92 Bose removal - re-use wiring
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 130
Likes: 2
From: Saint Louis MO
92 Bose removal - re-use wiring
Ok, I've seared through the forums, and I can't find an answer to my question, so here goes:
I have 92 Corvette with the Bose system. I have removed all of the speakers, and am awaiting all of the replacement items from Crutchfield.
I am replacing the head unit and all 4 speakers, reusing the speaker enclosures from the Bose items. Basically, remove the Bose speaker and amp and reuse the plastic housing.
I also want to reuse the wiring where possible. I am awiting the arrival of the Crutchfield harness that allows one to bypass the stock radio tuner. I want to reuse the wiring that goes from that tuner unit to the speakers, and then reusing the factory Bose connectors, connect my new aftermarket speakers.
Each Bose speaker has a wire harness with 4 wires - orange (power), black (ground) and then a yellow and a purple wire for the signal.
Regarding the purple and yellow wires - which one is positive and which one is negative?
Also, does anyone have the wire diagram/pinout for the connector that plugs into the tunit unit that my Crutchfield harness will plug into?
Anyone see any flaws in my plan? I've only removed the speakers at this point - havent gotten to remove the head unit or unplug the wire harness or antenna from the tuner unit.
I have 92 Corvette with the Bose system. I have removed all of the speakers, and am awaiting all of the replacement items from Crutchfield.
I am replacing the head unit and all 4 speakers, reusing the speaker enclosures from the Bose items. Basically, remove the Bose speaker and amp and reuse the plastic housing.
I also want to reuse the wiring where possible. I am awiting the arrival of the Crutchfield harness that allows one to bypass the stock radio tuner. I want to reuse the wiring that goes from that tuner unit to the speakers, and then reusing the factory Bose connectors, connect my new aftermarket speakers.
Each Bose speaker has a wire harness with 4 wires - orange (power), black (ground) and then a yellow and a purple wire for the signal.
Regarding the purple and yellow wires - which one is positive and which one is negative?
Also, does anyone have the wire diagram/pinout for the connector that plugs into the tunit unit that my Crutchfield harness will plug into?
Anyone see any flaws in my plan? I've only removed the speakers at this point - havent gotten to remove the head unit or unplug the wire harness or antenna from the tuner unit.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
If your installing new radio and speakers, then all you need from the car is switched power to turn on the HU. I'd run all new speaker wires, it's actually much easier than trying to splice into the oem crap. You can get a 50' roll of decent 18g speaker wire at Home Depot for about $15.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,566
Likes: 4
From: Mt Laurel NJ
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
If your installing new radio and speakers, then all you need from the car is switched power to turn on the HU. I'd run all new speaker wires, it's actually much easier than trying to splice into the oem crap. You can get a 50' roll of decent 18g speaker wire at Home Depot for about $15.
Mark is correct, using the old wiring is more time consuming then just running new wire. It's not that hard. Just remove the hush panels and the sill plates, only a few screws.
Let us know if you have any questions.
Randy
7th Gear
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
I used a radio harness adapter from Walmart for GM models that covered the Corvette, lengthened the harness by adding some wire and then soldering up to the new head unit harness. The GM harness plugged into the plugs that used to go into the CDM. Anyhow..I bypassed all four amps and installed new speakers while re-using the existing wiring. Lastly, I removed the BOSE relay up under the drivers side dash, since I won't need power to the amps anymore.
This was a whole lot cheaper than trying to fix the BOSE system.
It's a very neat job with a working power antenna. There was no need to do any other mods since my 1991 C4 had automatic climate controls and thus, no sys messages.
I originally started with a 17' long metra harness that re-used the existing amps and BOSE speakers. Guess where the extra wire came from for my custom harness?
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 4
From: West Palm Beach Fl
I did this as well on a 1991 with a Bose system.
I used a radio harness adapter from Walmart for GM models that covered the Corvette, lengthened the harness by adding some wire and then soldering up to the new head unit harness. The GM harness plugged into the plugs that used to go into the CDM. Anyhow..I bypassed all four amps and installed new speakers while re-using the existing wiring. Lastly, I removed the BOSE relay up under the drivers side dash, since I won't need power to the amps anymore.
This was a whole lot cheaper than trying to fix the BOSE system.
It's a very neat job with a working power antenna. There was no need to do any other mods since my 1991 C4 had automatic climate controls and thus, no sys messages.
I originally started with a 17' long metra harness that re-used the existing amps and BOSE speakers. Guess where the extra wire came from for my custom harness?
I used a radio harness adapter from Walmart for GM models that covered the Corvette, lengthened the harness by adding some wire and then soldering up to the new head unit harness. The GM harness plugged into the plugs that used to go into the CDM. Anyhow..I bypassed all four amps and installed new speakers while re-using the existing wiring. Lastly, I removed the BOSE relay up under the drivers side dash, since I won't need power to the amps anymore.
This was a whole lot cheaper than trying to fix the BOSE system.
It's a very neat job with a working power antenna. There was no need to do any other mods since my 1991 C4 had automatic climate controls and thus, no sys messages.
I originally started with a 17' long metra harness that re-used the existing amps and BOSE speakers. Guess where the extra wire came from for my custom harness?
Sorry, I dont feel like fishing all new wires if there is plenty of copper already there that could possibly be used.
7th Gear
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
I also replaced all 4 speakers. Just bypassing the amps isn't an option IMO as the Bose speakers were 2 Ohm units. I used Pioneer 6 1/4" speakers in the rear using the the original housings and fabricated new speaker enclosures for the front using some pieces of laminate flooring. I put 4x6s in the front.
I removed the connectors from the CDM and plugged them into a $10.00 GM harness adapter that I had bought at Walmart in the Auto section. I extended the harness to reach to the center of the console by soldering in new lengths of wire and then soldered the other end to the harness that was included with my new radio. If I recall correctly, the color codes were on the radio instructions as well as the $10.00 GM Harness. All I had to do was cross reference the color codes on each harness. On the 91, I didn't need an antenna extension. I believe the harness I used was the Scosche GMDA.
I found this link that may help:
http://thesmarts.ca/files/Wiring_Pinouts.pdf
Please use with caution. If I find my notes, I'll scan them in.
My car has automatic climate control. I didn't have to do any other mods.
I removed the connectors from the CDM and plugged them into a $10.00 GM harness adapter that I had bought at Walmart in the Auto section. I extended the harness to reach to the center of the console by soldering in new lengths of wire and then soldered the other end to the harness that was included with my new radio. If I recall correctly, the color codes were on the radio instructions as well as the $10.00 GM Harness. All I had to do was cross reference the color codes on each harness. On the 91, I didn't need an antenna extension. I believe the harness I used was the Scosche GMDA.
I found this link that may help:
http://thesmarts.ca/files/Wiring_Pinouts.pdf
Please use with caution. If I find my notes, I'll scan them in.
My car has automatic climate control. I didn't have to do any other mods.
