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% How to Identify Aftermarket Car Stereo Wire Colors GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Smart & Connected Life &gt; Connected Car Tech 177 177 people found this article helpful <h1> How to Identify Aftermarket Car Stereo Wire Colors</h1> <h2> They typically follow a common pattern</h2> By Jeremy Laukkonen Jeremy Laukkonen Writer Shoreline Community College Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications.
Christopher Lee Member
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% How to Identify Aftermarket Car Stereo Wire Colors GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Smart & Connected Life > Connected Car Tech 177 177 people found this article helpful

How to Identify Aftermarket Car Stereo Wire Colors

They typically follow a common pattern

By Jeremy Laukkonen Jeremy Laukkonen Writer Shoreline Community College Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications.
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When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles . lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 14, 2022 Reviewed by Christine Baker Reviewed by Christine Baker Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design.
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When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles . lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 14, 2022 Reviewed by Christine Baker Reviewed by Christine Baker Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design.
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David Cohen 4 minutes ago
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In This Article

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lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email <h3> In This Article</h3> Expand Jump to a Section Standard Aftermarket Car Stereo Head Unit Wire Colors Installing a Used Car Stereo With or Without a Pigtail Using a Head Unit Harness Adapter Why Doesn't Everyone Use Harness Adapters Instead of Splicing Wires? What if a Head Unit Wiring Harness Adapter Isn't Available? Frequently Asked Questions <h3> What to Know</h3> The 12V battery wire is yellow, the accessory wire is red, and the dimmer/illumination wire is orange with a white stripe.The right-front speaker wires are gray, left-front speakers are white, right-rear speakers are purple, and left-rear speakers are green.Ground wires are black, antenna wires are blue, and amplifier wires are blue with a white stripe.
Brandon Kumar Member
access_time 6 minutes ago
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In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section Standard Aftermarket Car Stereo Head Unit Wire Colors Installing a Used Car Stereo With or Without a Pigtail Using a Head Unit Harness Adapter Why Doesn't Everyone Use Harness Adapters Instead of Splicing Wires? What if a Head Unit Wiring Harness Adapter Isn't Available? Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

The 12V battery wire is yellow, the accessory wire is red, and the dimmer/illumination wire is orange with a white stripe.The right-front speaker wires are gray, left-front speakers are white, right-rear speakers are purple, and left-rear speakers are green.Ground wires are black, antenna wires are blue, and amplifier wires are blue with a white stripe.
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Isaac Schmidt 5 minutes ago
This article explains how to identify car speaker wire colors when installing a car stereo.

Sta...

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Noah Davis 1 minutes ago
Unlike OEM head units, which are all over the place in terms of wire colors, most aftermarket manufa...
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This article explains how to identify car speaker wire colors when installing a car stereo. <h2> Standard Aftermarket Car Stereo Head Unit Wire Colors </h2> The easiest way to wire in an aftermarket car stereo is to identify the OEM wires using diagrams for the specific vehicle and head unit. Still, it's possible to get the job done without any labels, adapters, or diagrams.
Charlotte Lee Member
access_time 4 minutes ago
This article explains how to identify car speaker wire colors when installing a car stereo.

Standard Aftermarket Car Stereo Head Unit Wire Colors

The easiest way to wire in an aftermarket car stereo is to identify the OEM wires using diagrams for the specific vehicle and head unit. Still, it's possible to get the job done without any labels, adapters, or diagrams.
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Unlike OEM head units, which are all over the place in terms of wire colors, most aftermarket manufacturers stick to a standardized coloring scheme. Although there are exceptions to every rule, most aftermarket car stereos use a standardized coloring scheme for the power, ground, antenna, and speaker wires.
Amelia Singh Moderator
access_time 25 minutes ago
Unlike OEM head units, which are all over the place in terms of wire colors, most aftermarket manufacturers stick to a standardized coloring scheme. Although there are exceptions to every rule, most aftermarket car stereos use a standardized coloring scheme for the power, ground, antenna, and speaker wires.
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Lucas Martinez 6 minutes ago
Suppose you have the pigtail that came with your aftermarket head unit, and it uses the standard col...
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Suppose you have the pigtail that came with your aftermarket head unit, and it uses the standard colors. In that case, the wires have the following purposes and colors: <h3> Power Wires </h3> Constant 12V / Memory Keep Alive: YellowAccessory: RedDimmer/illumination: Orange with a white stripe <h3> Ground Wires </h3> Ground: black <h3> Speakers </h3> Right front speaker(&#43;): GrayRight front speaker(-): Gray with a black stripeLeft front speaker(&#43;): WhiteLeft front speaker(-): White with a black stripeRight rear speaker(&#43;): PurpleRight rear speaker(-): Purple with a black stripeLeft rear speaker(&#43;): GreenLeft rear speaker(-): Green with a black stripe <h3> Amplifier and Antenna Wires </h3> Antenna: BlueAmplifier remote turn on: Blue with a white stripe Lifewire / Nusha Ashjaee <h2> Installing a Used Car Stereo With or Without a Pigtail </h2> If you have a used car stereo that you want to install and the pigtail that came with the head unit, check the list above to see what each wire in the pigtail needs to connect to.
Julia Zhang Member
access_time 24 minutes ago
Suppose you have the pigtail that came with your aftermarket head unit, and it uses the standard colors. In that case, the wires have the following purposes and colors:

Power Wires

Constant 12V / Memory Keep Alive: YellowAccessory: RedDimmer/illumination: Orange with a white stripe

Ground Wires

Ground: black

Speakers

Right front speaker(+): GrayRight front speaker(-): Gray with a black stripeLeft front speaker(+): WhiteLeft front speaker(-): White with a black stripeRight rear speaker(+): PurpleRight rear speaker(-): Purple with a black stripeLeft rear speaker(+): GreenLeft rear speaker(-): Green with a black stripe

Amplifier and Antenna Wires

Antenna: BlueAmplifier remote turn on: Blue with a white stripe Lifewire / Nusha Ashjaee

Installing a Used Car Stereo With or Without a Pigtail

If you have a used car stereo that you want to install and the pigtail that came with the head unit, check the list above to see what each wire in the pigtail needs to connect to.
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Chloe Santos 17 minutes ago
If you don't have the pigtail, look for an adapter that's designed to connect that head unit...
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Kevin Wang 8 minutes ago
Hopefully, the colors of those wires will match up to the aftermarket standard. Otherwise, you'l...
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If you don&#39;t have the pigtail, look for an adapter that&#39;s designed to connect that head unit to your make and model of car. If that doesn&#39;t work, obtain a replacement pigtail to proceed anyway.
Sofia Garcia Member
access_time 28 minutes ago
If you don't have the pigtail, look for an adapter that's designed to connect that head unit to your make and model of car. If that doesn't work, obtain a replacement pigtail to proceed anyway.
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William Brown 27 minutes ago
Hopefully, the colors of those wires will match up to the aftermarket standard. Otherwise, you'l...
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Hopefully, the colors of those wires will match up to the aftermarket standard. Otherwise, you&#39;ll need a wiring diagram, which is sometimes printed on the exterior of the head unit or available online. <h2> Using a Head Unit Harness Adapter </h2> Although most aftermarket head units follow the above coloring scheme, and it&#39;s possible to figure out what the OEM wires in your car are for without a wiring diagram, installing an aftermarket head unit is easier if you have a harness adapter.
Kevin Wang Member
access_time 8 minutes ago
Hopefully, the colors of those wires will match up to the aftermarket standard. Otherwise, you'll need a wiring diagram, which is sometimes printed on the exterior of the head unit or available online.

Using a Head Unit Harness Adapter

Although most aftermarket head units follow the above coloring scheme, and it's possible to figure out what the OEM wires in your car are for without a wiring diagram, installing an aftermarket head unit is easier if you have a harness adapter.
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Henry Schmidt 5 minutes ago
Car stereo wiring harness adapters are useful because, while aftermarket car stereos have the same i...
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Car stereo wiring harness adapters are useful because, while aftermarket car stereos have the same inputs and outputs as the factory stereos that they&#39;re designed to replace, those inputs and outputs aren&#39;t in the same places. If you can get the correct car stereo wiring adapter, it simplifies the installation process.
Lucas Martinez Moderator
access_time 9 minutes ago
Car stereo wiring harness adapters are useful because, while aftermarket car stereos have the same inputs and outputs as the factory stereos that they're designed to replace, those inputs and outputs aren't in the same places. If you can get the correct car stereo wiring adapter, it simplifies the installation process.
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David Cohen 3 minutes ago
One end of the adapter plugs into the car stereo, the other end plugs into the wiring harness that o...
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One end of the adapter plugs into the car stereo, the other end plugs into the wiring harness that originally connected to the factory stereo, and that&#39;s all there is to it. <h2> Why Doesn&#39 t Everyone Use Harness Adapters Instead of Splicing Wires </h2> While harness adapters are inexpensive—and available for various car and head unit combinations—there isn&#39;t much wiggle room in terms of compatibility. For a head unit wiring harness to work, it needs to be specifically designed for both the vehicle and the new head unit.
David Cohen Member
access_time 20 minutes ago
One end of the adapter plugs into the car stereo, the other end plugs into the wiring harness that originally connected to the factory stereo, and that's all there is to it.

Why Doesn' t Everyone Use Harness Adapters Instead of Splicing Wires

While harness adapters are inexpensive—and available for various car and head unit combinations—there isn't much wiggle room in terms of compatibility. For a head unit wiring harness to work, it needs to be specifically designed for both the vehicle and the new head unit.
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Oliver Taylor 3 minutes ago
Suppose you can figure out the specific model of the head unit that you're trying to install. In...
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Suppose you can figure out the specific model of the head unit that you&#39;re trying to install. In that case, there are online resources that allow you to plug in that information—along with the make, model, and year of your car—to see if an adapter is available. <h2> What if a Head Unit Wiring Harness Adapter Isn&#39 t Available </h2> If you can&#39;t figure out the specific model of a used head unit, identify the purpose of each wire and manually connect everything the right way.
Sophia Chen Member
access_time 11 minutes ago
Suppose you can figure out the specific model of the head unit that you're trying to install. In that case, there are online resources that allow you to plug in that information—along with the make, model, and year of your car—to see if an adapter is available.

What if a Head Unit Wiring Harness Adapter Isn' t Available

If you can't figure out the specific model of a used head unit, identify the purpose of each wire and manually connect everything the right way.
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Lucas Martinez 1 minutes ago
In that same vein, there is also a chance that an adapter isn't available for any given combinat...
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In that same vein, there is also a chance that an adapter isn&#39;t available for any given combination of vehicle and head unit. If that&#39;s the case, and you also don&#39;t have the pigtail that came with the head unit, either find a replacement pigtail or track down a wiring diagram and connect to the individual pins on the back of the head unit. While you can install a head unit without a wiring harness, it's more complicated than the sort of basic DIY head unit installation process that most do-it-yourselfers are comfortable with.
Grace Liu Member
access_time 24 minutes ago
In that same vein, there is also a chance that an adapter isn't available for any given combination of vehicle and head unit. If that's the case, and you also don't have the pigtail that came with the head unit, either find a replacement pigtail or track down a wiring diagram and connect to the individual pins on the back of the head unit. While you can install a head unit without a wiring harness, it's more complicated than the sort of basic DIY head unit installation process that most do-it-yourselfers are comfortable with.
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Scarlett Brown 18 minutes ago
FAQ What stereo fits my car? The easiest way to find out what stereo fits your car is to use a third...
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Grace Liu 10 minutes ago
The Crutchfield website lets you enter your vehicle's year and make and will display car stereos...
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FAQ What stereo fits my car? The easiest way to find out what stereo fits your car is to use a third-party website.
Victoria Lopez Member
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FAQ What stereo fits my car? The easiest way to find out what stereo fits your car is to use a third-party website.
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Emma Wilson 37 minutes ago
The Crutchfield website lets you enter your vehicle's year and make and will display car stereos...
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Zoe Mueller 7 minutes ago
How do I add Bluetooth to a car factory stereo? To get Bluetooth for your car, if it didn't come...
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The Crutchfield website lets you enter your vehicle&#39;s year and make and will display car stereos that fit your car. The Online Car Stereo website offers a similar service.
David Cohen Member
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The Crutchfield website lets you enter your vehicle's year and make and will display car stereos that fit your car. The Online Car Stereo website offers a similar service.
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Dylan Patel 30 minutes ago
How do I add Bluetooth to a car factory stereo? To get Bluetooth for your car, if it didn't come...
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How do I add Bluetooth to a car factory stereo? To get Bluetooth for your car, if it didn&#39;t come with Bluetooth functionality, you can install an inexpensive Universal Bluetooth car kit. If your head unit is &#34;Bluetooth ready,&#34; you can also install a vehicle-specific Bluetooth adapter.
Emma Wilson Admin
access_time 75 minutes ago
How do I add Bluetooth to a car factory stereo? To get Bluetooth for your car, if it didn't come with Bluetooth functionality, you can install an inexpensive Universal Bluetooth car kit. If your head unit is "Bluetooth ready," you can also install a vehicle-specific Bluetooth adapter.
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Luna Park 62 minutes ago
You can also upgrade to a Bluetooth car stereo. How do I adjust a car stereo for the best sound? If...
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You can also upgrade to a Bluetooth car stereo. How do I adjust a car stereo for the best sound? If the stereo has EQ presets, test them to see if they improve the sound.
Audrey Mueller Member
access_time 48 minutes ago
You can also upgrade to a Bluetooth car stereo. How do I adjust a car stereo for the best sound? If the stereo has EQ presets, test them to see if they improve the sound.
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Try different preset, bass, and treble combinations until the sound is right. Also, adjust the tweeters, rear fill, and subwoofer, and try out noise-dampening materials. Was this page helpful?
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Try different preset, bass, and treble combinations until the sound is right. Also, adjust the tweeters, rear fill, and subwoofer, and try out noise-dampening materials. Was this page helpful?
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Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Can You Use Factory Steering Wheel Controls With Aftermarket Head Units?
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Why Your Car Stereo Only Works Sometimes What to Do When Your Car Radio Won't Turn On How to Listen to Music in a Car From a USB Flash Drive How and When to Upgrade a Car Stereo A DIY Guide to Installing a New Head Unit What is a 1.5 DIN Car Stereo, and Do You Need One? What Is a Steering Wheel Audio Control Adapter? How to Listen to an iPod in a Car Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
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