Wiring behind radio help

Angelcb

New Member
Dec 21, 2021
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Connecticut
Hello all! This is my first post so please bare with me. I picked up an 02 GT. Previous owner had taken out the radio for “weight reduction” or whatever. So I’m playing what’s this and what’s that. Starting near the gear shift, the cig lighter is plugged up. The fog light switch is wired into one of the harnesses. The traction control button was taken out to be replaced by another cig lighter. And the defrost button didn’t have any connection. I’m so confused. Can somebody please help?? I attached 10 pictures of each connector and colored wires. Thanks in advance guys and girls
 

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The 3 connectors shown in your first 3 photos are for the factory receiver/stereo. Ford designations are:
C290a (16 pins)
C290b (8 pins)
C290c (20 pins)

Three 8-pin connectors similar to that shown in your 4th photo are used for the fog lamp, rear window defrost, and traction control switches. You will have to identify which is which by the wire colors and number of wires.
C240 (Fog lamps) 4 wires: White/Black Brown Black Light_blue/Red
C241 (Rear defrost) 5 wires: Pink/Blue Black/Yellow Black Brown/Blue Light_blue/Red
C280 (Traction) 6 wires: Pink/Black* Gray Black/Blue Pink/Black* Black Light_blue/Red
* Pink/Black connects to 2 pins. Not sure if they ran 2 wires or used a jumper.
These wire colors are for model year 2003. Some could have been changed from 2002.

The 2 connectors in photo #9 (next to last) are for the 12V power port (3 pin) and convertible top switch (5 pin).

The 8 pin connector shown in photos #6 and #7 is not familiar to me. It appears someone has cut 2 of the wires to tap into power and ground.

Can you provide a front view of the connector shown in the last photo? I need to see how the terminals are arranged to identify it.
 
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The 3 connectors shown in your first 3 photos are for the factory receiver/stereo. Ford designations are:
C290a (16 pins)
C290b (8 pins)
C290c (20 pins)

Three 8-pin connectors similar to that shown in your 4th photo are used for the fog lamp, rear window defrost, and traction control switches. You will have to identify which is which by the wire colors and number of wires.
C240 (Fog lamps) 4 wires: White/Black Brown Black Light_blue/Red
C241 (Rear defrost) 5 wires: Pink/Blue Black/Yellow Black Brown/Blue Light_blue/Red
C280 (Traction) 6 wires: Pink/Black* Gray Black/Blue Pink/Black* Black Light_blue/Red
* Pink/Black connects to 2 pins. Not sure if they ran 2 wires or used a jumper.
These wire colors are for model year 2003. Some could have been changed from 2002.

The 2 connectors in photo #9 (next to last) are for the 12V power port (3 pin) and convertible top switch (5 pin).

The 8 pin connector shown in photos #6 and #7 is not familiar to me. It appears someone has cut 2 of the wires to tap into power and ground.

Can you provide a front view of the connector shown in the last photo? I need to see how the terminals are arranged to identify it.
Thanks for your reply! I don’t even have a convertible top. As far everything else; none of the connectors like up to the traction control, defrost, and fog light switches I have
 
OK; that info helped a lot.

All of the connectors except the last 2 photos are apparently for the 3 audio systems that were available in 2002 Mustangs. It is not unusual for manufacturers to use a single wiring harness for multiple vehicle equipment variations, and just leave the unused connectors either clipped to the body or taped to a harness.
The wire colors in your 4th and 5th photos match one of the audio system diagrams I have.
I have found the connector shown in your photo #6 and #7: https://www.ebay.com/p/1825212174. It is also a radio connector.

The wire colors in photo #10 confirm this is the convertible top switch connector. It mounts on the center console. For coupe models, this connector would be unused.

Evidently, you no longer have any connectors for the fog lamp, rear window defroster, or traction control, but the harnesses ("pigtails") should still be there. These 3 thin harnesses should merge into a single larger harness. The three thin switch harnesses ("pigtails") would have 4, 5, and 6 wires as I mentioned in the previous post. You will probably have to source the factory connectors at a wrecking yard and splice the wires. I expect these should be easy to find, as most wrecking yard customers will be looking to purchase the switches, not the connectors.
 
OK; that info helped a lot.

All of the connectors except the last 2 photos are apparently for the 3 audio systems that were available in 2002 Mustangs. It is not unusual for manufacturers to use a single wiring harness for multiple vehicle equipment variations, and just leave the unused connectors either clipped to the body or taped to a harness.
The wire colors in your 4th and 5th photos match one of the audio system diagrams I have.
I have found the connector shown in your photo #6 and #7: https://www.ebay.com/p/1825212174. It is also a radio connector.

The wire colors in photo #10 confirm this is the convertible top switch connector. It mounts on the center console. For coupe models, this connector would be unused.

Evidently, you no longer have any connectors for the fog lamp, rear window defroster, or traction control, but the harnesses ("pigtails") should still be there. These 3 thin harnesses should merge into a single larger harness. The three thin switch harnesses ("pigtails") would have 4, 5, and 6 wires as I mentioned in the previous post. You will probably have to source the factory connectors at a wrecking yard and splice the wires. I expect these should be easy to find, as most wrecking yard customers will be looking to purchase the switches, not the connectors.
I was able to go to the junkyard today and clipped off the connectors and wires for the trac control and defrost. Now my next thing is; do I even need trac control because I have an SCT tuner that has that option anyway. Also, I have the rear defrost button under my headlight switch so what would this defrost button even be for? Thanks for all your help so far!
 
Depends on your needs. I have been driving my '03 for 18 years (purchased new in 2003) and have never used either the Traction Control or Rear defrost buttons. However, I don't drag race or use the car during winter, so do not really need either feature. Your situation might be different.
The previous owner may have relocated the rear defrost switch, as the 2002s did not have it in that location from the factory. If you are happy with it under the headlight switch, then no need to re-connect the original switch.