Radio wiring harness color code

I have a 1991 Cherokee with the standard AM/FM Cassesete stereo system. I am attempting to re-install an original radio from the aftermarket radio in it when I purchased it. The original wiring harness was cut off. The one I got with the radio does not match the wire color codes for the harness in the dashboard. Does anyone know the correct color code/wiring diagram for my vehicle. Also the diagram in the Haynes maintenance manual does not match the color combonations. Thanks for any help.
Muzzleloader113@aol.com

this is from an 87 so it may be the same on yours:

Constant 12V+ Red/White
Switched 12V+ Purple/White
Ground Black
Illumination Blue/Red
Dimmer Orange/Black
Antenna Right Front
Front Speakers 5 1/4" Doors
Left Front (+) Gray
Left Front (-) Brown/Red
Right Front (+) White/Red
Right Front (-) Yellow
Rear Speakers 5 1/4" Rear Deck
Left Rear (+) Gray/White
Left Rear (-) Brown
Right Rear (+) White/Black
Right Rear (-) Brown/White

thanks for the response Gunny. I will be checking it in a few minutes. Will let you know if it was correct later. Muzzleloader113

I also have a 1991 Jeep Cherokee and I am also in the process of installing a new stereo my wires have also been cut past the orginal harness I was woundering if this worked for you?

Sorry guys, I tried your color codes and it seems that jeep has changed it's color codes every year in at least 1987-1991. I tried the color codes for 87, 88 and 89 and they were all different. I gues I need it from a 1991. Thanks again.

If you cannot find the correct color codes you may want to start with some basic troubleshooting. If you have a 2/4/6 speaker system and know where the speakers are located, it's easy enough to pull the access panels and look at the speaker end of the wire. That should get you your speaker wire colors unless someone has spliced in aftermarket wire. In this case, tape off all the wires in the dask and hook a 9V battery up to the speaker end (without the speaker connected) , then use a voltmeter to find which two wires are coming from that speaker as far as color and the polarity. You should also be able to get a grasp on the power wires with the voltmeter as well...from there it's just illumination and ground. Pretty simple. Once you get the speakers figured out it looks alot less daunting as it will eliminate over half your wires depending on the number of speakers you have!

I have the speaker wire colors from the 94 shop manual for the XJ four and six speaker system if your interested as well...

If you cannot find the correct color codes you may want to start with some basic troubleshooting. If you have a 2/4/6 speaker system and know where the speakers are located, it's easy enough to pull the access panels and look at the speaker end of the wire. That should get you your speaker wire colors unless someone has spliced in aftermarket wire. In this case, tape off all the wires in the dask and hook a 9V battery up to the speaker end (without the speaker connected) , then use a voltmeter to find which two wires are coming from that speaker as far as color and the polarity. You should also be able to get a grasp on the power wires with the voltmeter as well...from there it's just illumination and ground. Pretty simple. Once you get the speakers figured out it looks alot less daunting as it will eliminate over half your wires depending on the number of speakers you have!

I have the speaker wire colors from the 94 shop manual for the XJ four and six speaker system if your interested as well...

Thanks for the imput. I have the speaker codes, its the other wires messing me up. I f you could give me the 94 color codes you have, that would be great. Thanks. Muzzleloader113

Here is what I can figure from the 4 speaker system wire diagram (excluding the speakers):

(second color would be the stripe)

Black - ground (right off radio chasis)
Violet/White - Main #13 Fuse Power
Light Blue/Red - LCD Illumination Relay
Red - Spliced to Instrument Panel Illumination
Pink - Spliced To Dome and Courtesy Lamp System


I'm not sure what the difference between LCD illumination and the line that is spliced into the instrument panel illumination is. Nor the dome and coutesy lamp...must be they had different radio models and the higher end used one and the lower end the other? Of course one could be constand power for the clock and radio settings...my guess would be the pink would be hot to keep those settings as those lights will come on without the ignition or headlight switch being on...that would leave the other two to switch back and forth to get illumination/dimming...a voltmeter with the jeep running would tell you which was which...one should change voltages with the turning of the headlight switch when the inside lights are on...i think! :-)

I know when I put my aftermarket radio in I spent the 8 dollars on the adapter so I did not have to cut out the factory harness! Plus it made splicing much easier...you did it to the splice plug on the kitchen table *before* you started so when you were crammed in the jeep you just had to unplug and replug! :-) I think I may have had to change one or two wires but it made the job much much easier...but your battling after that so this probably is just going to make you hate the previous owner more! :-)

good luck! if the wiring isn't the same make sure you post what you find out so the next guy doesn't have to do this all over again! :-)

Here is the wiring as scanned from my Haynes manual. Hope it helps.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/144769Wiring-med.jpg

For my 1995 Jeep Cherokee, the radio wiring harness color code is:
DG - Left Front Speaker (+)
BR - Left Front Speaker (-)
DB - Right Front Speaker (-)
VT - Right Front Speaker (+)
LB - LCD Illumination
WH- Fused Ignition Switch Output (ACC/Run)
PK - Panel Lamps Driver
OR - Fused B (+)
DG - Left Front Speaker (+)
BR - Left Front Speaker (-)
DB - Right Front Speaker (-)
VT - Right Front Speaker (+)
Blk - Radio Ground

The color abbreviations are:
DG-Dark Green
BR-Brown
DB-Dark Blue
VT-Violet
LB-Light Blue
WH-White
PK -Pink
OR - Orange
Blk - Black
I have an account with ALLDATA DIY for my XJ @
( http://www.alldatadiy.com/index.html )and was able to download the wiring schematics.
BTW, anyone with the harness not all butchered up can buy a radio wiring harness that will fit your stock radio harness to an aftermarket radio/cd player at:
( http://incolor.inebraska.com/weisinator/install-kits/metra/wiring-harness-adapter/70-1817.htm )
The cost is $7.00 plus shipping (grrr!)
regards,
Woodsculptor

go to www.installdr.com

there you will find all the information on wiring any radio in any vehicle.
john

Hell all, I'm new in here. I need a little info if anyone can help. I recently bought an 89 cherokee limited, I have put an aftermarket in dash am/fm cd player in it, after sorting thru the wiring mess behind the OEM radio in which there were many different color wires that had been replaced i finally figured things out, but the problem i am having is that i keep blowing the "radio" fuse. I can shut the ignition off and back on 50 times a day and the stereo still works, but if i leave it sit over nite and i pop the face plate back on in the morn on my way to work the damn fuse has already been blown, i'm baffled on this . Can anyone help? i'm lost on this one. thanks.you can email me at hkeagles68@msn.com if that helps.

OK Two things. Please don't resurrect a 2 year old thread to ask a new question. Quite often they already contain a lot of replies and I know that I often skip over ones that seem to have a lot of activity already.

Next, you said you could turn it on and off during the day but it blows over night. Does it only blow when you put your faceplate back in?