What do the wires go to?

[Psyclopse]

Theft recoveries are such fun...

I am working on a 91 Eddie Bauer and I need to know what wires are what. This vehicle had the radio wires cut so I don't have the plug, therefore I cannot use those harness connectors. The vehicle has the amp (it's end has also been cut up by the radio). I don't really need the info for the wire going to the amp since I found that information searching through other posts. Here's what I need:

Green/ yellow stripe- I tested it and it is always hot.

Yellow/ black stripe- I tested it and it is hot with the key in the run position.

Orange/ black stripe- This one is hot with the key in the run position. It also becomes hot with the lights on.

Blue/ red stripe- This one is hot with the lights only.

Black wire, red wire and blue wire- heck if I know.

So, can someone give me a rundown of these wires, so I know which ones to use and which need capped off when I put in the new head unit? Thanks in advance.

 

[cobrajeff]

Here are the wire codes for the power side of the radio on your 1991 EB Explorer:

Green/Yel stripe (circuit 54A) Battery + (keep-alive cicuit for memory presets and integral clock)

Yellow/Blk stripe (circuit 137) Switched Battery + (radio power)

Orange/Blk stripe (circuit 484) LCD lamp power (illumination of halogen bulb in the LCD display)

Blue/Red stripe (circuit 19A) radio backlighting illumination

Black (circuit 57B) ground for radio illumination circuits

Red (circuit 684) power ground for Premium Sound amplifier

Dark Blue (circuit 689) PS amplifier enable (mute/unmute)


If you install an aftermarket radio in it's place, you will probably only need 137 (power), 19A (night illum) and a good ground.

Good luck!

cobrajeff

 

[Psyclopse]

Thanks a bunch, you are a life saver.

Here are a couple more questions for ya-

In hooking up an aftermarket stereo, can the following wires from the vehicle be used, or should I run new wires-

54A (Green/Yellow)- to aftermarket constant (clock, presets)
137 (Yellow/Black)- to aftermarket switched power

What is the difference between 484 and 19A as far as backlighting?

Can the 689 amp remote wire be used as the remote wire when I add an amp later?

Would the black 57B or the red 684 grounds not be good enough to ground an aftermarket head unit?

I have yet another question, but it is off topic for this thread, so I'll make a new post.

Once again, thanks.

 

[cobrajeff]

You can use the 54A and 137 circuits to power your aftermarket radio.

The difference between 484 and 19A is that 19A is switched "on" only when the headlights are "on". The 484 circuit is hot whenever the key is "on" to light up the bulb in the Ford LCD display. Your aftermarket radio will probably not need that wire.

The 689 circuit could be used for your amp later, as long as you get to the other end of it at the amp.

For a ground, I'd use the shortest length wire I could to a good solid metal ground in the I/P. Since you're doing a one time install, and not chasing an Explorer down a moving assy line, you can afford to add an eyelet and a secure screw-in connection for ground.

cobrajeff