A few weeks ago a poster (sorry, don't remember their handle) mentioned that a Honda radio harness plug would fit into the amp wiring.

I mentioned that the wires might not match up, and resolved to check it out later.

Well, the same harness plug that fits the old standard Honda radio (say, '02 Accord, for instance) fits the 20-pin plug at the amplifier. This is the plug that carries constant 12V, ACC, and the speaker wires. Six wires are missing, though.

Here are some notes on how to use this information. Since the factory wiring harness is so short, this makes the speaker wiring connections easier.

THE WIRES ARE DIFFERENT!

This wiring info assumes that your harness uses the EIA standard color codes (Metra, best, Scosche, etc., all do so.) All Pin humbers can be referred to here.

Harness color - wire function - TSX pin # - TSX wire color

Yellow - 12V Constant, A10 wht/blue
Black - Ground, A20, blk
Org - 12V ACC switched A9, yel/red (This is marked as a dimmer wire on the radio harness)
Org/wht - unused A19
White - dr R door (+) A8 pnk/blu
White/blk - Dr R door (-) A18 ppl
Gray - pass R door (+) A 7 blu/red
Gray/black - pass R door (-) A17 blu/org
Grn - L Rear 6x9 (+) A6 wht
Grn/blk - L Rear 6x9 (-) A16 grn
Ppl - R rear 6x9 (+) A5 pnk
Ppl/blk - R rear 6x9 (-) A15 blu/yel
Empty pin next to ppl - L tweeter (+) A4 blu/org
Empty pin next to ppl/blk - L tweeter (-) A14 gry/blu
Empty pin next to Red wire - Dr door (+) A3 grn/blk
Empty pin below that pin - Dr door (-) A13 Lt grn
Red wire - pass door (+) A2 grn/yel (red is marked as ACCon radio harness)
Empty pin below that - pass door (-) A12 gry/red
Blue - Pass tweet (+) A1 blk/red (Blue is marked as remote TO on radio harness)
Empty pin below blue - Pass tweet (-) A11 pnk/blk

If you are doing an amp install replacing the factory amp, and you are NOT using all the speaker locations, then you could take apart the plug and move the wires around as needed. Note that the pins on the end are larger than the pins in the middle and are NOT interchangeable.

If you need all of them, or you are a neat freak like me, buy two plugs and make one complete one. Make sure to keep your colors straight. I would follow the EIA color-code on the harness instructions, and maybe add another black stripe for the tweets?

If you are using the factory amp to run the rear doors and a new amp to run other speakers, you could use a "car-side" plug and a "radio-side" plug and make a "T" harness.

You would still have to tap into the smaller 14-pin harness for signal. I ahve ordered the RSX and the '04 Accord harnesses from Installer.com and will report soon on how/if they work.

How to disassemble the Metra harness:

Pry the two locking collars away from the body of the plug. The collars have little fingers that hold the pins in.

The pins are still fairly firmly held in there. I had to take a pair of pliers and pull them out. No damage to the pin occured and they reinserted properly and locked. Note: If you have any pins that do not reinsert and lock completely, use a hot glue gun and fill the back of the plug with hot glue after re-assembly.
Keep track of where you are putting what pin - the Metra plug had no pin numbers.

 

I just wanted to say thanks for this tip, cause it's AWESOME. I got the Metra adapters at autozone (they also have the scosche version at walmart), and just tugging on the wire on the back had it pop out, and i could reinsert and lock it in easily (used some hot clue for assurance though).

Metra AW-WHHD2 or DW-WHHD2 incase anyone's curious. Cost $10 a peice at autzone, or I think $6 a piece at walmart.

I wish i had read this tip before ordering from autotoys so I could get the 14pin adapter for the rca wires, but c'est la vie.

-vasu

 

If you are using the factory amp to run the rear doors and a new amp to run other speakers, you could use a "car-side" plug and a "radio-side" plug and make a "T" harness.

I'm interested in this setup but i'm not sure if i really understand this though. can you please elaborate on this eld? thanks.


You would still have to tap into the smaller 14-pin harness for signal. I ahve ordered the RSX and the '04 Accord harnesses from Installer.com and will report soon on how/if they work.

did these work?

 

The "t" harness trick is what I was trying to describe - not a great description, I'm afraid.

No. No TSX harness available. Those harnesses were for using a Aft HU with OE amps, and used different connectors. Still trying.

 

Not sure if this would help anyone later, but I just replaced my rear door speakers on an 2005 and the rear doors both use the same color wires. Blue w/red stripe and blue w/orange strip for both left rear and right rear doors. Not sure if just a mistake at the factory? Any other 05's seen this? Sure do sound better with the JL's in there now. Also, thanks for all the tips on this site about getting the doors off. Finished with out a scratch or broken part.

 

when using a a harness, what's the point of the constant power, switched power and ground wires?

I'm i'm installing new amps, I wouldn't need these 3 wires right, so I can just leave those pins out of the new harness?

Also, what wire do I need to tap for a remote turn on (for amps and sat tuner)

-vasu

 

those wires give your headunit power, and allow it to know when you switch off the ignition.

 

For a TSX though? these are teh wires coming out of the factory amp ...

 

Bump .... very intested in this wiring solution.

I have replaced all of the factory speakers and really itching to install an amp and perhaps a single 10 or 12 in the trunk.

 

re: the question I asked ... the 3 cables (constant power, switched power, ground power) can be left untapped. You can usethem if you want to install a sat tuner or something in the factory amps place, but other wise they're unneeded.