Big Problem-All Cut Up

[nate_2k5]

so i recently bought this 97 explorer sport and i went to install my new navigation system and when i took out the CD player (which worked) i found this, i tapped into the plug that was hanging off the smaller connector but i didn't get any power to the unit.

what can i do to clean this up, its a mess

 

[Flounder]

Can you be a little more clear on what is happening?

What I'm reading: When you uninstalled the factory unit, you came across the factory harnesses. But, then you tried to see if the factory harness had power--by tapping--you got none. This was weird because the factory unit had power.

Or, is your concern the large bundle of rejoined wires? If so, my guess is the previous owner installed an aftermarket unit, but instead of using a harness that integrates with the OEM plugs, instead cur and spliced wires from the head unit to the vehicle (really sloppy on the former owner's part) and had to reconnect the stock harness when s/he sold the Explorer.

Please correct me if I am wrong, and we'll work on it from there.

 

[nate_2k5]

the deck i removed was aftermarket and it was connected correctly with a wiring harness, but behind the stock plugs it is hacked up and reconnected, there is even a wire completely stripped just hanging there as you can see in the pics. how many plugs is the aftermarket harness supposed to plug in to. i cleaned up a bunch of junk wiring off of the aftermarket harness. i will take a pic of the harness i spliced into to see if it was my error for not getting power...

 

[aznboi3644]

I'd solder and heat shrink all of the wires back

 

[nate_2k5]

i took off all the twist caps and am in the process of labeling and reattaching wires. hat i am wondering now is how many stock plugs are there. as you see i only have two. theres seems to be a lot more wires than there are from these two plugs, i removed the square plug as i believe it is just for the rear speaker controls correct?

 

[nate_2k5]

ok, i pulled both harnesses off and labeled all the wires on the smaller harness matched up to the colors of the radio wiring harness but the wires they were connected to. i only found the ground and yellow/black wire, which is either illumination or fused ignition. can't remember right now. why is this. do i need to look up the wiring schematic for the entire dash harness? is it ok if i delete ( cap and tape) the wires i don't need like the square plug and a few others that don't go into the smaller red plug?

need this info asap, thanks.

 

[nate_2k5]

anyone know?!?!?!

 

[Flounder]

There's no real harm in capping the wires you won't use.

One thing I suggest, though, is what you mentioned--getting ahold of a schematic for a '97 Sport (either with or without JBL system, and with or without the AutoSet feature on the radio) and trying to match the wires back up. It would be helpful if you ever sell the vehicle.

 

[nate_2k5]

but can anyone explain why the wires are different colors than the ones of the stock harness. i found 3 today, the green/purple power, black/green ground, and green/black other one i can't remember, otherwise they are different colors that are on neither of the stock harness plugs...

 

[kelly2]

looks like someone cut off the factory harness then spliced on a '98-up ford factory harness.

the factory harness on a '97 should like:

if your truck doesn't have a factory sub then look at the 2nd diagram posted here: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1842523&postcount=5

 

[ErickSaint]

Seems the old harness was cut, perhaps the car was broken into once and the radio stolen. Last owner got a radio harness from a boneyard and wired it in himself, pobed wires till he got them working. I would try and get a wire diagram of the stock colors from www.the12volt.com and make sure everything is hooked up properly. If it is indeed from 2 different years like kelly suggested you can get wire colors for both years from that site as well. If the speaker wires are all out of phase it may sound terrible when you get it all back together

 

[nate_2k5]

i agree is looks like something else was swapped in but not in the way you guys are mentioning. the colors on the plug that are there are all correct, its the wires BEHIND the spliced harness that are different. i'll go out today and write down all the colors of it.

 

[nate_2k5]

here are the wires colors that i found in the dash:

Red/White (Thick)
Lt. Green/Red
Orange/Black
Gray
Purple
Lt. Green/Black
Dk Green/Black (Thick)
Red/White
Lt. Green/Purple (Thick)
Yellow
Tan
Lt. Blue/Red
Lt. Blue/Pink (x2)
Lt. Green
White/Orange
Purple/White
Lt. Blue/Black
Black

 

[ErickSaint]

To compare what you have, this is the stereo wiring for a 97 ex.

1997 Ford Explorer Stereo Wiring
Constant 12V+ Green/Purple
Switched 12V+ Yellow/Black
Ground Black/Light Green
Illumination Light Blue/Red
Dimmer n/a
Antenna Trigger Orange/Blue
Antenna Right Front
Front Speakers 5" x 7" Doors
Left Front (+) Orange/Light Green
Left Front (-) Light Blue/White
Right Front (+) White/Light Green
Right Front (-) Dark Green/Orange
Rear Speakers 5" x 7" Rear Doors
Left Rear (+) Gray/Light Blue
Left Rear (-) Tan/Yellow
Right Rear (+) Orange/Red
Right Rear (-) Brown/Pink

 

[nate_2k5]

So here are the ones not accounted for on the stock harnesses:

Red/White (Thick)
Lt. Green/Red
Orange/Black
Gray
Purple
Dk Green/Black (Thick)
Red/White
Yellow
Tan
Lt. Blue/Pink (x2)
Lt. Green
White/Orange
Purple/White
Lt. Blue/Black
Black

and here is what accounted for on the stock harness:

Constant 12V+
Ground
Illumination

 

[ErickSaint]

Not sure what to tell ya at this point, most likely will need an actual wire diagram to research it further. I got the wire info the the12volt.com, perhaps you could post the colors over there and get a better answer. Due to some tech problems the mail servers there were down so you may or may not be able to register. If already registered try the post over there.

The unaccounted for wires my be running to a premium sound amp or similar, which doesn't look accounted for in the basic diagram.

 

[nate_2k5]

even if they are running to an amp it doesn't explain why they are all different colors except 3 or 4 of them. is it possible it has a dash harness from a different year?

 

[nate_2k5]

ok so i cross referenced the JBL premium system and found some of the colors of wires i have on it but not all. there is no sub so i am guessing it blew and the previous owner hacked it up and just removed the sub. looks like i might just have to run new speaker wire for all of the speakers. does anyone know where i can tap into ACC since i can't find a yellow/black wire.?

 

[kelly2]

did you look at the diagram i linked to?

 

[nate_2k5]

did you look at the diagram i linked to?

yah i had looked at it before but i disregarded it as i didn't think a sport would have a premium JBL system. i'll take the panel off and see what the amp looks like.