Audio Systems: 1994 Ford Explorer aftermarket stero wiring problem, ford wiring, volt power

Question
I am installing a cd player in my 1994 ford explorer. The old radio has two plugs. I bought a wiring harness, but only the plug with the power wires fit. The speaker wires from the other plug do not fit the purchased wiring harness. I cut the plug off for the speakers knowing that i have wired stereos the hard way before, however, instead of eight speaker wires I now have eight speaker wires exposed and a bare silver wire. I found an acruate wiring diagram online, but I don't know what to so with the bare wire. The cd player will turn on. I can even use a speaker from another car, like a control, and it will work, but the car speaker system will not work. I tried grounding the speaker wire with the chassi ground wire to the cd player that didn't work. The expert Kelly on here told someone else not to cut that wire.
the link: http://www.installdr.com/Harnesses/Ford-Wiring.pdf

I am stuck, I don't want to take it in, But i need help.

Answer
Yes, that is the same site I would have referred you to.

Also, look at:

http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/FLM/PDF/356007.pdf

which is the 1995 and up, but may be more helpful if you run down to the bottom of the page and look at the wiring instructions.

The real thing to do is understand the unit you are installing; make sure you know the diagram for it; which connections are for 12 volt power and which are speaker connections, etc.

Then, with an ohmmeter, check out the wiring in your car; trace them down so that you know positively which wires go to each speaker and label them so there is no mistake.

With the ohmmeter you will probably find the bare wire is a ground line; if you need it okey, otherwise, ignore it.  Some head units require a ground because the chassis of the radio is mounted in all plastic dashboard.

Hope this helps.

Cleggsan