Extra wires connecting 2 wire harnesses together

stereovan · Post by **stereovan** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:15 pm

New to the group. I have done tons of speaker installs and 4 head unit removals. Should have paid more attention!! Trying my first head unit install and had to buy an aftermarket wire harness to connect to the back of my Pio-2000mp as well as the female wire harnesses for my dodge caravan.
To start with, the head unit harness has 14 wires and the van harness only has 12. The packaging for the head unit lists the colors and purposes of 13 of the 14 wires. Not listed is a yellow/black wire that didn't have a match on the van's harness, a black wire which I'm assuming is a ground. Also, there is a blue/white wire on the head unit harness that the packaging doesn't list-instead it lists a blue wire (there isn't a solid blue one) as the power antenna. Since the van harness has a solid blue wire labeled power ant. I connected my blue/white to that.
I was going to connect longer wire to the solid black and the yellow/black and ground them both. Also, on the back of the factory radio, there was a 1/2 inch wide silver ribbon wire that had an o-ring at the end of it and was screwed into the radio. I'm assuming that this is some kind of ground, and since there's a screw hole on the back of my pio head unit I was going to attach this thing to the head unit when I installed. Lastly, in looking at the male factory wire harnesses, they are fully wired with a total of 14 wires so I'm wondering if something interesting will happen when I connect my harnesses with only 12 wires going into them.
Sorry to bombard everyone with this, but just trying to be as specific as possible. Any help in these matters would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Ryan from Ohio · Post by **Ryan from Ohio** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 3:05 pm

I would advise not doing anything more until you know what you are doing fully. Just matching wires sometimes dont get it. For the most part its straight forward, but you can never be 100% certain.

To start with, the head unit harness has 14 wires and the van harness only has 12. The packaging for the head unit lists the colors and purposes of 13 of the 14 wires. Not listed is a yellow/black wire that didn't have a match on the van's harness, a black wire which I'm assuming is a ground.

If 13 of 14 wires are identified then the only obvious one not identified is the yellow/black. Looking at the manual it only identifies 12 wires. Note page 14.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Stati ... al1019.pdf

Also, there is a blue/white wire on the head unit harness that the packaging doesn't list-instead it lists a blue wire (there isn't a solid blue one) as the power antenna. Since the van harness has a solid blue wire labeled power ant. I connected my blue/white to that.

Again page 14 identifies the blue w/white as power antenna. If you vehicle has a power or amplified antenna this will need to be hooked up.

I was going to connect longer wire to the solid black and the yellow/black and ground them both.

Dont ground the unknown wire. Thats asking for trouble! Simply tape it off and put it to the side. The solid black is identified as a ground. Page 14 again.

Also, on the back of the factory radio, there was a 1/2 inch wide silver ribbon wire that had an o-ring at the end of it and was screwed into the radio. I'm assuming that this is some kind of ground, and since there's a screw hole on the back of my pio head unit I was going to attach this thing to the head unit when I installed.

Page 15 top right.

stereovan · Post by **stereovan** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:01 pm

Ryan,
Thanks so much for the info you provided...especially the manual! mine is long gone. As far as matching them up by color, I also read the descriptions on the wires themselves in the case of the ones from the car's harness and from the packaging of the head unit harness, so I'm confident they are matched up correctly. Your answer only left me with a couple questions/statements to run by you before I try this on my own.
Per your advice, I'm going to cap off the yellow/black wire. I'm also going to extend the ground wire from the head unit and secure it to a clean bare spot of chassis metal. As far as this weird silver ribbon cable that was attached to the back of the factory radio, I saw on P15 that you're referring to some kind of screw and rubber bushing that I should have and don't. Do you have any idea what that is called so I could try and get one? I looked through the file of the manual and couldn't find a picture or definition other than the tiny one on P15. And do you have any idea what I should do with the silver ribbon cable? I figured it was some kind of ground for the factory radio so I was going to ground it too. I talked to a local installer over the phone yesterday and he told me he had now idea what this wire was but thought it might be for the antenna. I don't think it was the antenna because I found the normal RCA-looking antenna plug in the dash.
I don't have much faith in the local installers after the few conversations I've had with them and really want to finish this myself, but just need a little more guidance. Again, thank you for your help so far!!
--Steve

Ryan from Ohio · Post by **Ryan from Ohio** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 1:00 am

I wouldnt worry so much about the rear mount. It probably will be fine without it. That is not a part you can just buy at a store. You might be able to order it from a parts supplier online, but on a $100 radio you might get $10-20 tied up into something so silly.

I dont see a call out for a yellow wire w/ black stripe so I have no idea what it is. The manual doesnt call out an illumination wire which is common on most units (orange).

I would advise you to call Pioneer direct and get someone in technical support.

Johnyside · Post by **Johnyside** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 3:16 am