Can't tell which wire is NEG/POS on speaker wires

[ICrushedAPrius]

Hi guys,
I just installed 4 Alpine Type 'S' 5x8 speakers in my 1997 4.6L, but the color coding on the wires is really odd.
Each door has it's own color system, blue w/ white line, yellow w/ green line, etc.
I know usually the wire with the line is ground, but all the wires have lines. I'm worried I may damage the speakers, or not get the full power they can offer.
Does anyone know if there is a wiring diagram that will denote Positive and negative for each door? Otherwise I will have to rewire completely....please help!

 

[trdragons44]

speaker wiring : http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii34/trdragons44/62657979.gif
from what i can tell there is no way of seeing if its + or -. the only thing i can say is to follow the instructions here to test your old speakers if you remebered which wire went where.

 

[Surfnski]

Easy way to test speaker polarity

Use a 1.5 volt battery (C,D,A cell). Test by connecting your battey to the pair of wires going to each speaker at the head unit. When the speaker travels outward observe the + and - markings on the battery compared to your wire colors.

Outward travel = correct polarity
Inward travel = reversed polarity




Here's a demo I found on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36zCvXEJQ7E&feature=youtube_gdata

 

[tonydiv]

Just put a digital multi meter on direct current and touch it to the speaker wires with the volume down to a 1/4 or so. If the display will show a pos or neg number (like .005 vdc) If the number is negative then you have the leads reversed.

 

[ICrushedAPrius]

Thanks guys, just got everything ripped apart before it started snowing...I need a garage! : (