So I've searched for hours trying to figure this out I have a 1996 ls400 and the nak head unit went out. I took it out and bought a kit to install it in the dash. I have no idea what the wiring harness is and what to do? If there isnt was would a radio from a 1997 es300 work as plug and play in my ls? It looks very similar? Just trying to find an easy fix. Any help would be appreciated!

 

no wiring harness, you'll have to wire it all by hand.

ES headunit wouldn't work at all most likely.

 

Please don't take offense for butting in but, If you know you have a bad head unit, There are easier replacement options. You might check these guys here in Texas out:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/lexmaniac2/m....c0.m270.l1311
enjoy, =spence

 

oops.........don't see any........my bad. They had a couple for a 96 the last time I checked. They would be a good source to start with. enjoy, =spence

 

Im sure there are a lot of people selling their stock head units out there!!! as puredrifter said there isn't really a harness for our cars to install aftermarket units. You will have to splice the original harness or use t-taps

 

Yes, I understand. And like I said, excuse me for butting in. I simply lean toward reusing stock things for the exact reason you mention. I will return to my lurking in the back ground. enjoy, =spence

 

I think he's saying he bought an aftermarket stereo installation kit, which includes wiring harness adapter "pigtails" so that you don't have to cut up your factory wiring, but doesn't know what to do with it?

If so, the wiring harness adapter pieces which were included in that kit should either have writing on each individual wire or the package they came in should tell you which colors of the wires are for what purposes, like speakers, power, antenna, etc...
You're supposed to use those wiring pieces to build an adapter harness for any aftermarket stereo because the aftermarket stereos all come with their own "brand specific" plugs with a bunch of loose wires coming out of the plugs. You take the aftermarket stereo's wires and match them up to each of that installation kit's adapter wires so when you're finished doing that the aftermarket stereo will easily plug into your car.
If you're not technical it's not a d.i.y. project but if you're good with stuff like that it's not hard and it makes plugging the new stereo into your LS400 easy.

But there is no such thing as a universal wiring adapter that's got plugs on both ends to connect your car to any other stereo because every stereo maker uses their own different plugs, and so do the car manufacturers.

Plus no matter how "identical" they might look most Lexus radios aren't even interchangeable from one car model to another, although there are exceptions to that rule...
There's usually a model number somewhere on the front of the stereo. If that number matches a stereo from a different model of Lexus vehicle, it should plug right in and work in your car but if the number is different it usually won't.

If you're not good with wiring you can either try to find a used identical factory stereo for sale online or take your car to an aftermarket stereo shop and have a different stereo installed which can get expensive and you get what you pay for.