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    radio wiring help

    Hey I'm looking to install an aftermarket radio, but the wiring has me confused. The radio (am/FM/CD/tape) in my 03' has three connections on the back one long and flat, one a smaller rectangle, and one a square. The last two mentioned can be unplugged with sound still coming out and the radio still responding haven't had a chance to see if the buttons still dim with them disconnected. Does anyone know what the connectors are for? Its easy to find a harness for the long connector, more difficult to find the others. Do I just leave those two connected to nothing?! I do have a picture of the back of the radio to show the ports but cant get it onto here on my phone if i cant figure it out ill post it from the pc. Any info is appreciated, thanks.

    #2
    Click image for larger version

Name:	uploadfromtaptalk1430602385020.jpg
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ID:	1277423 here is the back of the radio (posting from tapatalk isn't showing the thread as mine in the app but I'll roll with it)

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      #3
      I don't know the details, so I'll just provide some general comments until someone else chimes in.

      I'm pretty sure one of the connectors would be for a CD changer. The wiring for one would normally be there even if the car didn't come with one. If you do have a Ford CD changer, I have a hard time imagining there would be a way to get that to interface with an aftermarket unit, though I could be wrong.

      The other one I'm not sure about. Something I've heard about is some cars having the capability to adjust volume based on speed to compensate for road noise, so it might have something to do with that. I had a quick look at the following owner's manual (I presumed MGM) but didn't see anything about such a thing:
      http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Fo.../03grnog4e.pdf

      The main connector should have all the power and speaker wires you need, and the harness instructions for that one should tell you what's what. I've never had any problems not worrying about the other ones on my 2000 MGM.

      2000 Grand Marquis LS HPP, a hand-me-down in 2008 with 128,000 km; 175,000 km as of July 2014
      mods: air filter box 'tuba', headlight relay harness, J-mod (around 186,350 km), 70mm throttle body, KYB Gas-A-Just shocks, aluminum driveshaft, ARA3 PCM

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        #4
        Yah it is a mgm, I don't have a CD changer so that won't be a problem (I ditched CDs a while ago anyway) the speed adjusting vol is an interesting thought but I don't think my car has it, pretty quiet cabin anyway. What I don't get is why connectors would be there AND plugged into the unit if they went nowhere... Though, if you have the two of those hooked up to nothing in a 2000 I doubt I'd have a problem, these cars changed very little over the years...

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          #5
          Looking at the harness on amazon I believe the square is for a factory subwoofer. The description mentions a "factory subwoofer retention harness" where the connector leads to blue wires (assuming they're remote wires) and rca jacks for audio. The other must be for a CD changer... I don't know if these cars had these as factory options but the radio was most likely used on several models...

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            #6
            The model number on the radio is 3W7T-18C868-AF if that helps

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              #7
              Here's something interesting that I found (though I can't vouch for it):

              http://www.justanswer.com/mercury/5k...g-diagram.html

              http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/ap...nd_marquis.pdf

              I don't bother with factory stuff myself. I don't even use the factory connector anymore (except maybe for a power line if I need one), since I use 12 gauge speaker wire and direct lines to the battery (fused, of course).
              Last edited by IPreferDIY; 05-02-2015, 07:43 PM.

              2000 Grand Marquis LS HPP, a hand-me-down in 2008 with 128,000 km; 175,000 km as of July 2014
              mods: air filter box 'tuba', headlight relay harness, J-mod (around 186,350 km), 70mm throttle body, KYB Gas-A-Just shocks, aluminum driveshaft, ARA3 PCM

              Comment


                #8
                It gives credibility to the subwoofer hookup being for part #18c804 (factory sub) and a CD changer for part #18d806 (factory 6disk for trunk) not that it's a positive match to the connectors, but it's good enough for me to not worry about it. Thanks a lot

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                  #9
                  Everything you need is in the large plug, just tuck the other two away.
                  2020 Volvo XC90 T6 Momentum (Ice White / Blonde)
                  2022 Ram 1500 4x4 5.7 Etorque, Built to Serve Edition, (Granite Crystal / Black)
                  Past Panthers
                  1989 Grand Marquis LS (Cabernet/Grey), 1989 Lincoln Town Car SS (White/Blue), 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis Ultimate (White/Black)

                  Originally posted by Lincolnmania
                  if its got tits or tires it's bound to give you trouble

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                    #10
                    Pinouts and other info: http://www.cvpi.org/archives/p71inte.../wsdindex.html

                    Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
                    rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)
                    Originally posted by gadget73
                    ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.
                    Originally posted by dmccaig
                    Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

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                      #11
                      Thank you, that clears it up 100%

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