New radio installing `95 XJ
 

Hey all,

Been reading on here for a couple days now. I'm mostly new to modding or adding anything new to cars and completely new to Jeeps. I'm picking up my first one tmrw, a nice `95 Cherokee. I'm big into good sound and all that so I'm definitely looking to replace the stock radio for a new one. I've seemed to pick up on the basics of it all but i need to know a few details...

1. Is there anything tricky to ripping out the old one? Or is it as simple as six or so screws?

2. What kind, if any, wire harness will I need? I'm not very educated on this whole wiring process.

3. How do I know if the new radio will fit in properly to the space allotted from the old radio? How can this problem be fixed if occurred (if it CAN occuer >.>).

4. Any other useful tips to replacing this radio set.



Thanks guys. I know this has been gone over time and time again but for my own peace of mind I would hope for some personalized answers.



P.S. - I know I can go to Best Buy and get it put in for 50$ + addition hardware, but I'd really like to try this one out myself. Thanks again!

I know with my 99 Cherokee, there was screws and then it came out. I replaced it with an aftermarket Pioneer deck.

I bought a wiring harness that plugs into your factory Cherokee harness, and then you attach the other side to the wires on the back of the CD Deck. Just get some sleeve connectors and crimp them together.

If you have the double din space, the single din radio will fit no problem.

Make sure you connect everything properly, so it wont come lose during your adventures.

on my 95, I cut the factory plug off and used butt connectors. if you get a AA battery and a test light you can find constant power,switched power and ground. use a AA battery to find which speaker wires go to each speaker and thats all there is to it. I don't remember using an install kit. if the factory radio isn't a standard din mount you may need one but looking at my dash I think it won't be a problem.

P.S. do yourself a favor while your in there and run RCA cables and a remote lead now. even if you don't plan on installing an amp. it will save you time if you ever do.

Hate to be so needy....but could you water this down?? Would be greatly appreciated because I think you have all the answers I just can't interpret them :wacko:

Instead of doing the thing with the batteries, just go to Best Buy, buy the $10 wiring harness and plug and play

MUCH less confusing and SOO much more simple..

Its a piece of cake, I did the same thing on the weekend in 30 odd minutes.

http://www.modifiedlife.com/1995-jee...iring-diagram/

the above will make it very easy to match your aftermarket wiring(new head unit) to the factory wiring.

x2

Its easy. As long as you go with a good deck.
First remove the plastic cover about the steering colloum. This will male removing the bezel easier.
Remove two screws above gauge cluster, one screw about head light knob, and one above cig lighter.
Now pop out the bezel... Remove the screws holding the stock deck in and unplug the harness and antenna plug.
Buy a wiring harness for the jeep and splice that into the harness that cpmes woth your new deck.
Plug that into the jeep harness...
Now insall your antenna plug and then your deck can go in... Then replace bezel and plaatic cover over steering

no worries, :) I installed my stereo about 8 years ago so I don't remember 100% if there was a standard wire color code or not. if there is, normally, Red is switched power= when you turn on the key the radio will come on . yellow is constant power= used as memory for station presets and clock etc. Black is ground= some older radios used it as a common for speakers too but thats highly unlikely with any radio that you'd replace a factory radio for. Blue is remote= this is the signal wire to an amp that activates power, be sure to hook this up if your XJ came with a factory "premium" sound system or your speakers won't work. if the factory wire harness has all the colors of a rainbow, a test light and a AA battery will be your best friend. I do agree the easy way is to buy an adapter kit, but if you don't want to, do it like this. with the key OFF, using a test light, test the wires until you find power. that will be the constant power, that will be connected to the yellow wire on you new radio. now with the key ON test the wires until you find power again, this will be your switched power connected to the Red wire on the new radio. now if you look at the wires there should be 8 wires that are similar(for example 2 gray wires one solid gray, one gray with a black stripe. then 2 blue,green,orange. etc.) these wires are the speaker wires to test which color is what location, get a AA battery and connect a matched set(gray,green,blue, etc.) to the battery by holding the gray end to one end and rubbing the gray/black stripe to the other end. you will hear the speaker moving and making a scratching noise this will tell you what location the speaker is, connect the corresponding wires to the harness of your new radio so they match. after you find all the speaker wires, test the remaining wires for a good ground. be sure to check with key on and off as well as parking lights on and off to eliminate the dimmer wire. if you new radio has a wire marked "lights" or "dimmer" you will find that by finding the wire that gets power when the parking/head lights are turned on. once you've got everything connected, tape off and "extra" wires that you don't use so you don't get a short in the dash. it's really not that hard just take your time and you'll get it installed. the wiring kit you can buy plugs into the factory plug and has all the wires prelabeled so it's easier but I opted to save myself the $13.99 and do it myself.:thumbsup:

P.S. I forgot to tell you, don't forget to hook up the antenna!!!

i did my jeep. get the wiring harness adapter, not only does it have matching colors, but on every wire is labeled rear speaker front speaker pwr and so on. On most after market head units are labeled as well. just match up the labeling.And every thing works. Having the harness is also good if later you sell the jeep, you still can put factory deck back in.

x2! So much easier w/the harness. I recently bought a stereo and got the kit and harness w/it. The guy before me cut all the wires to the factory harness so I could not use the harness that came w/the new stereo. I also have the dash kit. Both brand new. You can have them both for $10 + shipping if you want. Just PM me.

If the stock plug is back there than it's a snap. Get the proper adapter harness and it should match up color for color with the one that came with your stereo.

When I went to put a deck in mine I found the original factory plug hacked off:wacko:. I had to find a schematic and wire the deck harness using that, not fun trying to solder in that tight little space!

Personally I would solder the whole thing together and cover the splices with shrink tubing. This is WAY stronger than the crimp units.

In addition to the RCAs run an "amp on wire" to where you think you will install a future amp. Be sure to isolate the end of this wire with a wire nut or double it back and shrink tube the end as will carry a small amount of current. This wire will hook into the harness that came with your deck. You can either hook it to the power antenna lead or there may be a separate lead specifically for amps.

Is there a picture guide how to do this anywhere?

Thanks.

If you can Find a plug and play adapted I would say do that.
I have replaced the stereo on my jeep and cut the factory harness out and spliced into the new stereos. all the wires were different from the wiring diagram in my Haynes manual . I finally figured it out with some color coded diagrams I found on the internet from a Grand Cherokee and a Cherokee sport.

new radio installing 95 Cherokee
 

I don't know if you already purchased your new head unit,but if not...Crutchfield.com is an awesome website.They can set you up with a stereo that exactly fits your Jeep.Also exact fit speakers.They will also include a master install sheet complete with clear,easy to follow instructions.This includes detailed illustrations .They also include a adaptor kit and wiring harness.Their customer service is top notch.And their prices are quite good.I have used them many times in the past.Good luck!