Expert: Peter G. Lee - 9/30/2006

Question
I have a 93 Potiac Grand Prix LE. I want to remove the factory radio and replace it with a Kenwood KDC-116S radio/CD player. Can you tell me the proper harness to connect to this model from a 21 pin car connection? Also, do you know the proper installation kit? Thanks!

Mark

Answer
Sorry I am not a shop but I would doubt a 1993 car would be listed, it's not in the 2006 autoleads catalouge.
Below is my idiots guide to installing a radio into an unknown car, follow this using the original connector and harness from the radio and connect to the cars harness with crimp-on bullets or a screw connector strip. (cut the Pontiac connector off about 2" car side of connector so you could connect it back on later if you need to)
Good luck,
Peter
THE FOLLOWING IS THE PROCEDURE I FOLLOW IN A CAR I DON'T KNOW,

You will need;
An AA torch battery
Some paper / masking tape for labels
A pen
Paper to make notes
A 12v test probe, (like a screwdriver with a lead and clip on it and a bulb inside)
(Or a test meter set to 20VDC)

Favourite beverage x 4.

Speaker wires. These are normally twisted together in pairs if you are lucky and are the same colour for each pair but one with a colour trace on, i.e. blue and blue/white, green and green/white. (but not always) Touch a pair across the battery and you will hear a noise on the corresponding speaker, label it (e.g. left rear), continue until all four are identified and labelled.

Drink

Earth one side of your meter or tester to a metal part of the car, probe each wire until you have a wire that is live all the time with the ignition OFF, label this ‘+30’.
Switch on ignition and redo test until you find another previously dead wire now live, this is ‘+15’ accessory.
Switch off ignition and switch on the side / park lights, repeat test until you find a third live ( NOTE, if fitted, not always there), label this ‘dimmer’. Switch off the lights

Drink

You should now have two or three left. One will be earth, (usually black or brown); one could be to an amp and or electric ariel (usually blue or blue/white) and one for phone mute if fitted, (sometimes white but it would go to a phone holder or hands free unit). Connect your DIN plug to the correct wires, test and jobs a good un’.

Two drinks!

DIN connections are.

Speakers

Right rear -,  right front -,   left front -,  left rear-,
Right rear +, Right front +, left front +, left rear +

Power block viewed from cable side

Phone mute (white),/   n/c, /      ariel & amp (blue), /ignition (red)

N/c, / 12vlive, (yellow or orange), / lights, (various colours),/ negative (black)