Are you curious about the wire functions in your car stereo? Do you have a car stereo that has been installed incorrectly?
Are the wires in your car all tangled up and messy? Do you want to know what is going on with all of those bright colors inside your dash?
If so, then this post will be perfect for you. We are here to tell you everything there is to know about wiring a car stereo system.
What is the Pink Wire on Car Stereo?
Generally speaking, Kenwood and Pioneer car radios come with pink wire and there is a difference in their functionalities. Here are the details-
Kenwood – The pink wire on a Kenwood car stereo is for External Amplifier Control.
Pioneer – The pink wire works for Car Speed Signal Input in a pioneer stereo system. So, connecting it will allow the stereo to access the speed sensor data of your car.
However, the color can vary depending on how old or new the model you own. So, it’s better to check the user manual before concluding on this.
The wire color varies among different car models as well. Here are some of the notable ones so that you don’t mess things up with stock car stereo wiring-
Ford
The pink wire goes to the speakers in a Ford vehicle. Depending on the model you have, pink wire with blue or green strips goes to the left or right rear speakers.
Toyota
In Toyota cars, the left front speaker is connected with the pink wire.
General Motors
In GM cars, the pink wire is the power antenna cable. So, without connecting this, you won’t be able to raise or lower the antenna of your vehicle.
Jeep
In a Jeep, the pink cable is for the 12-volt constant to the memory input.
Nissan
Finally, Nissan cars generally have this wire for the right rear speaker.
Aftermarket Car Stereo Wiring Chart
Aftermarket car stereos are the best way to upgrade your existing stereo system. So, here’s a simple guide on how to wire it-
Speaker Wires
White, Grey, Purple, and Green are the most common colors used for speaker wiring. However, you need to check which cable goes to which speaker by reading the user manual of the stereo you own.
Power Antenna Wires
These colors are common- Red, Blue, and Black. Grey is commonly used for power antenna memory wire.
Ground Wire (Chassis Ground)
This cable comes in black color usually. However, there can be also green or yellow wires depending on the car model you own. For example – GM cars generally use a green wire for chassis ground.
Dimmer Wire
This cable is generally Blue and Black. However, it’s better to check the user manual as there can be unique colors for different car models as well.
So, even if you find a blue wire in your car stereo system with a black strip on one end then that’s a possible candidate. This wire is not mandatory as it only works for synchronizing the interior lighting with the sound.
Illumination Wire
This cable is commonly orange. However, it’s better to check the user manual to be fully sure.
It also works with dimmer wire so if you are using both of them then grounding one will probably ground the other too. And if your stereo doesn’t include this feature then don’t bother with it.
Ignition Wire
This is the most important wire as it provides constant power to your car stereo system. So, a red or yellow cable is used for this purpose, and don’t forget about grounding it properly.
Also, matching colors of all these wires can be tricky so we suggest checking out a specific wiring guide for your car model so that you don’t mess things up.
Amplifier Connection
Amplifiers are commonly connected with blue and white cables.
Conclusion
Finally, if you are replacing your car stereo then the best thing is to get a diagram for connecting it so that everything works perfectly.
This way you can also figure out which cable goes where without much hassle. It’s best to follow the user manual that comes with the aftermarket unit rather than looking at things on the internet.
We have shared things that are commonly used in the stereos, but it doesn’t guarantee that your unit will match our guide.