How to Wire an Aftermarket Stereo to a 2005 Ford Explorer Rear DVD
- 1). Remove 1/4 inch of shielding from the electrical wires of the head unit and the wiring harness by placing the wires in the 18-gauge slot of a pair of wire strippers, one wire at a time, and gently but firmly pulling the wire strippers toward the end of the wire. This will reveal the bare electrical wire underneath.
- 2). Twist the exposed wires together to connect the wiring harness to the new stereo head unit. Consult the wiring guides of both devices to determine which wires to connect. Connect wires that share a function. For example, connect the ground wire from the wiring harness to the ground wire from the stereo, the front right positive speaker wire from the wiring harness to the front right positive speaker wire from the stereo, etc.
- 3). Solder each electrical connection with a soldering gun. Turn on the soldering gun to warm it up, then touch it to each section of exposed electrical wiring for the amount of time indicated by the soldering gun instructions. This will strengthen the connection between the electrical wires and prevent them from coming loose if the Explorer is jostled by an accident or a bumpy road.
- 4). Wrap each connection with electrical tape. Make sure the tape extends from one section of shielding to the next so that no bare electrical wiring is left exposed.
- 5). Install the new stereo into the dashboard of the Ford Explorer as directed by the installation instructions.
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