Subaru Forester
Receiver Wiring Harness

Version 2.1

By David Carter

Receiver Wiring 

Forester Radio Connector Pin-out

The table below was compiled from all of the Subaru radio wiring diagrams from 1993-2005 (2006 and 2007 model years continue to use this pin-out, but I have not been able to look up the factory wire colors on those years).  All Subarus since 1993 (except for the SVX and North American Legacies 1993-1994) have used this same 14-pin connector and the same pin-out.  A few of the wire colors in the cars have changed over the years, but the functions of the pins have remained the same.  The table below shows the wire colors for just the Forester.  (Here's a similar table for the Impreza/WRX and one for the Legacy/Outback)

Pin numbers on the connector:

 

Table 1 Subaru Forester Radio Connector (Speaker / Power Wiring) Pin Assignments
Pin #	Function	Column "A" Forester Factory Radio Connector Wire Color wires go to Forester's Speakers, etc.		Column "B" Subaru After-market Harness Wire Color (EIA Standard)
		1998-2002	2003-2005
1	Illumination+	Violet		Orange
2	Right Front Speaker +	Red / Yellow		Gray
3	Left Front Speaker +	Brown / White		White
	(gap for connector lock)
4	Right Rear Speaker +	Blue / Yellow		Violet
5	Left Rear Speaker +	White / Red		Green
6	+12 Volt Memory	Blue / Red		Yellow
7	Dimmer (Illum.-)	Orange / White		Orange / White
8	Right Front Speaker -	White / Black		Gray / Black
9	Left Front Speaker -	Green		White / Black
	(small gap)
10	+12 Volt Accessory	Yellow / Green		Red
11	Ground	Black	Black / Red	Black
	(small gap)
12	Right Rear Speaker -	Red / White		Violet / Black
13	Left Rear Speaker -	Red / Black		Green / Black
14	Power Antenna +	1999: Blue / White (to Antenna Amplifier) 2002: Blue / Red (to Antenna Amplifier) 2003, 2004, 2005: Blue / White (to Antenna Amplifier) All others: NC (Note: 2000 & 2001 do have an antenna amplifier, but it is connected to +12 Volt Accessory power)		Blue

Notes:

	a.	The pin numbers may be stamped on the sides of the connectors, on the hinged flaps at the rear that lock in the wires.  The numbers are very hard to read until you hold the connector at just the right angle in the light.
	b.	When two colors are listed, the first is the main color and the second is the stripe color (main/stripe).
	c.	"NC" means there is no metal contact at that position in the connector shell (and thus no wire).
	d.	Column "A" lists the wires on the Radio Connector in the Forester.  This is the plug whose wires disappear behind the dash and go to the speakers, etc.
	e.	Column "B" lists the wires on the Forester Reverse and Forward Harnesses.  These are the EIA standard wire colors, used by after-market receiver and wiring adaptor manufacturers.  Use this column to verify that the adaptor was assembled correctly. When installing a Forester radio in an SVX:  Crimp or solder the wires in column B to the same colors on an SVX wiring adaptor. In the Forester: If restoring a damaged or missing radio connector: crimp or solder a reverse harness (wire colors in column B) to the car's corresponding wires (colors in column A). If installing a subwoofer or Line Output Converter (LOC): crimp or solder a reverse harness (wires in column B) to the same colors on a Forester 'forward' harness, and also connect the desired speaker wires to the sub or LOC.
	f.	If you're working with the Forester wires (column A), note that there are complimentary pairs (e.g., a Red/Black and a Black/Red).  Don't get these mixed up!  The stripe color is thinner than the main color.  There are also duplicated colors (e.g., Blue/Red).  It helps to work in bright light.
	g.	There are two pins related to dash illumination -- 1 and 7.  For the Forester radio's illumination to work correctly in an SVX, connect pin 1 to the SVX harness' Illumination wire (pin 4), and connect Forester pin 7 to the SVX's Dimmer wire (pin 13).

© Copyright 2005-2007 by David Carter.  All rights reserved.