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Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo

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Old Oct 14, 2003 | 02:34 PM
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Default Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo

Don't know if this belongs on here or the general board, so I'll try them both.

I just received an 87 Bose stereo I won off of Ebay. All the wiring looks the same with the exception of a red wire coming off the back side of the 86 unit that the 87 unit does not have. I tried hooking up the 87 unit without the red wire, but it does not play. The 86 unit will not play without the red wire hooked up either, so it seems I need to get the wire hooked up on the 87 unit. I know next to nothing about stereos and need to know what I can do to get the 87 unit to play.
What is the red wire? Any and ALL help appreciated...thanks.....James

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Old Oct 14, 2003 | 03:07 PM
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Default Re: Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo (Steve86)

I'll take a guess at this point
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Old Oct 14, 2003 | 04:03 PM
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Default Re: Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo (Steve86)

Steve, IM me if you're on line right now, I can pull up some pics of my stereo install a few months ago. Otherwise, maybe check this in the stereo section, those guys are real sharp over there. :cheers:
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Old Oct 14, 2003 | 05:21 PM
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Default Re: Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo (Caboboy)

Shot you an IM, I've got power to the unit, but no output to the speakers. I'm figuring I need to hook up the red wire somewhere on the 87 unit, but where???? Thanks.....
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Old Oct 14, 2003 | 08:47 PM
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Default Re: Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo (Steve86)

I've always thought the '86 to '89 Vette's were the same (with the only difference being the dimming input which was an addt'l lead for electronic air). Is the face plate identical? If not, like if there's any chrome on it, you may have something out of a Buick or a Pontiac. In any event, it has to get power to the amp relay behind the passenger's side of the dash. The radio sends the "on" signal to the relay which then powers up the amps through the courtesy/clock fuse. Should be a single pink feed plugged into the rear of the radio. What plugs did the '87 come with and what are the colors of the wires?
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Old Oct 14, 2003 | 09:38 PM
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Default Re: Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo (SunCr)

It's out of a Corvette, face is a bit different due to being an updated unit. Wires on the 86 are Orange/Brown to a plug, Black to a plug and Red to a plug. 87 has the O/B to a plug, black to a plug....no red....so I'm wondering if I can take a feed off the CTSY circuit to the red wire to close the circuit. Sounds logical but I don't want to burn anything up.
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Old Oct 14, 2003 | 10:14 PM
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Default Re: Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo (Steve86)

Other than wear, there shouldn't be any face plate differences. The courtesy/clock fuse is hot at all times, so if you jumper to it, the amps will be on all the time and drain the battery. You need a 12 volt supply that triggers the relay with the radio on. The antenna supply works on the same principle sending a signal to the antenna relay switching on the motor that raises the mast. You could try splicing into that wire. Should be pink in the 4 cavity black connector. Maybe this will help: http://carstereohelp.net/wireharness_Delco2.htm
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Old Oct 14, 2003 | 10:29 PM
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Default Re: Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo (Steve86)

Here's a pic of the Bose that came out of my '87 (top of the two stereos in the pic). As you can see, there's an ONG & BRN into a plug, a BLK into another plug, and a PNK into a 3rd plug. I'll look for the install sheet from Dr. Don's............it seems to me they addressed the pink wire specifically but I can't remember exactly. Since we're in the same neck of the woods, I IM'd you my phone number, but I dunno if I can help much :cheers:

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Old Oct 14, 2003 | 10:41 PM
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Default Re: Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo (Caboboy)

Tim...we just want to know whats in the mug.... :skep:
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Old Oct 14, 2003 | 10:47 PM
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Default Re: Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo (Caboboy)

Mine's missing the pink wire???? Don't know why, but I just went out and spliced into the fuse box and it works....Unless anyone can give me a good reason not to, I'm going to splice the pink wire into a switched wire behind the dash and put it all back together. Any problems in my thinking??? Thanks for the assist. James
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Old Oct 14, 2003 | 10:53 PM
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Default Re: Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo (SunCr)

Just saw your post. Good advice, just what I was looking for. Will splice into the antenna wire. Thanks for the help. James
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Old Oct 14, 2003 | 11:54 PM
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Default Re: Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo (SunCr)

Update. It works, I did the splice into the antenna wire. Put the fuse back in and started it up. Nothing blew up, smoked, fried or sparked and the stereo works like a champ. The forum came through for me again, thanks all for the assist. I'm a lot smarter on wiring tonight, thanks again.
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 02:07 AM
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Default Re: Differences between 86 and 87 Bose stereo (Steve86)

Dittos Dudes! My radio to CD replacement was a snap with your help.
The Forum has come through again. Thanks for pics Caboboy. That was worth a thousand words!
:party:
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