How to Hook Up an Aftermarket Radio to a Factory Bose

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable (or grounding cable) from the vehicle's battery. The grounding cable is the black cable that connects the battery to the frame or chassis of the vehicle. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the cable's clamp. Remove the clamp from the negative lead post.
2. Remove the factory installed Bose stereo deck from the vehicle's dash. Removal procedures vary among vehicles. Consult your vehicle's owner's manual for specific instructions.
3. Disconnect the wiring groups at the rear of the factory stereo. The four groups of wires are for the antenna, the amplifier, the speakers and the power supply.
4. Install a faceplate adapter to the opening left vacant by the old stereo unit. The adapter will make a slot accepting of a new stereo receiver.
5. Connect the wiring from the vehicle to a wiring harness adapter. The wiring harness adapter will provide a uniform platform for connecting to an aftermarket stereo receiver.
6. Connect the wiring harness adapter leads to the new aftermarket stereo. The Bose speaker connections will attach to the wiring harness adapter at the appropriately color-coded points.
7. Slide the aftermarket radio into the slot provided by the universal faceplate adapter. Replace any paneling that may have been required for stereo installation.
8. Reconnect the grounding cable to the vehicle's battery. Place the cable's clamp around the negative lead post of the battery. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to tighten the cable's bolt. The clamp needs to be tightened only enough to prevent the clamp from being able to be moved around the negative lead post by hand.