car audio question
 

Im not sure if this is the right place to ask this question, but the only audio stuff i can see is under the how to section.

I have a 2001 screw xlt 4x4 and have noticed the aftermarket radio that was installed by the previous owner can be turned on and off without the truck being on. I know why this is but when i pulled the radio to check everything out i noticed the hack job they did in my dash. They cut out the factory harnesses in the dash and did a terrible job hard wiring the radio in to the harness.

My question is are there 3 harnesses or 2 behind tye radio? Is it as easy as going to my local pull a part and cutting the harnesses out of a donar truck 97-03 ot does it have to be a more specific match. I dont think i have any type of factory amp or disc changer in my truck. My concern is im going to be swapping out this radio for a better one soon and then probably again later for a highend sat radio with all the bells and whistles. I want to make sure that everything is in order back there. I can solder fairly well and will probably use that for the factory harness repair. Thanks for any help or advice!

They just tapped your Turn on signal for stereo to the constant power wire. Usually red and yellow, respectively.

Mine just has one plug, but just get it out of a donor truck 99-03 and you will be fine.

Thanks man. For some reason i was thinking there was two back there? Like two different plugs that go in the back of the stock radios. Its been years since I pulled the stock radio in one of these trucks so i could be wrong.

just replaced my stock unit with an aftermarket one and it had two different plugs into the stocker (02 f150)

Did you pull the radio? Mine had 2, 16 pin square and whatever the rectangular one is. (97 F150)
I got a new head unit on amazon and went to O'Reily and picked up the harness adapter for 1985-2004 or something like that, before I pulled the radio of course, only to find out mine had different connectors. So now I ordered a 16 pin and flat harness off amazon. Mine is wired for one being for power, ground, etc. And the other for speakers. What's the reason that mine is weird? (Ibd)
Cause everywhere online when I search 1997 f150 stereo harness comes up with 2 rectangular connectors. I have the correct harness ordered now but just wondering.

Fordman im not sure who the last post was directed at, but i did not pull this radio to replace the stock one. The previous owner or thr dealer i bought it from did. They did a hack job too. I had a 2001 a few years ago and pulled that radio. I was pretty certain it had two set of connectors. But with you and ibd only having one maybe it didnt. Im going to my take a part today and ill get back with ya guys

Ok guys. Just got back from take a part and they only had about 6 of our era trucks in there, but each of them had the two connector set up so thats what i grabbed. As far as reconnecting the harnessds, is there an easier way than soldering? I want something more secure than butt connectors, but soldering all that is going to take me some time lol

Solder and heat shrink is the only way to go. It won't take 15 minutes to solder them and will be more professional than anything else

Ok. Thats what i was thinking. Mtz do you much about amps and the like? Im having a mystery issue with my system.

What do u need to know about amps?