AUX input wiring diagram

tahenke · #1 06-09-2010, 09:44 PM

On the newer rangers there is an aux input plug below the factory radio nicely built into the dash. I have installed and aftermarket radio with a rear aux input that I am going to tap into the factory one. I'm trying to shortcut this if anyone already knows the wiring:
Right + = ???
Right - = ???
Left + = ???
Left - = ???

I can figure it out on my own but I was hoping someone else has done the leg work or has the schematic to make my life easier. Thanks

RangerJustin · #2 06-10-2010, 11:18 AM

There should only be one wire for the aux as far as i know...

If there is more than one, I would mod it and get a female to male aux from radio shack and wire it that way, would be easier...unless the aux on your aftermarket HU is a USB...

tahenke · #3 06-10-2010, 03:00 PM

Perhaps you are misunderstanding me? Behind the factory AUX jack there should be 4 wires that go up to the factory deck wiring harness (Right and Left +/-) I will be pluging an RCA into the back of my new deck and cutting it and splicing it into the factory AUX input. That way my aftermarket deck will make use of the factory built in AUX jack. So when I plug an mp3 player into the factory AUX jack it will play through my new deck instead of having a wire just hanging out from under the dash for it.

RangerJustin · #4 06-11-2010, 08:47 AM

Have you picked out a new HU yet? Sounds like you may be making this harder than it needs to be. Are you positive that there are 4 wires coming from the aux input?

tahenke · #5 06-11-2010, 10:13 AM

Yes I already have the head unit. I dont like disconnecting something nice thats built in like the aux plug and having it sit there unused. So I chose a deck with rear auxillary inputs so I could tap into it and use what is already there. I've installed stereos professionally and as a hobby for over 25 years now. I like my stuff to look factory like Ford made it that way so I want to use the auxillary plug they put in the dash. Sure I could have easily bought a deck with the aux on the front but it's just not my style

I'll figure it out fairly easily....I was just wondering if anyone has already used it so I could skip ohming out the jack. Once I get it done I'll see if I can get it posted up top as a sticky or at the very least a "How to" post.

Char1ie · #6 06-11-2010, 10:14 AM

I would like to do the same thing. The factory aux input wires lead to a connector that fit into the factory radio. My new radio only has the standard mini plug input in the back. What I need to do is take a male to male mini plug wire, cut it in two and splice the wires into the factory aux input. The problem is I have no idea which wires are which on either the plug or the input, I also don't know how to figure this out. Any help or advice with this would be appreciated.

tahenke · #7 06-11-2010, 10:29 AM

If you have an ohm meter its fairly easy. On the male end of your plug youll notice its divided up using black plastic rings. You should see that it is divided into 4 sections. Those would be right and left positive and negative. On the back of the ford female jack there should only be 4 wires going up to that plug you are talking about. Now once you cut your male to male plug you can strip the bare wires and plug it into the jack. Then use your ohm meter to figure out which wires on the jack line up with which wires on the plug. Simple! If I confused you don't worry...I'll be figuring it out soon and I will post the colors and everything.

Char1ie · #8 06-11-2010, 10:43 AM

Thanks, I'll wait. I'm really in no hurry to use the aux input. I would just like to have it working for when I do need it someday.

Char1ie · #9 06-12-2010, 06:51 AM

I used a continuity tester to track down which wire to hook up. I got it working, but i have a couple of questions for you. My 3.5 mini plug only has 3 sections, L, R and a common ground. Do some of the plugs have four sections? The factory jack had five wires coming from it.
1. Yellow/Blue
2. Yellow/Green
3. Green
4. Blue

The Green and Blue are the L/R and the Yellow are the grounds. There is also a thicker metal strand wrapped in black electrical tape. I did not use this last one, do you know what it is for?

Thanks for your help.

tahenke · #10 06-12-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Char1ie

My 3.5 mini plug only has 3 sections, L, R and a common ground. Do some of the plugs have four sections? The factory jack had five wires coming from it. There is also a thicker metal strand wrapped in black electrical tape. I did not use this last one, do you know what it is for?

Interesting? I was just using common sense when I figured it was divided into 4 sections. I'll chop one of mine open tonight and let you know. I guess the mini jacks use a common ground between left and right. I would assume the strand wrapped in tape is a ground to prevent noise from getting into the signal? Mine might be a little different than yours because the back of my deck uses left and right RCA's for the aux input and I have an RCA to mini jack adapter that I'll be hacking into so I'm certian it will have 4 wires unless they put the grounds together at the mini jack? Even still mine will make use of the 4 wires you listed above because of the RCA factor. I'll get back with you to see if we can figure yours out.

tahenke · #11 06-12-2010, 09:41 AM

So I'm sitting here looking at a pair of stereo headphones and they only have 3 sections on the jack so the grounds must be common. I'm guessing that the 2 on the tip are the left and right + and the base is the common? Just tie them together. I'll post what I find on my RCA adapter tonight.

tahenke · #12 06-12-2010, 02:33 PM

So I just did a little more research on the subject and the 3.5mm plug is known as a TRS connector. For stereo signals the the connections are as follows:
Tip = Left Channel (+)
Next Ring Down = Right Channel (+)
Base or Sleeve = Common Ground (-)

So you definately need to tie your 2 grounds together to the common. Mine will be different...I will have seperate grounds. Also just for kicks I saw that there is a 4 ring one and the extra ring is used for video

tahenke · #13 06-12-2010, 11:52 PM

Same thing on my RCA adapter. The grounds are tied together at the 3.5mm jack.

bs709 · #14 07-19-2010, 08:59 PM

Did anyone figure out what each wire is for? I have the aux cable cut and the four wires spliced all waiting to be connected to an aux input for the rear of my alpine deck.

tahenke · #15 07-29-2010, 12:07 PM

Shoot...I abandoned the project cause the radio I had with the Aux in the back didn't work correctly and I had to send it back and I replaced it with a different model. If you use the info I put in post# 12 and take a headphone jack (the one you will use for your splice) and cut it you can use an ohm meter to figure it out. First ohm out your cut peice and figure what wire color goes with what section of the connector. Then plug it in to your Ford aux jack and ohm from the wires on your cut connector to the wires in back of the Ford jack and voila....you will have it.