with amps. It's a noise reduction system so you don't get an annoying hissing sound when playing cassette tapes. To install the new stereo, take the "cage" that's around it off. You'll notice there are a lot of tabs on it. Slide it into the opening in the dash, and bend the tabs out. This is what holds it in the dash. The factory amp *I believe* is somewhere behind the seats, I think in one of the back corners of the cab. You can either bypass it by running new wires from the head unit to the speakers, or get a different adaptor that has the right connectors on it.

I went out and found the amp behind the drivers side rear fold out seat. I tried to take apart the connector at the head unit and only ended up destroying it. So basically I can split those wires out and they should match up to the speaker colors? And I would be using the original amp this way still. Or i can rewire the speakers, yay that sounds like fun and by pass the amp unit.

 

[4x4fun]

your going to need to wire around the amp. and having said that. i would try and return the wire pig tale and use the one from your HU and the OEM plug that only has the power acc lum ect and run new wiresfrom the speakers to your HU

 

[exbass94]

I tried to take apart the connector at the head unit and only ended up destroying it.

You mean that small connector hanging out of the dash? Since you already destroyed it, you can try cutting it off and splicing the wires into the new head unit's harness. I have no idea if the colors will match up. If the factory wires are the same colors as the new harness colors, then they should all match OK. If they're all completely different, well, good luck.

If they're completely different, you can test which wires go to which speaker like this: Hook up the new unit just so that it turns on (connect power, ground, etc. Don't hook up any speaker wires yet)

Take one pair of speaker wires from the new unit, for example, the 2 white wires that are for the left front speaker, temporarily splice them to 2 wires of the same color coming out of the dash, and see which speaker works. If say, the right rear speaker turns on, you know those 2 wires in the dash are for the right rear speaker. Label them and repeat for the other wires until they're all labeled. Then splice them permanently with the new harness.

Make sure the factory amp turns on before trying this, otherwise it probably won't work. One of the wires coming from the dash should be a turn-on wire for the amp. Connect it to the turn-on wire on the new unit.

 

[4x4fun]

Take one pair of speaker wires from the new unit, for example, the 2 white wires that are for the left front speaker, temporarily splice them to 2 wires of the same color coming out of the dash, and see which speaker works. If say, the right rear speaker turns on, you know those 2 wires in the dash are for the right rear speaker. Label them and repeat for the other wires until they're all labeled. Then splice them permanently with the new harness.

i would run the "speaker " wire over a AA bat, it will make a chrerchercher noise if you complete the circuit, i wouldnt TEST anything with the new hu.

on the input side of your amp what do you see, is there a painfully obvious difference between your speakers input and the power ground rem. like a plug with three big(er) wires (power gnd rem) and another plug with 8 small(er) wires in it.????????????????

 

[94_Mazda_4X4]

Right now two speakers aren't working, so I'm going to skip the amp and rewire the speakers and test them one by one I guess.

 

[Alex FX4]

i think you will need to skip the amp completely anyways unless it uses rca jacks... last time i checked, putting an already amplified signal to an amp is a bad idea.