I am hooking a Sony Cd player into my 1991 300D.
Here is what the wiring looks like on the back of the unit form left to right:

ANT-antenna

BLUE-power antenna

SOLID GREEN-????
BROWN w/VILOET-It appears to be a ground

BROWN-ground
BLACK w/YELLOW-acc
GREY w/VILOET-????
RED-12 volts all the time

In addition, there are two pill-shaped plugs marked L & R, with wires coming out of them as follows

LEFT-BROWN and BROWN w/green
GREY and BROWN
RIGHT-BROWN and RED
BLACK and BLACK w/RED

If you could explicitly tell me what thee wires are for, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for all of your help!!!
:)

CJ:
What model Sony, and how old. This thread covers the current model Sony wires, and the help lines for Sony info! http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/car-audio-multimedia/13681-radio-harness.html
You might also get more info at http://www.sonystyle.com/sonystyle/4784/5210/5272/5240/3942.support.default.html#
It has manuals and FAQ sections for their current models, including the wiring diagrams.
Hope this helps.

The radio is a SONY CDX-4000. The wires that are in question are the ones that are on the factory unit. If I can dtermine what the wires are in the factory unit, I can then wire in my new CD player.
Thanks for your help.

They have the operators manual for your unit on line at:
http://www.sonystyle.com/sonystyle/4784/5210/5272/5240/3941.default.html
This page has the FAQs on the wiring, which are the same as in the thread I posted above, but the colors on their web site don't seem to match up to your description! I would contact Sony for their wiring manual for this unit.

Do you have a multimeter or test light?

I would start with one of those.

Test the wires for ground, test for constant power, and test for ignition power.

One of the wires is for the antenna. Use a process of elimination to check the wires.

To test for speakers you can use a battery to put power and ground through to hear the speakers make a pop. Only do this when you are sure you are using the speakers wires. you wouldn't want to send voltage through in car wiring to the fuse box or relays could hurt something.

Check for an illumination wire by testing a wire by turning the headlights on and off.

If you are in doubt about the speaker wires, you might just want to rewire the speakers. not a super fun task, dismantling interior, wiring cables, and all, but makes it easier to upgrade later to a better system with new speakers.

If you are looking for the color codes for the factory wires, do you have the manual for the factory stereo, it might have a wiring diagram, or the car's manual might have one.

If not you can check with the dealer or parts shop here for a wiring diagram.

In mercedes, generally brown is for ground I believe. if you plan on doing this yourself, get a test light or multimeter. It is an invaluable tool. The multimeter is better because it is more versatile. The test light is really only for simple circuit testing.

Alon

First, Hon, A Nice Cold Natie Bow...
 

This won't help, CJ, but you'll laugh yer ass off: http://www.slanguage.com/baltimore.html

How are things in Ball Mer?

So, here's my take on this 'sitch:

If you have a factory fader, you need to disconnect the "two pill-shaped plugs marked L & R" the female ends should go to the rear speakers, and the male ends need to be taped or shrink tubing covered. Then, you must understand, every speaker wire in Mercedes ist KriegsMarine, Right-Starboard-Green stripe, Left-Port-Red stripe. The wires up at the head unit will be going to the fader, and you will want ignore those, and to bypass that fader.

If I understand you correctly:

Antenna you have figured out,
Blue wire to power antenna wire on Sony (blue too?)
Solid Green? You got me...perhaps common speaker ground wire?
BROWN w/VIOLET- Speaker wire to fader?
BROWN-ground (YES)
BLACK w/YELLOW- power to Sony red wire (switched power)
GREY w/VIOLET- Speaker wire to fader?
RED- 12 volts all the time (goes to Sony Yellow(?) wire for clock & memory presets...)

LEFT-BROWN and BROWN w/green = KreigsMarine Starboard right
GREY and BROWN

One is front, one is rear...

RIGHT-BROWN and RED = KreigsMarine Port left
BLACK and BLACK w/RED

One is front, one is rear...

Check what you've got going to the fader, it should only be five wires. One is a common (floating) ground. The other four represent the four speakers in your car. Looking at these actual connections at the fader may give you an epiphany...

Check out this post, and see if you can adapt my advice to your newer car: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/car-audio-multimedia/13056-very-confused-long-please-read.html

Also, please feel free to email me for private lessons and I'll even be happy to call you on the phone if that'll help! But it might cost you a few soft shells...

And what about Robbay? I understand that he's got a Mercedes now. Why isn't he on this forum? Or is he? Perhaps you are Robbay... ROB SPIWAC! @ 106.7 FM, WJFK...

[Edited by longston on 02-16-2001 at 04:08 AM]