Chevy owners who want to upgrade their Cobalt stereo can use this Cobalt stereo wiring guide to wire up their after market radio. Produced from the year range of 2005 to 2010, the Chevy Cobalt has lots going for it. Flexible and broad power band built on the Ecotec engine and relatively good looks, there’s a lot that’s going for the Cobalt. Unfortunately the Cobalt stereo is standard fare and isn’t especially exciting, which is why so many people want to get their Cobalt stereo install done.
Today I’ll be showing you how to complete your Cobalt stereo install with this car audio wiring guide. If you are not using a Cobalt stereo wiring harness for a plug and play radio install, you can save some money and wire it up yourself. The problem is when you need to track down speaker wires or the stereo wiring, which can take a ton of your time.
Car stereo installs are easy when you use our car audio wiring guides to tell you what wires do what.
You won’t have to dig through wiring and try to figure out which wires do what when you have our Cobalt stereo wiring schematic.
Easily install an aftermarket stereo, crossover or car audio amplifier with this wiring guide. Because the factory Chevy Cobalt stereo uses a double DIN layout, if you are installing a single DIN setup you will need to use a special Cobalt stereo install kit.
The Chevy Cobalt came in a SS trim as well, which utilized a custom Pioneer stereo setup. This makes your Cobalt stereo install slightly different if you own a model that isn’t the Cobalt SS.
Cobalt Stereo Wiring Diagram
Because there is no switched power wire for your Chevy Cobalt stereo, you will need to tap into the ignition column for a power source. This power wire will come on when your Chevy Cobalt is turned to the “ON” position or the car is started.
Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Red/White
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black/White
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger: Yellow
Car Stereo Amp Trigger Wire: Pink
The factory Pioneer Cobalt car audio amplifier is mounted behind the driver side of the dashboard. Because you will need to remove the center console, you can access the stereo amplifier by removing the side panels.
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Tan
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Dark Green
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Light Green/White
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Light Green
The rear speakers are accessed through the rear panels of your Cobalt. If you are looking for a accessory trigger wire or the Cobalt amplifier remote trigger, these are connected to your class 2 serial network.
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Brown/White
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Dark Blue
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Tan
From the model year 2007 onward, the Cobalt switched the double DIN factory stereo. This stereo shares a lot in common with other GMC and Chevy models such as the Acadia and Silverado of this year range.
Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Red/White
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black/White
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Gray
Much like the Cobalt models that came before this year range, the switched power wire must be run from the ignition.
This won’t change much when you want to get your Chevy Cobalt stereo install completed.
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
No matter what you are installing to replace your Chevy Cobalt stereo, our wiring guide can get it done.
Easily install or upgrade your Chevy Cobalt stereo using our complete Cobalt stereo wiring diagram.
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
Have any questions about our Cobalt Stereo Wiring guide? Leave us a comment below and let us know!
My front speakers in my 2010 Chevy Cobalt are not working. Which also then effects my bluetooth connection. The back speaker are fine. The front speakers will work then not work. I figured it has to be a loose wire but, I can’t find the wire. After looking and touching wires for hours, I just want to know where the wires are for the front speakers I first want to check for myself- to hopefully fix the problem myself . To avoid having the expense of a ” fix it ” shop. Than you so much in advance.,
Hi Susan, thanks for commenting and reading our Chevy Cobalt Stereo wiring guide.
For best results, I would recommend going down to the electronic store and picking up a pair of vampire clips or electronic slip on connectors. This should allow you to connect directly to the front speakers from any wire. You can then connect your stereo wiring to these wires to see if the wiring is the problem, or the intermittent front speaker issue is the speakers themselves.
Hope that helps! Thanks for reading!
2007 Chevy cobalt works but has no sound maybe u know y I cant figure it out
Hi Jason, thanks for reading my Cobalt stereo guide.
First a couple of questions :
Did you recently replace your stereo?
When did it stop working?
Do you have a factory Cobalt amp?
Thanks for reading! let me know and I hope I can help.
I got a question. I recently got a 2007 cobalt radio free from my buddy along with an extra faceplate. Idk what’s goin on with it but only thing comes on is the clock and it ejects the CD. I got the harness that was cut out the car. My plans was to build a box for this thing. My trouble is it will not go to the tuner. It shows the clock and will disappear. That’s all. I’m scratching my head for the past 2 hours in my room tryin to figure this out. Any info will be appreciated. I run a dc12 volt adapter.
Hey Brandon,
do you have power, ground and the switched / remote amp wire connected? If so you should have everything you need for your Cobalt stereo to work. This may not be the case if the Chevy head unit is expecting steering wheel controls or another signal from the dash. Try the basics and go from there would be my recommendation. If that still doesn’t take, I’m sorry to say that you may have a bad Cobalt stereo.
Doesnt the colbalt basically shut its self down when u try to put another colbalt radio in. Its has to be taken to dealer and they have to reprogram that radio in to the car. If using after market radio it should just be plug and play
Doesnt the colbalt basically shut its self down when u try to put another colbalt radio in. Its has to be taken to dealer and they have to reprogram that radio in to the car. If using after market radio it should just be plug and play
It sounds like you got a replacement factory stereo for free from your buddy. If this is the case, you’ll need to go your local Chevy dealership and get the stereo head unit programmed to your cobalt before it will work. This cost is around 150.00.
What wire is for the ignition switch on my 2009 Chevy cobalt
Hi Jacob, thanks for reading.
If you don’t have an active switched wire to tap into, you’ll need to use a multimeter to measure the voltage at your Cobalt ignition switch. In order to do this, you will need to open your ignition column, and backpin each wire to see which one is the one you want. If you don’t have a multimeter, it’s fair to guess that the second to the last position would be ON, if the last position is START. Does that make sense?
Hope that helps, thanks for reading this Cobalt stereo guide.
2010 Cobalt bought used…. removed aftermarket head unit and replaced with new one using wiring harness. HU powers on and appears to be functioning, but there is no sound. What is the cause? In simple terms, please…. I’ve done HU replacements before with a harness and never had an issue…. I don’t know anything about wiring. Thanks in advance.
Hi Jayta, thanks for reading.
Is there an aftermarket or factory amplifier installed? Do you see any spliced Colbalt wiring further downstream? Chances are you have an amplifier in place, and there is either a subharness or the previous owner spliced into the speaker wires. Remove your speaker and check for aftermarket wiring. Are the Cobalt speaker wires the same color?
John quick question: i have 2007 colbalt, what is the wiring harness and chime controller that i need to make a after market radio in it. Not sure all the things i need. If i could figure it out i would put the radio in because i dont trust anyone to touch it. I have a LC2I to control the amp i going to put in for amp and Subs and run of the rear deck speakers. Thank you. If all i need is wiring harness and not the chime, i dont need the chime controller
I have a Seicane Android head unit
I just purchased. Everything provided plugged in and no power? Any thoughts
Hi AN, what are you using for a ground?
I’m trying to put an after market stereo in my 2009 cobalt. I can’t seem to get power to my ster ed o to turn it on . I think I have ed all the wires connected correctly. Is there a way u can send my a diagram and tell me what all the wires are . And which one the ignition to power o. The stereo? Thank you.
Brent hamilton
What’s up Brent, thanks for reading this Cobalt stereo guide.
If you don’t have power, tee into your steering column and from the ignition switch. Make sure to tap the wire that’s live ONLY with the Key set to the ON position.
Hope that helps.
On my 2007 cobalt I have all the wires plugged in correctly and tried to turn the key and nothing pops up on my radio. Just sounds like it’s ejecting a disc.
Is this the factory Cobalt stereo?
I have recently tried installing an aftermarket JVC stereo in my 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. Stereo works fine and has power but the problem is everytime it’s plugged in my car will go into anti-theft until the stereo is either turned off, or disconnected. Any tips on this?
Hi Nico,
so it sounds like whoever wired up the stereo tapped into something wrong. These kinds of issues are common especially if you have an aftermarket alarm. Did you install? or did someone else?
I recently replaced the stereo on my 2007 Chevy cobalt LS and for some reason the remote wire isn’t turning the aftermarket amplifier on. What could be the reason for this?
Daniel, do you have a remote acc wire that isn’t hooked up? This wire should send the power to your amp
I just bought 2005 Chevy cobalt and noticed that I can’t get fm stations under the dash by the footboard I can see the antenna wire bit it has been spliced into a adaptor is this my problem and how do I fix it Thank you
You can replace your antenna with an aftermarket unit. They sell several that will bolt right into your setup. Check out some of these :
https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=prostreet20-20&keywords=2005 Chevy Cobalt antenna&index=aps&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=xm2&linkId=ab446381cc98b9d69ea801c319f0f39a
Where do I find my Accessory wire?
Hi Dane, thanks for commenting.
Your accessory wire can be found in your steering column. It’s the wire that’s hot or has power to it when your car is switched to the “ON” position. Please make sure to use the proper electric wiring and protection when wiring this up. Good luck