Stereo Wiring Color Code for a 1992 Nissan Maxima

The "Maxima" name was given to the highest trim level on the Nissan 810, starting in 1981. The 1981 Nissan 810 Maxima performed its best KITT -- the talking car from the 1980's show "Knight Rider" -- impression with a voice saying "Please turn out the lights" if you left the lights on with the engine turned off. By 1992, the Maxima had become a relatively refined luxury import sedan, featuring a standard AM-FM, cassette stereo system. Understanding the wiring color code of the stereo makes installing a new stereo much easier.

12-Volt Power Wires

There are two 12-volt power supply wires for the 1992 Maxima. The main power for the Maxima's radio only provides a 12-volt supply when you turn the key on -- this turns the radio off and on with the ignition. This wire is blue in color.

The Maxima's radio stores preset stations and the clock setting. A constant supply of 12 volts of electricity from the battery when the vehicle is off helps holds this memory. This wire is red with a black stripe.

Ground Wire

The 1992 Nissan Maxima uses a stereo system that does not have a ground wire -- the radio uses the speakers as a ground. If you are installing an aftermarket radio, you must find a good body ground to which you must connect the radio's ground. Remember, you must attach the ground wire to a clean, unpainted surface.

Lighting

The 1992 Nissan Maxima has only one wire to control the lighting of the radio. This turns the radio's lighting on and off with the interior lights. This wire is red with a yellow stripe.

Speaker Wiring

The 1992 Maxima has four speakers in total. Nissan positioned two 4-by-6-inch speakers in the front doors. The positive wire for the left-front speaker is blue with a white stripe, and the negative wire is blue with a yellow stripe. The positive wire for the right-front speaker is brown, and the right-front speaker's negative wire is brown with a white stripe.

Nissan mounted the Maxima's two rear 6-by-9-inch speakers in the rear deck. The left-rear speaker's positive wire is red and the negative wire is green. The positive wire for the right-rear speaker is blue and the right-rear speaker's negative wire is pink.