Changing a fuse under the dash today I noticed a red cable connected directly to the 7.5a radio fuse. Given all the hack jobs I found on this truck since I purchased it I figured I d take a look behind the after market radio installed.. Sure enough found these 2 cables exactly like that!! Should the radio be connected to the radio? Can someone tell me why there is 2 big grey cable?
I wonder why he didn't use those to power the radio (yes they re hot) and instead routed a wire straight to the fuse??!!

 

The gray cables are after market. They may go to aftermarket speakers. Or pretty much anywhere.

Unless you have some good idea what's going on with the wiring (and the installer of that wiring did not), connecting to a "hot" wire is good for a lot of laughs. You wouldn't be the first person to discover your just-installed radio only worked when the door was open! (and turned on the dome light circuit). So to be safe, some always run their own wiring to the fuse; then you know it's good.

For me, I DID have the wiring diagram, and when I installed my after-market radio I fabbed-up a conversion connector. No spliced wires at all.

 

If it was me and you want to do this correct find the radio harness plugs for the year you have and solder and heat shrink .

Get a adapter harness that plugs into the truck side and connects to your new radio.

Hard wiring if you switch radios your rewiring again

Having all the connections done correct should give you worry free problems

 

👍 ok its after market. Thanks guys. I 'll work on that

 

I think I see a pink wire and IIRC there was one in the stereo wiring. Get one of these: I did run into trouble with the factory ground and ended up grounding both the harness end and the stereo ground to a metal part of the dash.