QuestionIm trying to install an after market stereo to my ford windstar 98. I managed to test the wires and it turns out that by touching only one wire at a time to the speaker plug/harness, all the speaker turn on. What i would like to know is where the factory amplifier is hidden in this vehicle and why all the speakers turn on. If anyone has a wiring diagram for the factory stereo with the correct wire colors for the speakers, that would help out.
Answer Hola Jose,
This is an American car rarely seen over here so I cannot help with the wiring or amp location, I would reccomend asking your local dealer's workshop manager that one but I am following on with my standard test text which seems to cure 99% of these problems.
Basic test and diagnostic procedure for car wiring harness.
You will need the following;
A test meter set at 20vdc or a test lamp (two wires on a 12v bulb) or probe (like a screwdriver with a 12v bulb in it and a lead and clip)
Some masking or paper tape to label wires and a marker pen,
An “AA” or “AAA” torch battery, (or borrow one out of the TV remote for an hour)
First the easy stuff, the speakers, (without amp!)
Speaker wires.
These are normally twisted together in pairs if you are lucky and are the same colour for each pair but one with a colour trace on, i.e. blue and blue/white, green and green/white. Touch a pair across the battery and you will hear a noise on the corresponding speaker, label it (e.g. left rear), continue until all four are identified and labelled.
Power leads connector.
Earth one side of your meter or tester to a metal part of the car, probe each wire until you have a wire that is live all the time with the ignition OFF, label this ‘+30’.
Switch on ignition and redo test until you find another previously dead wire now live, this is ‘+15’.
Switch off ignition and switch on the side / park lights, repeat test until you find a third live, label this ‘lights’. Switch off the lights.
You should now have two or three left. One will be earth, (usually black or brown); one could be to an amp and or electric ariel (usually blue or blue white) and one for phone mute if fitted. Clip tester to +30 and probe one of the remaining wires, if you have an electric ariel it will go up. Connect your DIN plug to the correct wires and jobs a good un’.
DIN connections are.
Speakers
Right rear -, right front -, left front -, left rear-,
Right rear +, Right front +, left front +, left rear +
Power block viewed from cable side
Phone mute (white),/ n/c, / ariel & amp (blue), /ignition (red)
N/c, / 12vlive, (yellow or orange), / lights, (various colours),/ negative (black)
Hope that helps, Peter
