Wiring Your Aftermarket Radio with a PAC Harness

This is a work in progress, last edits were made 3/13/2012 @ 1:03 AM

Let's take a better look at the PAC C2R-CHY4

As much as it sucks to have to shell out over $100 for one of these, the fact of the matter is the part is worth it.  Sure, you can go in and actually hack up the factory connections, but this makes everything a plug-and-play.  So whether you plan to swap aftermarket head units every few years (gotta have the latest and greatest, right?), or simply think you might some day "return to stock" or sell your Mopar this is the way to go.

The C2R-CHY4 actually comes with two radio harnesses, but only one will "plug-in."  Obviously, you want to use the one that fits.  Electrical connections nowadays don't consist of 8-10 similar plug connectors within 6 inches of each other, but color coded connectors that usually just have one specific male/female counterpart.

I know it would cause people to order incorrectly, but if that meant the price could come down 33-50% by eliminating both harnesses I would be all for it.  I'm sure PAC has learned to just throw both in, but like I said, this thing is pricey.

Let's take a quick look at the wiring, I'll do the basics first:

RADIO CONNECTION (plugs in to the factory connector):

POWER & GROUND


-BLACK=Ground.  See Note A
-YELLOW=Battery 12+ Volt.  See Note B
-BLUE=Antenna On.  See Note C

--Note A: BLACK PAC ties in with your aftermarket radio's black.

--Note B: YELLOW PAC ties in with your aftermarket radio's yellow.

--Note C: PAC BLUE ties in with your aftermarket radio's blue AND the PAC BLUE with WHITE TRACER from the CAN Interface.

SPEAKER CONNECTIONS

FRONT

-FRONT LEFT
--White=Front Left, Positive
--White with Black Tracer=Front Left, Negative

-FRONT RIGHT
--Gray=Front Right, Positive
--Gray with Black Tracer=Front Right, Negative

REAR

-REAR LEFT
--Green-Rear Left, Positive
--Green with Black Tracer=Rear Left, Negative

-REAR RIGHT
--Purple=Rear Right, Positive
--Purple with Black Tracer=Rear Right, Negative

--Note D: These are the standard fare speaker wire connections...You can connect them to your aftermarket radio's harness by simply matching colors and tracers...make sure to get them right, also note that the black tracer will be the NEGATIVE input for the speakers.


CAN INTERFACE CONNECTION




-BLUE with WHITE TRACER=Amplifier Turn on Input.  See Note E
-GREEN=Reverse Gear Output, Positive.  See Note F
-ORANGE with WHITE TRACER=Illumination Output, Positive.  See Note G
-PURPLE with WHITE TRACER=Vehicle Speed Sensor, Pulse.  See Note H
-RED=Accessory Output, 1 Amp.  See Note I
-RED with WHITE TRACER=Parking Brake Output, Negative.  See Note J
-WHITE with GREEN TRACER=Steering Wheel Control Output.  See Note K

--Note E: PAC BLUE with WHITE TRACER ties in with PAC BLUE and your aftermarket radio's amp turn on.

-Note F: PAC GREEN  ties in with your aftermarket radio's Purple with White Tracer.

-Note G: PAC ORANGE with WHITE TRACER ties in with your aftermarket radio's illumination output.

-Note H: PAC PURPLE with WHITE TRACER=Not used.  Connect for navigation applications.

-Note I: PAC RED ties in with your aftermarket radio's red.

-Note J: PAC RED with WHITE TRACER ties in with your aftermarket radio's parking brake wire.

-Note K: PAC WHITE with GREEN TRACER was not used, applies to Steering Wheel Controls.