Subaru Legacy / Outback / Baja
Receiver Wiring Harness

Version 2.4

By David Carter


Receiver Wiring 

Legacy / Outback / Baja Radio Connector Pin-out

The table below was compiled from all of the Subaru radio wiring diagrams from 1993-2009.

2009 continues to use this same pin-out. Cars without the Harman/Kardon premium audio use the same factory colors as 2008. A few of the factory speaker wire colors changed on cars with the H/K system.

All Subarus from 1995 and up (except for the SVX) have used this same 14-pin connector and the same pin-out.  1993 and 1994 Legacies outside North America also used this connector and 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 Legacy, Outback (not Sport), and Baja.  (Here's a similar table for the Impreza/WRX and one for the Forester)

In North America, Legacy models from 1993-1994 continued to use the pre-1993 radio connectors (two smaller plugs).  Outside North America, 1993-1994 Legacies switched to the new, single 14-pin plug.  If your car has the 14-pin plug, the pin-out will be the same as listed here.  Unfortunately, I do not have the car's wire color information for those years.

Pin numbers on the connector:

Radio connector pin numbers

 

Table 1
Subaru Legacy / Outback / Baja Radio Connector
(Speaker / Power Wiring)
Pin Assignments

Pin
#

Function

Column "A"
Legacy / Outback / Baja
Factory Radio Connector
Wire Color

wires go to car's Speakers, etc.

Column "B"
Subaru After-market Harness
Wire Color
(EIA Standard)

    1993-1994 1995-1999 2000-2004 2005-2008  
1 Illumination+
White / Green 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.-)
Yellow / Blue Black / 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
Yellow / Green Yellow / Red

2005 Baja: Yellow / Green
Red
11 Ground
Black Black
  (small gap)
12 Right Rear Speaker -
Red / White Violet / Black
13 Left Rear Speaker -
Red / Black Green / Black
14 Power Antenna +
Green / Orange
(to motorized antenna)
Green
(to Antenna Amplifier)
Yellow / Black
(to Antenna Amplifier)

2005 Baja: Green
Blue

Notes:

a.

Pin numbers on shellThe 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 car.  This is the plug whose wires disappear behind the dash and go to the speakers, etc.

 
e. Column "B" lists the wires on Reverse and Forward Harnesses.  These are the EIA standard wire colors, used by after-market receiver and wiring harness manufacturers.  Use this column to verify that the harness was assembled correctly.

In the Legacy / Outback / Baja:  If restoring a damaged or missing radio connector, crimp or solder a reverse harness' wires in column B to the corresponding wires in column A.  If installing a subwoofer or Line Output Converter (LOC), crimp or solder a reverse harness to the same colors on a 'forward' harness (wires in column B for both).

 
f. If you're working with the Legacy / Outback / Baja wires (column A), note that there are complimentary pairs (e.g., a White/Red and a Red/White).  Don't get these mixed up!  The stripe color is thinner than the main color.  There are also duplicated colors in some model years (e.g., Green).  It helps to work in bright light.
Link to custom reverse and 'forward' harnesses for sale
Note: Although these harnesses are referred to as "WRX" they have exactly the same pin-out as the Legacy, Outback, and Baja.

© Copyright 2005-2009 by David Carter.  All rights reserved.