This article explains how to identify the colors of the speaker wires in your car when installing a car stereo.
Car Stereo Wiring Harnesses and Interfaces Explained – What Do the Wire Colors Mean?
The easiest way to install an aftermarket head unit is to identify the OEM wires using diagrams for the specific vehicle and head unit. However, it is possible to get the job done without labels, adapters, or diagrams. Unlike OEM head units, which are color-coded throughout, most aftermarket manufacturers adhere to a standardized color scheme.
While there are exceptions to every rule, most aftermarket head units use a standardized color scheme for the power, ground, antenna, and speaker wires. Let’s say you have the pigtail that came with your aftermarket head unit and it uses the standard colors. In that case, the wires have the following purposes and colors:
If you are installing a used car stereo and the pigtail that came with the head unit, check the list above to see where each wire in the pigtail should connect to.
