Rds Radios

[cutelilcntrygrl]

Ok, I just bought a new Pioneer cd player, two 10" Pioneer subs and an amp. I tried having it all installed in my car. After checking around town for prices for the installation, I decided to let a friend that has experience in car stereo installations, do the job for me. We went to Best Buy to get the wiring harness and installation kit. I told the guy working there what I needed and he said that cars like mine that have RDS radios, would need a special kit and I would have to mount the factory deck in the trunk, and install a small speaker of some type under the dash for the door chimes. This kit that he said I would need is going to cost like $93. If I were to just have it installed at Best Buy, it's going to be the $93 for the kit, plus an additional $116 JUST for the cd player to be installed. Now, I know a bunch of ppl on here have installed decks in their cars. Now to my question, is it necessary to mount the factory deck in the car because of the RDS or are the ppl at Best Buy just trying to get some xtra money? They told me that if I didn't do that, I would lose the door chimes and that the change oil, low oil, tire pressure, and service engine lights would come on at any given time or even stay on. Any help or suggestions are greatly needed and appreciated!! :)

[smokinAMD]

Originally posted by cutelilcntrygrl@May 23 2004, 09:29 PM
Ok, I just bought a new Pioneer cd player, two 10" Pioneer subs and an amp. I tried having it all installed in my car. After checking around town for prices for the installation, I decided to let a friend that has experience in car stereo installations, do the job for me. We went to Best Buy to get the wiring harness and installation kit. I told the guy working there what I needed and he said that cars like mine that have RDS radios, would need a special kit and I would have to mount the factory deck in the trunk, and install a small speaker of some type under the dash for the door chimes. This kit that he said I would need is going to cost like $93. If I were to just have it installed at Best Buy, it's going to be the $93 for the kit, plus an additional $116 JUST for the cd player to be installed. Now, I know a bunch of ppl on here have installed decks in their cars. Now to my question, is it necessary to mount the factory deck in the car because of the RDS or are the ppl at Best Buy just trying to get some xtra money? They told me that if I didn't do that, I would lose the door chimes and that the change oil, low oil, tire pressure, and service engine lights would come on at any given time or even stay on. Any help or suggestions are greatly needed and appreciated!! :)
No, thats BS. It wouldn't affect your warning lights at all, and you don't need the factory radio for the RDS. And as for needing to relocate the factory radio to keep the chimes, I'm not too sure about that. Some say you do, some say you don't. I didn't have to in my car to keep the chimes.

[cutelilcntrygrl]

Yeah that's kinda what I thought, that it was BS. When that dude started telling me how much it was gonna cost, I couldn't help looking at him like he was freaking crazy. Now I don't feel bad about how rude I was to the guy. If anyone would like to tell me what kind of kits they used when installing their cd players, or anything else that I may need to know, that would be nice. ;)

[bigd6983]

all you need is the wiring harness, installation kit, and a antenna adapter........I am not positive but I believe that some plastic needs to be shaved behind the cd player in order for it to fit, I know they did it on mine when I took it to bestbuy(they did a sorry job, and I could have done it myself better)........as far as the chimes some cars have that problem some dont, I dont know exactly which ones but someone on here does and hopefully they will help me out. other then that the install is real easy, ive pulled my deck out and put it back in a bunch of times.

[cutelilcntrygrl]

So will all these kits that I need cost nearly 100 bucks? I'm beginning to think that all the people around my hometown that call themselves car stereo installation specialists, really don't know poop about putting a cd player in a car. :pissed:

[dopey]

u people dont know squat.

if ur car is a 2001+ i believe..... if u put an aftermarket cd deck in there U WILL LOOSE THE CHIMES.

the guy at best buy was absolutely correct. u would need the kit to relocate the stock radio to the trunk in order to retain the chimes. now $93 for that kit is extremely expensive. i know i can get it for about $30 i believe. but hey thats mark up.

but anyways what year is ur car??? cuase that guy is completely right.... depending on the year.

[dopey]

oh and im not tryin to be rude...... but if u dont know the anwser to the question dont post. cuase u just end up giving out wrong info and then the topic gets really confusing.

let someone who knows help out.

[Steve03TropicTeal]

i agree with sweet for once. dont post unless you know about the subject. OR if you have something RUDE, sarcastic, or funny to say :P

U DO need to

1) relocate stock stereo. requiering a special relocation kit which is about 60 bucks.
2) Replace stock stero with a replacement module about 120 bucks
3)completely replace stock stero, and have no relocation or repalcemnt and lose chimes, and NOT maintain "good system health"

I personally went toe replacement module.. i ahve the scoche one. i dont know modle num, and i am at work. I used to work at best buy so i could it for like 60 bucks. NOt bad. The chime sounds dif, and is kinda loud, so i but duct tape over the speaker to town it down a bit.

These replacemnt modules only came out in the past 6 months or so, so they are fairly knew. Good products tho, I cant think of who else makes one.

Oh, and if u have a 99 this is not an ISSUE

I can provide links for the products if youd like.

[smokinAMD]

Yeah, but the thing about loosing your warning lights has to be BS.

[cutelilcntrygrl]

First of all, I asked for help on this issue, not remarks towards anyone on being uneducated on this subject. If I knew the answer to a question, why would I ask it in the first place? I've always thought that if you didn't know something, you should ask and if you "think" that you can help someone, you do. That's all I'm doing is asking for some help, so please, be considerate of someone when they are just asking for help and of those that are trying to help. If you are reading this and you feel that someone is leading me in the wrong direction with help on this issue, please PM me and don't put each other down. Seriously, I thought the whole purpose of this website was for people who own and love Aleros, to kinda come together?

[cutelilcntrygrl]

And BTW, my car is a 2001.

[dopey]

i wasnt refering to u contry girl. u asked a good question.

i was refering to the others who started posting basically useless info cuase they didnt know the facts themselves.

[cutelilcntrygrl]

Thank you but they were just trying to help, which is the respectable thing to do.

[2ndAlero]

I too agree with Sweet... but he should follow his own advice and answer with the right information.

There is a *VERY* good thread on this subject in this very section of the board. It was on page 2... or can be found here:

http://invision.aleromod.com/index.php?showtopic=2028

I replaced the radio in my 2001 because it failed to work (wouldn't let a CD load anymore)... but I have an aftermarket radio, and a harness and have kept my "chimes". The only thing you loose is the idiot light warning chimes (when your low tire pressure or oil light comes on there is no longer a sound). All other chimes (lights on, keys in the ignition, etc., etc.) work just fine.

The easiest thing to do is get the Metra kit GMRC-01. I bought mine at Circuit City... you can do a search on their site for this: MET GMRC01
and you should find it just fine. Cost was/is $59.99 with free shipping right now even.

This adapater plugs into the factory wiring harness, then you connect your speaker connections, and the amp turn on, and the power and you should be all set. You will most likely need an antenna adapter to go from the GM plug to the new head unit.

If you read the thread above on this site you'll learn everything you might want to know about this whole topic.

So... you DO NOT need to relocate your head unit to keep the chimes, you can do it with an adapter. This is the cheapest and easiest way to do it... and you keep the retained accessory power as well (radio stays on with the car off until you open the door).

Hope that helps... you can use the search buttons too... those help at times if you guess the right keys words.

[cutelilcntrygrl]

Thanks, 2ndAlero, for your help. The link that you put on here was in deed, a big help. :)

[Steve03TropicTeal]

http://www.scosche.com/news/04-01a.asp

also maintains RAP....

scoche GM09

[cutelilcntrygrl]

Originally posted by Steve03TropicTeal@May 24 2004, 08:21 PM
http://www.scosche.com/news/04-01a.asp

also maintains RAP....

scoche GM09
Thanks, I couldn't find a price on that website though. Now that I know the name of the product, I'm finally finding it on several different websites. The cheapest I've found though is at Circuit City for $60, thanks again to 2ndAlero. I appreciate everyones help here. ;)

[freeze12]

Relocating the stock unit is BS....Just go to CircuitCity & purchase a "Chime Module" around $50.00.You can then sell that stock unit & recoup Your $50.00 plus!!

[Grouch]

Good link 2nd. I moved it over to the FAQ section. Also left a link for it in this second still on page two. ;)

[Steve03TropicTeal]

yeah i couldnt find a price anywhere online either. It costs 119.99 at Best Buy, special order only.

when i worked there i got it for about 60, and that is 5% above cost, so u wont find it much chepaer than 60. for that particular module.

[aleroman8]

I must feel prevledged, since Circuit City only charged me $39 for the kit and installed it too. Though they don't know how to ground a stereo.

[cutelilcntrygrl]

I just ordered one from Circuit City. It should be here by Saturday. Again, thank you guys for all your help. ;) :thumbsup:

[2ndAlero]

Originally posted by cutelilcntrygrl@May 24 2004, 10:28 PM
I just ordered one from Circuit City. It should be here by Saturday. Again, thank you guys for all your help. ;) :thumbsup:
Not a problem..

Like I said, I installed this unit and it was the easiest and cheapest (yet still worked) module out there.

If you run into problems... post here or ask me. If you can connect colored wires with wire nuts and some electrical tape.. you'll be all set.

Remember you'll need the antenna adapter as well or you won't get any radio as the GM plug doesn't fit into the aftermarket units (at least not the one I have).

[cutelilcntrygrl]

Yeah I went on and ordered the rest of the stuff that you mentioned earlier. I printed out everything you put on here and that other link so that my buddy could look over it. He said it shouldn't be a problem now that he's read all that stuff. I'll let you know how it turns out! Thanks again.

[p1mptress]

I read this b/c I want to hook up my system w/my pioneer cd player that i have and when i go to the links for the GMRC-01 it says that it won't work w/a Bose system. So what should I do then. Or should I still install it? w/the $60 kit.

[mikegett]

The alero doesn't use the bose systems. Those are primarily on the high end vans and cars. We have a monsoon system used in ours. It won't be affected.

[p1mptress]

oh ok b/c when I bought the car thats what the dealer told me. I dunno I'll try it, it won't hurt then if it doesn't work I'll just return it. thanks!