Digging in to the dash wiring

[motoidiot]

Digging in to the dash wiring today with the ultimate goal of installing my new stereo equipment. The previous owner(s) of my van seem to have gotten pretty creative in the past. There is the remnants of an alarm system as well as a very questionable previous stereo install. In the wake of all this I found a few connectors which are not, well... connected. Perhaps the brain trust here can help be identify them.

1997 E350 EB Cargo 7.3

It looks as thought the grey plug in the background attaches to the yellow unit in the foreground. Anyone know what this is? (located above and to the left of the doghouse)

[motoidiot]

Next up, this one is just loose behind the dash. Disappears into the stock wiring harness.

[motoidiot]

Finally, this is mounted to the dash frame beneath the stereo location.

[gcvt]

Photo #1: No idea.

Photo #2: Looks a lot like the connector for the cigarette lighter.

Photo #3: What a mess. Never like to see wire nuts in cars.

[Flux]

No ideas either, but ditch the wire nuts quick and use crimp connectors. They don't vibrate loose.

[motoidiot]

Originally Posted by gcvt

Photo #1: No idea.

Photo #2: Looks a lot like the connector for the cigarette lighter.

Photo #3: What a mess. Never like to see wire nuts in cars.

#2, I think you're right. I had it stashed up through the cigarette lighter hole but it slipped down.

1 down, 2 to go.

Seriously considering paying a "pro" to sort this out and put the new head unit in. Worried I would get another, similar install though...

[carringb]

1) Possibly the door & warning chime module?

2) AUX power point connector. Should be 12+ & ground, switched with ACC position.

3) Looks like a stereo system "ISO" connector. Somebody maybe had a really nice system at some point. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fema...08.4.38.vXyE5w

[motoidiot]

Originally Posted by carringb

1) Possibly the door & warning chime module?

2) AUX power point connector. Should be 12+ & ground, switched with ACC position.

3) Looks like a stereo system "ISO" connector. Somebody maybe had a really nice system at some point. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fema...08.4.38.vXyE5w

#1, I wondered if that might be the chime module. My van doesn't let me know when I have doors open, seat belts unbuckled or (most annoyingly) when I've left the lights on.

[gcvt]

^ I think you're right Mike. A quick search brought up an exact picture as being a "Warning Chime Buzzer Module 1992 Ford F-150"

[bcaine]

I second the idea that #3 is a stereo connector.

I just put a new unit in my 1996 e350 and it had two of those connectors. The other connector was gray and contained the speaker connections. The connector you found should contain a 12v always hot (for stereo channel memory), a 12v wired to the ignition, a power antenna wire, a ground, and maybe one additional that I don't recall offhand. A multimeter should confirm this quickly.

This adapter could be used if you wanted to clean things up. (Check your year, '96-97 may have been a dash changeover.

Metra 70-1770 Receiver Wire Harness Connect a new car stereo in select 1986-2006 Ford and other vehicles at Crutchfield.com