I have a Delco radio and harness from a 2001 Grand AM. I didn't want to hack off the factory wires, so I bought a harness connector that splices in to the 01 wires. The radio makes a static noise and the lights flickered a couple of times. Obviously there is a wiring issue. I am using metal crimp style butt connectors. Since I'm using a harness and all the wires will run through the harness, it shouldn't matter if they are not spliced according to their color should it (blue to blue, etc.)?

 

Wire color is pretty standard and should probably match if I understand your problem correctly. It sounds like you are trying to put the 01 Grand Am radio and its harness into your 85 TA. I would start with cutting all spliced wires that are not the same colors.

There are typically 8 wires that go from the radio to the speakers (typically a solid color and a matching color with a black stripe). Then there are 2 heavier guage wires, one red and one black) for the main power and ground connections. Finally, there are at least 2 other wires that provide control for power antennas, ignition switch cut off, and possibly redundant controls for a steering wheel setup.

First, get the power, ground and speaker wires hooked up, color to color, and see if it works. Then deal with the other connections in your replacement harness from the 01 car.

 

Yeah, the color matches on both the 01 and my 85, but the aftermarket harness wires are totally different colors. I just figured since they are all connected into the harness, it shouldn't matter what colors are where. Maybe I'll just eliminate the harness and splice into my factory wires. I really didn't want to cut those, though.

 

the wiring colours for the radio should beas follows (for both the Firebird & Grand AM Radio

Constant 12V+ Orange
Switched 12V+ Yellow
Ground Black
Illumination Gray
Dimmer Brown
Left Front (+) Tan
Left Front (-) Gray
Right Front (+) Light Green
Right Front (-) Dark Green
Rear Speakers 6" x 9" Rear Deck
Left Rear (+) Brown
Left Rear (-) Yellow
Right Rear (+) Dark Blue
Right Rear (-) Light Blue

the aftermarket harness should be:

Constant 12v+ Yellow
Switched 12v+ Red
Ground Black
Illumination Orange
Antenna Blue
Amp Turn On Blue/White
Left Front + White
Left Front - White/Black
Right Front + Grey
Right Front - Grey/Black
Left Rear + Green
Left Rear - Green/Black
Right Rear + Purple
Right Rear - Purple/Black

 

Still having trouble. The aftermarket harness is throwing me off. All different colors and in different locations. Plus, the harness from the 01 has extremely thin wires, so the splicing keeps breaking when I move the radio. What a mess. I know it shouldn't be this difficult.

 

Buy this

http://replacementradios.com/product...roducts_id=166

 

I was so excited to get some tunes today. Got the new harness with antenna adapter in the mail(thanks, 84) and connected the 4 plugs and still nothing. The time came on when I pushed the hr button, but that's it. I'm going to take the radio back to the junkyard and get another one.

 

Alright. Got a replacment radio. Hooked everything together and still NOTHING!. When I connect the power wire I can see a little spark and hear the cd player make a noise, but that's it. No illumination, no static, nothing. I started the car with the radio plugged in and my temp gauge went off the chart. Interference somewhere? I do have an aftermarket dual fan kit with temp sensor.

 

Unplug the radio, bring the car and the radio over to kettering ohio, I will help you sort it out