I am trying to install a new head unit in my 1987 Econoline. I pulled the old, non-functioning radio a while ago. It didn’t have a harness connected just the speaker wires. I went into the space more closely and discovered a few things.
1) The wiring harness was not attached to anything on the radio or the van. The only wire connected was the ground wire. It looks like someone started setting up a wiring harness and gave up quickly.
2) The speaker wires and a red wire were there as well. I assumed someone tried to get constant power to the old radio, but it turns out the wire was cut further down under the dash.
(There’s a whole mess of wires in the driver side foot-well).
So basically I need to start over with the wiring. I am wondering if anyone on the forum has some experience with this.
The main wiring I need to do is...
1) Constant power
2) Switched power
3) Dimmer
I am thinking of splicing into the interior fuse box. For the switched power, I can tap into the accessory fuse.
For the constant power, all of the fuses are more than 10amps, which is recommended for the radio. I am thinking of tapping into one of the incoming wires and adding an inline fuse.
I also have a constant power wire that goes directly to the battery I made for a 12v/usb charger I keep on my console. That wire is 14 gauge though, and I don’t think I should downsize the wire coming off of it.
Finally there is the dimmer wire, and I have no idea where to connect that.
Would love any suggestions or insights, even if it is just to pay a stereo installer.