auto audio experts-need help with wiring Android head unit

[rfuerst911sc]

Hello all need some help from the auto audio experts . I have a 2001 GMC one ton dually pickup that had an aftermarket Pioneer radio in it . I decided I wanted to change to an Android based head unit . The truck has no steering wheel controls or power windows or locks ........ she's plain Jane

When I removed the Pioneer unit I was pleased to see there was a factory connector used to splice in the unit . I took notice of the color wires and removed it . The Android based unit came with a harness and was color coded so I soldered all the wires together that made sense to me . I believe all I have soldered is the power , the ground and the speaker wires .

So after doing that I am left with the following unused wires . On the truck harness side I have a solid orange wire and a solid dark blue wire . The orange is not labeled the blue says " antenna " printed on the insulation . I think that is for a power antenna ?

On the radio harness side I have the following:

Solid pink wire labeled " back " but the chinglish instructions say it's for steering wheel control wires.
Solid blue wire the instructions say radio antenna power supply.
Orange/black wire labeled " key 1 " .
Brown/black wire labeled " key 2 " .
Solid orange wire labeled " lamp control " .

The seller ( Ebay vendor ) still owes me the back up camera and wiring that goes with it . I am guessing the pink wire labeled " back " may be the signal wire to tell the camera the truck is in reverse ? Any help understanding all these " left over " wires is appreciated . I have NOT plugged in anything yet as I prefer to be safe than sorry . And I will admit wiring in general is not my forte .

[dad911]

I would pull out the test light or meter, and see what/when the wires work.

I would not trust an aftermarket harness to agree with factory colors.

Can't you just match them up with the pioneer wiring diagram?

does this help?

https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=83981

[rfuerst911sc]

dad911 I did match them up to the old Pioneer wiring . So basically I have soldered the ground and power wires along with wires for four speakers . So as an example I soldered the grey wire from the truck harness to the grey wire on the new radio harness and so on . I am hoping that the color code is standard and I did that portion right .

[asphaltgambler]

On GM the solid orange wire should be ' hot' all the time - in this case battery / memory.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

On GM the solid orange wire should be ' hot' all the time - in this case battery / memory.

Looking at some schematics online ( not my forte ) I believe you are correct . I can test with a meter to ground but I believe it is a " constant on " wire . I wonder if the orange wire , assuming it is constant on , should go to either the " key 1 " or " key 2 " wire on the radio side ?

[rfuerst911sc]

I did a generic Google search for " what does key 1 and key 2 mean " and they are intended for steering wheel controls . So that eliminates those two wires . I'm pretty sure the blue wires are for a powered antenna so that eliminates those two wires . So that leaves the pink wire labeled " back " and the orange wire on each side . We're getting there ........... I think

[dad911]

Link I posted:
BATTERY(+) ORANGE RADIO HARNESS
ACCESSORY(+) YELLOW RADIO HARNESS
GROUND(-) BLACK RADIO HARNESS
ILLUMINATION(+) GRAY RADIO HARNESS
DIMMER(+) BROWN RADIO HARNESS

If you hook up battery, accessory, ground and speakers, it should work. If not, I think the colors on your 'adapter harness' don't match factory colors. See crutchfield link may help. https://www.crutchfield.com/S-wxw2fah6pV7/learn/learningcenter/car/car_stereo/installation_guide.html

Battery- power all the time. So you don;t lose settings.
Accessory- turns radio on w/key
Ground - return path to battery.
Illumination - to dim radio lights with dash.

If that doesn't do it, please post link or model of radio.

[cabmandone]

I'd guess your backing camera input will be an RCA connection rather than a stripped wire. I know my Kenwood has a RCA connector on the back for the camera. I had to plug into the head unit and then splice into the factory camera wire. Not real happy with the quality of the picture I'm getting. Probably going to buy the matching camera for my head unit.

What model is the Pioneer? I'll see if I can look up the wiring on it.

Probably should have told you that Scosche and others make harnesses that plug into your factory harness and tell you where to connect to the head unit.

[rfuerst911sc]

Cab the old Pioneer I removed has no ident markings on it except the word Pioneer on the removable face plate.

[cabmandone]

Sorry, I was thinking the HU you bought was a Pioneer. Is there a RCA for the backup camera? If not it's a safe bet the pink wire is for the backup camera not for steering wheel controls.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Sorry, I was thinking the HU you bought was a Pioneer. Is there a RCA for the backup camera? If not it's a safe bet the pink wire is for the backup camera not for steering wheel controls.

The head unit I purchased is a typical China no name . The instructions for the camera the seller sent me indicate it does " plug in " to the back of the head unit . But doesn't the camera have to be triggered by a wire sensing reverse has been selected ? The RCA cable won't do that will it ?

[rfuerst911sc]

Another question : The head unit has built in GPS software and has a separate GPS antenna that plugs into the back of the unit . The antenna is a small tear drop shape with self adhesive tape on the bottom . I assume most people either drill a hole in the dash or run the wire through defroster ducts . But I see online some folks just stuff the antenna UNDER the dash and still get good reception . Any thoughts on the antenna location ?

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

The head unit I purchased is a typical China no name . The instructions for the camera the seller sent me indicate it does " plug in " to the back of the head unit . But doesn't the camera have to be triggered by a wire sensing reverse has been selected ? The RCA cable won't do that will it ?

Yeah you'd have to pick up the reverse signal. Most seem to do that in the back of the vehicle at the reverse lights. I didn't have to worry about any of this since my truck already had a backing camera.

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Another question : The head unit has built in GPS software and has a separate GPS antenna that plugs into the back of the unit . The antenna is a small tear drop shape with self adhesive tape on the bottom . I assume most people either drill a hole in the dash or run the wire through defroster ducts . But I see online some folks just stuff the antenna UNDER the dash and still get good reception . Any thoughts on the antenna location ?

Had to go out and look at my truck to see what I did for this one! I had my drivers side pillar out to install the hands free mic so I ran the GPS to the center of my dash and was able to tuck the wire in front of the dash between the windshield and glass. then I was able to go through the hole at the bottom of the A pillar over to the radio. No holes poked. I remember reading a lot of guys having troubles because they mounted the GPS under the dash.

[rfuerst911sc]

^^^ Thanks for the advice .

[cabmandone]

I figure I helped get ya into this mess! I better help ya out too.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I figure I helped get ya into this mess! I better help ya out too.

Haha ! Next thing I have to check is the radio antenna to see if I have to buy an adapter . If I can plug in the antenna I think I will plug in the harness to the head unit and see if I see smoke 😁. I am waiting for the back up camera to show up before doing the final/permanent install .