So I'm trying to install an aftermarket stereo head unit in my 1997 xj, which is usually simple enough. But the previous owner, who also installed an aftermarket unit, snipped some of the wires behind the pin connector on the factory harness (see photo). So how do I handle that? Can I bypass the pin connector and directly connect the factory wires with those on the aftermarket wiring harness? Or do I need to replace the factory harness completely?



cut wires on factory wiring harness

 

That depends on whether or not you bought the plugs they sell to keep you from having to splice wires, like in the quadratec catalog. If that is the case I would go to a junkyard and look for another one to splice in since the nimrod cut everything so close to the plug. If not splicing wire to wire should be no issue.

 

If your radio came with a plug that you splice in you can do that,All you gotta do is look up the jeeps radio wiring colors and use that vs your new radios plug wires splice and crimp and heat shrink over it so they can't come lose.

 

search here..... http://www.the12volt.com/

 

http://snowboard247.blogspot.com/200...ring-info.html

 

What a mess. I'd ditch the plugs completely and just bypass them. Here is a wiring diagram I used when I installed my radio

 

Thanks for all the info guys. I chopped off the factory harness plug and just wired everything straight to the new harness.

BUT I have encountered another issue. I was pretty sure I shorted something while I was messing with the wiring because I lost power to my gauges and indoor overhead light. Now that everything is wired up, I still have no power to those components, but also no power to the radio. I checked every fuse, and none of the look blown. Any ideas?

 

Test fuses.Power in power out. Both boxes.

 

I just had to look at the fuses and relays under the hood, and that solved it. Thanks for the help!