When you want to upgrade your Chevy truck stereo or radio, you can take it to a professional or try to do it yourself. For those DIY stereo installers, our Silverado Stereo Wiring diagram can give you the information you need. Quickly and easily identify your speaker wires, and what’s needed to wire up your radio. This guide comes in handy whether you are installing a navigation system, MP3 player or even putting the factory stereo back in.
Installing a stereo into your Chevy Silverado is easy to do with our truck audio wiring diagram. There are several generations of this popular Chevy truck, and today I’ll be showing you the Silverado Stereo Wiring schematic for all years.
Whether you are a professional stereo installer or just trying to upgrade your truck stereo, this wiring guide can help you.
First generation Silverado Stereo Wiring Diagram (1999–2006)
There’s two variations of the Silverado from this generation, including the early models from 1999 onward. These are also known as the C1500 or 2500 trucks, and they use a different wiring diagram to install your aftermarket stereo.
Most of these early Silverados use the same double DIN sized stereo that is found of the Chevy / GM vehicles of this era. This stereo is found in many of the Chevy vehicles in this year range, and even the Corvette. If you are installing a stereo into your Silverado of this generation, you will need to use an install kit like the one shown below.
Car Radio Constant 12V+ Wire: Orange
Car Radio Switched 12V+ Wire: Yellow
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Gray
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: Brown
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Tan
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Gray
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Light Green
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Dark Green
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Brown
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Yellow
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Dark Blue
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Light Blue
If you are reinstalling your Chevy Silverado factory stereo, this unit can be found in other used Chevy trucks or vehicles. Depending on the double DIN stereo you are trying to install, you may need a mounting kit.
If you happen to own a C1500 Silverado, the wiring will vary ever so slightly. These changes are easy to see and notice, especially when you are installing an aftermarket stereo.
Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Orange
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black/White
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Brown
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: Gray
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger Wire: Pink
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Tan
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Gray
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Light Green
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Dark Green
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Brown
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Yellow
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Dark Blue
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Light Blue
You will notice the main difference in the C1500 Silverado Stereo Wiring schematic when you try to connect the switched 12 volt wire. This wire doesn’t exist in this truck, so you’ll need to run an accessory wire to the ignition column or the fuse box to properly install your Silverado stereo.
Second generation Silverado Stereo Wiring Diagram (2007–2013)
If you own a 2007-2013 Chevy Silverado, you are in luck. We have a How To guide on installing a Sierra stereo here which shares the same stereo removal procedure. Because this is a double DIN unit, you can get away with just a mounting bracket to make your stereo fit properly.
If you are installing a single DIN stereo of course, you’ll also need an aftermarket stereo install kit. You can also opt for a navigation unit from a GMC Acadia or Saturn Outlook, as they share the same stereo connectors.
Car Radio Constant 12V+ Wire: Red/White
Car Radio Switched 12V+ Wire: GMLAN Serial Data
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Yellow
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger: White
Car Stereo Amp Trigger Wire: Same as Power Antenna Wire
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Tan
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Gray
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Light Green
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Dark Green
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Brown
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Yellow
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Dark Blue
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Light Blue
Left Subwoofer Speaker Positive Wire (+): Dark Blue/White (at subwoofer)
Left Subwoofer Speaker Negative Wire (-): Light Green/Black (at subwoofer)
Right Subwoofer Speaker Positive Wire (+): Dark Green (at subwoofer)
Right Subwoofer Speaker Negative Wire (-): Light Blue/Black (at subwoofer)
To access your truck stereo amplifier, you’ll need to remove the center console to uncover it. This unit powers the front speakers as well as the subwoofer if your Silverado came with one.
Third generation Silverado Stereo Wiring Diagram (2014–2018)
The newest Silverado has several different options from Chevy that can complicate your stereo install. Many of these changes affect your install if you are intending on ditching the factory navigation or infotainment system. For select 2018 and 2019 Silverados, the stereo wiring works out slightly differently.
If you are looking to install an aftermarket navigation system or even a single DIN stereo with a pop-up face, you will need a install kit as well as new mounting brackets.
Silverado Stereo Constant 12V+ Wire: Red/White
Silverado Stereo Switched 12V+ Wire: GMLAN Serial Data
Silverado Stereo Ground Wire: Black
Silverado Stereo Illumination Wire: Yellow
Silverado Stereo Antenna Trigger: White
Silverado Stereo NAVLAN : Gray / White
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Tan
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Gray
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Light Green
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Dark Green
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Brown
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Yellow
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Dark Blue
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Light Blue
When installing into this generation of Chevy Silverado, you are best off when you start with a truck without the factory navigation unit.
With this trim of Chevy Silverado, you can use an install kit to upgrade the base radio. Use of an install kit allows you to bolt in a single or double DIN into this stereo opening. Because you don’t have a infotainment screen here, you won’t need the standard Park Assist bypass or MyLink disable you would in the traditional truck.
2018-2020 Chevy Silverado Stereo Wiring Diagram
The wiring for the 2018 and 2019 Silverado can vary, depending on the level of your trim. If your Chevy Silverado has a 16-pin plug on the back of your stereo, you will need to follow this guide instead of the previous one.
Silverado Stereo Constant 12V+ Wire: Red/Violet
Silverado Stereo Switched 12V+ Wire: You can opt to use the GMLAN data wire here, or simply tee into your steering column instead.
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black (on 16pin plug)
Next up in our Silverado stereo wiring guide is the auxiliary audio input wires. This is an important part of your stereo install, especially if you are adding additional inputs.
You are looking for the 20pin harness on the back of your Silverado stereo here.
- Aux Audio Input Right Positive – Green
- Aux Audio Input Right Negative – Violet
- Aux Audio Input Left Positive – Gray
- Aux Audio Input Left Negative – Violet
Looking for the rear seat Silverado speaker wiring? I got you covered!
- 2019 Silverado Rear Seat Entertainment Right Positive Wire – Brown / Gray
- 2019 Silverado Rear Seat Entertainment Right Negative Wire – Blue / Violet
- 2019 Silverado Rear Seat Entertainment Left Positive Wire – Green / White
- 2019 Silverado Rear Seat Entertainment Left Negative Wire – Blue / Violet
Right Front Tweeter Positive Wire (+): Yellow/Blue (16-Pin Plug)
Right Front Tweeter Negative Wire (): Yellow/Gray (16-Pin Plug)
Right Front Tweeter Wire Location: At Car Amplifier Behind the Rear Seats
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Brown/Green (16-Pin Plug)
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Violet/Brown (16-Pin Plug)
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Yellow (16-Pin Plug)
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Yellow/Black (16-Pin Plug)
Right Front Speaker Wire Location: At Radio Wiring Harness
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Green (16-Pin Plug)
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Green/Black (16-Pin Plug)
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): White (16-Pin Plug)
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (): Blue/Black (16-Pin Plug)
Car Subwoofer Speaker Positive Wire (+): Blue/Gray (8-Pin Plug)
Car Subwoofer Speaker Negative Wire (-): Gray/Black (8-Pin Plug)
Rear View Camera Positive Wire: Gray/Yellow (20-Pin Plug)
Rear View Camera Negative Wire: White/Blue
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