Installing an after market car stereo or upgrading your car speakers into your Nissan is easy to do when you have our Altima Stereo Wiring schematic. This car audio wiring diagram can help anyone, whether you’ve got car audio installation experience or not. Whether you are installing a new head unit, car stereo, subwoofer, car amplifier or a new set of speakers, this wiring guide shows you what wires to use.
Today I’ll be showing you this comprehensive Nissan Altima stereo wiring schematic. We’ll 
be covering the Altima from the first to fifth generation. The year ranges that this car audio guide will help you with cover run from 1992-2016.
If you want to save time and money, and do the car audio install yourself, this Altima stereo wiring guide will get the job done.
Most of the time spent installing a Altima stereo will be spent identifying the correct color audio wires for your Nissan. Although car stereo install kits are not needed for the earlier models of Nissan, you will need one for the later models.
First Gen Altima Stereo Wiring Guide 1992-1997
Based on the Nissan Bluebird before it, the first Altima used a single DIN stereo setup. This center mounted stereo can be accessed by removing the front faceplate.
Some of the Altimas that came with the premium stereo package, also included a CD changer. These models can easily step up to a double DIN car stereo.
Car Radio Constant 12v+ Wire: Red
Car Radio Switched 12v+ Wire: Blue
Car Radio Ground Wire: Chassis
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Red/Blue
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: Red/Yellow
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger: Red/Black
For Altimas with a single DIN setup and a car stereo pocket, you can simply bolt in an 
aftermarket stereo. Most car stereo installs into this generation will not need a car stereo mounting bracket kit to complete the installation.
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Blue/White
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Blue/Yellow
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Brown
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/White
Second Gen Altima Stereo Wiring Guide 1998-2001
There were several improvements to the next Nissan Altima and car stereo layout. Most models came with a similar single DIN stereo, making install easy and straightforward.
Radio Constant 12V+ Wire: Pink
Radio Switched 12V+ Wire: Blue
Radio Ground Wire: Chassis
Radio Illumination Wire: Red/Green
Radio Dimmer Wire: Red/Yellow
Radio Power Antenna Trigger Wire: Green/White
The front speakers are mounted into the door panels, where the rear Altima speakers are installed into the rear deck. If you are having problems accessing the rear speaker wires for upgrading, you can get to them through the trunk.
Left Front Speaker Wire (+): Brown
Left Front Speaker Wire (-): Black/Red
Right Front Speaker Wire (+): Light Green
Right Front Speaker Wire (-): Black/Yellow
Left Rear Speaker Wire (+): Orange
Left Rear Speaker Wire (-): Black/Pink
Right Rear Speaker Wire (+): Blue
Right Rear Speaker Wire (-): Black/White
Third Gen Altima Stereo Wiring Guide 2002-2006
The most recent Altima in our car audio guide is the third generation Nissan. This newer Altima underwent several changes from the previous model, from the exterior and the radical center console. Gone are the simple installation using a DIN configuration, this Nissan requires that you use a car stereo install kit
Radio Constant 12V+ Wire: Yellow/Green
Radio Ignition Switched 12V+ Wire: Purple
Radio Ground Wire: Chassis
Radio Illumination Dimmer Wire: Red/Blue
Radio Antenna Trigger Wire: Green
Radio Amplifier Trigger Wire: Green/White
These changes make it significantly harder to just bolt in an aftermarket stereo and go, but it’s still doable with the right stereo kit.
Left Front Speaker Wire (+): Blue/White
Left Front Speaker Wire (-): Blue/Red
Right Front Speaker Wire (+): White/Black
Right Front Speaker Wire (-): Blue/Black
Left Rear Speaker Wire (+): Green/Yellow
Left Rear Speaker Wire (-): Black/Yellow
Right Rear Speaker Wire (+): Blue
Right Rear Speaker Wire (-): Red
Installing a car amplifier is easy because of the space created by most install kits. These kits will usually replace the front fascia and eliminate a lot of the excessive Altima stereo components behind the dashboard.
Most of the premium stereos in this generation of Altima also included a six disc CD changer.
Fourth Gen Altima Stereo Wiring Guide 2007–2012
The evolution of the Nissan Altima car stereo continues in the fourth generation. Changes to the steering wheel controls along with integrated double DIN navigation was an option from the factory.
Sharing many similarities with the 350Z, the center console again requires a car audio install kit.
To remove the Altima stereo, you’ll need to take out the upper load pocket tray
The center console panels must also be removed along with your shifter base to access the mounting screws.
Altima Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Yellow/Red
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12v+ Wire: Violet/Yellow
Car Radio Ground Wire: Chassis
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Red/Blue
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: Red/Yellow
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger Wire: Black
The Altima amplifier is located under the rear deck and can be accessed through the trunk.
Car Stereo Amp Trigger Wire: Black/Pink or Black/Green
The front speakers are mounted into 6 1/2 recesses in the front doors. Teeing into the front speakers is easy to do once you’ve got access to the Altima stereo wiring harness.
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): White
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Black
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Green/White
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Orange/Black
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): White/Red
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Blue
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Black/White
There are more changes from this generation to the next one. Installing a double DIN stereo into this year range will require aftermarket mounting brackets however.
Fifth gen Altima Stereo Wiring Guide 2013–present
There are several improvements to the last generation of Altima. This generation of Nissan comes with a premium navigation system with optional rear camera control.
Along with these upgrades there’s also tweeters added up front to provide a complete stereo system.
Car Radio Battery Constant 12V+ Wire: Yellow/Red
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12V+ Wire: Violet/Yellow
Car Radio Ground Wire: Chassis
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Red/Blue
Car Radio Dimmer Wire: Red/Yellow
Car Radio Antenna Trigger Wire: Black
Car Radio Amp Trigger Wire: Black/Pink
The premium Altima sound system came with the optional Bose system, which comes with two amplifier locations.
Some Altima amplifiers are located under the rear deck in the trunk, while some of the earlier models in this year range put the amp under the passenger seat.
The speakers are easily accessed through the front door panels, and you can gain access to the 2 inch tweeters up front as well. When removing your door panels make sure to keep track of the mounting screws.
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): White
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Black
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Green/White
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown
The front speakers are 6 1/2 inch in size and can be upgraded without changing the Altima amplifier.
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Orange/Black
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): White/Red
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Blue
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Black/White
Have any questions regarding our Altima Stereo Wiring guide? Leave us a comment below and let us know!
I have the boss system on my 13 and the back speakers have a green wire and white wire. Which would be positive and negative. Thanks
If my car isn’t wired for rear speakers at all, how would I go about installing them?
Hi Anthony, thanks for reading and commenting sir.
If your Nissan Altima stereo wiring is missing, or the rear Nissan speakers are not there, you will need to run dedicated stereo wiring to the rear speakers, along with mounting and installing new speakers. Hope that helps!
Hi, i want to connect my altima 2005 stereo (not bose) to an amplifier, how can i get the output audio to the amplifier? Thanks.
Hi JL, when you mean the output do you mean the Altima amp output for your 2005 Nissan? This can be the lead or the remote wire, depending on which wire you are after. This of course depends on the trim or specific model of your 2005 Nissan Altima.
Thanks for reading our Altima Stereo wiring writeup, let me know and I can help you track down what you need!
I would like to connect my nissan 2013 it has rear deck speakers and for the RCA I would like to splice te wires for both rear speakers and connect a LOC to the AMP. Also the Remote turn on wire can I run a wire with a fuse at end and connect it to the fuse box (I would have to check with a bolt meter which slot has power when car turns on)(because I know not every slot has power all the time). All that because I dont want to take the dash a-part(Also I would like to keep the stock stereo). WOULD THAT WORK?
Hi Jonathan,
To install an Altima amplifier into your stereo system, you will need to use the RCA feed or a converter wiring harness to convert your Nissan speaker outputs to power your amplifier. As far as the remote turn on wire, or remote power you should never use your fuse box.
Instead tap into the Nissan Altima ignition switch located in your steering column. This will give you switched 12+ volt power without draining your battery, which what a wire in your fusebox would do.
Hope that helps!
Can I tap in the rear deck speakers
Hi Jonathan, are you trying to tap into the rear deck speakers to add additional Altima speakers? or??
I want to tap in the rear deck speakers to get sound to the amp using a LOC
Do all the speaker wires go to the amplifier in the trunk or just the subwoofers?
Hi Damin, thanks for reading.
The output wires from your Nissan stereo run to your amplifier if you have one. From there the speaker wires go to your rear speakers as well as your subwoofer. What year Altima do you have?
2015 Nissan Altima stock non boss
Is there a way to tap into steering wheel controls without a special harness
Hi Bill, thanks for reading
You can do this but you run the risk of damaging components or controls on your steering wheel. It’s far better to pick up a Nissan Altima stereo wiring loom and make the job easy and straightforward.
Hope that helps
Which wire’s are the steering wheel control wires is it the mini harness
I have one of those Android double DIN units and I’m trying to figure out which wires control the steering wheel to loom into
Hi Bill, you are correct that the Altima subharness is the one that provides Nissan steering wheel stereo control. For best results, I would look into an aftermarket harness that gives you plug and playability. Check something like this :
20-pin Subaru/Nissan Headunit/Radio Wiring Harness with Steering Wheel Switch Wires
Hope that helps!
Working on an Altima Mfg date 12/14. Your correct with the amp located under the rear deck,between the speakers. Now as far as speaker wires they are the same color for both speakers. An yes this is still the original factory wiring harness. Anyway they both have a green wire and a white wire. They are both solid color wires no stripes or any other type of markings. I’ve ohm’dboth sets and I’m shure these wires coming from the amp to the speakers. I hope this helps some one else along the way. Oh yes these wires are located in the plug closest to the backseat.
One day I was traveling out of town listening to music from my Bluetooth in my car and one min my music was playing and the next min it just stopped. All of the speakers stopped at working at one time. It wasn’t scratching or anything before so I know the speakers didn’t just burst and also the radio itself will still cut on it’s just no sound.
Hi Brianna, sounds like you have a faulty ground or a blown fuse. I would check those as the primary Nissan Altima stereo problem that you have. Hope that helps!
Hello i have a bose radio altima 2009 wire colors are not the same ex (no brown , or orange black wire ) Do you have Diagram for my wires ?
Hello Junior, thanks for reading.
Does your Altima come with an amp then? Are any of the wires similar? or are just the brown and orange wires different?
I have a Nissan Altima 2014 2.5s With the only two front speakers. I took out the head mount and seen about 16 wires which leads me to believe there should be wiring already ran to the rear doors and trunk even tho there are no speakers. Is there any chance that I can hook up the speakers to these wires or do I have to run new wires? Also, when I do run the wires to the factory head mount, how do I connect the wires to it? My dad said I might need an adapter? If so what kind?
I would definitely not run new wires, and you are right those wires are usually part of a body harness that runs to the back of your car. Even though there are no speakers back there, or terminating wires, you will need to track down this subharness to find your Altima stereo wires. From there, you can either buy a new harness with the wire ends, or maybe head to a junkyard and see if you hit gold.
Hope that helps
2015 altima adding a lc7i and 4 channel amp (in trunk),also 14/4 to ea speaker where I plan to hook into speaker level run to lc7 and then to amp returning with the other pair back to speakers. Issue so far is color coded wires to speakers from head do not match color code on every site I have found. they show org/blk L+,wht/red L- ,blue R+,blk/wht R- I have yell/grn L and blu/grn R
Hey Jeff, thanks for reading my guide
What options did your 2015 have? I double checked what I have and that’s the information I show?
I have a 2015 2.5s altima and need to know what wires off the back of the factory radio I can t tap into for a line out converter as I want to hook up an amp and don’t want to hook in to the rear speakers I would like to have the rca wires ran to near the head unit because I want to upgrade that in the near future
Hi Neil, most vehicles do not come with an aux / rca outlet for aftermarket stereo components. Your best bet is to upgrade your Altima stereo.
Best of luck!