i put this in this forum because i need to get this done tonight so i need faster answers but does anyone have a wiring diagram or know where i can find one for the stock stereo system in a 98 f150.

 

If you buy a pigtail adapter the istruction for it have what each wire is for....But I already threw mine away...BUt then your not cutting the factory plugs off and can reinstall the factory easily and noe one will be non the wiser if you sale it later....

 

well i just plan on cutting it, thats what i did in my last car and i put it back to normal in about 5 minutes so thats not my problem. i just need to know which wires to splice for the remote turn on lead and for my input.

 

there is no remote turn-on wire in your stock stereo....

 

I dont believe there is either....Explorers, Expeditions, Navs etc have a factory external amp. But as far as I know non of our trucks do...I ran mine in a loom with my RCA cables to my door sill, then the main power enters the loom and they all run under the sill and go to my amp. from there. My amp is mounted behind my speaker box under the rear seat...

 

what could i use as a remote turn on. this is really pissing me off. i cant get the amp to turn on for anything.

 

So what turns on the cd changer when i turn on the stereo?

 

what you need is an ignition switched +12v. There is one going to your head unit. Which it is, I can't help you as I'm sure our bundles are different. A couple of minutes playing around with a voltmeter and your car keys should reveal it. Probe all the terminals with your ignition off, then probe them again with it turned to ACC. Should only be one wire that changes from 0 to +12v after the switch. Tap into this one for your remote.

Any line anywhere in the truck that is dead with ignition off and +12 on ACC will work.

 

Go out and buy a Haynes Repair Manual for $15, wiring diagram on the back pages. Don't be cheap.

 

The cd changer is a swithed power integrated into the head unit, AKA the CD button. He is looking for one that is hot when you turn the head unit on. On most aftermarket head units it is a blue wire out of the back and ussally you have to run a wire from it to your aftermarket amp. Even on vehicles with a factory amp. The amp is hard to get to and try to tap the factory remote wire for your aftermarket amp. It is ussally easier to run a new one yourself.

My wifes Explorer's OEM amp runs under the carpet to the rear passenger side in the cargo area. (Where amp is mounted). If you peel the carpet back there is a bundle of wires about the size of my thumb or bigger. According to my Hanes manual with out looking I belive it was the 8 speaker wires to the amp, plus the amp. power, amp. remote, plus the hot and ground for the rear wiper, rear washer, rear defrost, then I think it was 4 of the speaker wires back from the amp to the left speakers. The best I can remeber. I had to take off most of the trim "that I would to run a better remote line anyway" in order to run the power supply to my amp so rather than than take a chance on getting the right one. I ran a new one from the head unit "same as my truck".

Im not a big fan of chopping on the factory wires...If your not 100% you can mess up some vital componets plus is ametureish and shade tree. Not to to mention that the factory ussally only uses the minimum size recomended for the OEM equipment. If your adding you should be going bigger so your going to need heavier wire anyway. Which also helps reduce white noise and RF interference.