New Chevy - Dealer Says Can't Aftermarket Radio

[[email protected]]

I have a Chevy Equinox with the factory radio that I want to upgrade.
When I bought it, the dealer told me that I can't simply go into a car
stereo store and and replace it because the door chimes are hooked up
though the factory radio. Is this true? Can't I simply go to a good
installer and get it done correctly?

Forgive me if this has been asked 1000 times before. A I searched
briefly and didn't find the answer.

[spongehead]

I've never heard of that but who knows with cars these days. Where
theres a circuit, theres a way around it. Im sure someone with
electronics experience and a diagram can figure it out. Who needs
those damn door chimes anyways? Those drive me nuts. Unless it
controls some kind of door lock security thing......

[bass_lover1]

It is true. My friend has an 06 Colorado and the door chime goes
through the driver side speaker.

I think you'll just have to wait untill Metra makes the proper harness
for it to work correctly.


--
bass_lover1

[jlaine]

Is that all you lose is the door chimes though?

If that's all that is lost, I wouldn't call it much of a loss at all.
:)


--
jlaine

[Matt Ion]

wrote:
> I have a Chevy Equinox with the factory radio that I want to upgrade.
> When I bought it, the dealer told me that I can't simply go into a car
> stereo store and and replace it because the door chimes are hooked up
> though the factory radio. Is this true? Can't I simply go to a good
> installer and get it done correctly?
>
> Forgive me if this has been asked 1000 times before. A I searched
> briefly and didn't find the answer.

I've seen at least one other car that did something like that... mighta
been my sister's old Topaz, that piped the chimes through the
right-front dash speaker. Seems to me the chime box just hooked into
the speaker line, probably in-line so it could disconnect the deck when
operating.

But as others have said, if you don't mind losing the door chime, it's
no big deal...


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[mjrowley]

When I replaced our '05 Chevy Avalanche I had to buy an adapter from "PAC"
to keep my Onstar active. Pac has a module to add to the onstar adapter to
keep the chime. I chose not to restore the chimes.

[Kevin McMurtrie]

In article om>,
wrote:

> I have a Chevy Equinox with the factory radio that I want to upgrade.
> When I bought it, the dealer told me that I can't simply go into a car
> stereo store and and replace it because the door chimes are hooked up
> though the factory radio. Is this true? Can't I simply go to a good
> installer and get it done correctly?
>
> Forgive me if this has been asked 1000 times before. A I searched
> briefly and didn't find the answer.

Same deal with the late model Honda Accords. The radio, climate
control, and ANC is built into a very ****ty AM/FM/AUX/CD unit. I had
to install another HU below it and switch the speakers with a relay.

I've been considering trading in my Accord Hybrid and I've noticed that
most new cars have a crappy radio that can't be replaced.

[jmaxima]

Yeah, this has been in the Chevy's at least 2 years. The PAC adapter is
the only one I know of that works. But there are lot more companies in
the auto aftermarket these days. If I remember correctly the PAC adapter
for the system with On-Star was about $200 retail.


--
jmaxima

[Brandonb]

Not sure if you can still do this, but with the slightly older Chevy's
with the on-star and computer functions and alarm all built-in to the
factory head unit, they used to just relocate the HU and hide it. Like
in the trunk or behind the dash, etc. Then just put the new one in the
factory location. I'm not familiar with the PAC part that others are
referring to, could just be a harness to do just this possibly.

Brandonb


wrote:
> I have a Chevy Equinox with the factory radio that I want to upgrade.
> When I bought it, the dealer told me that I can't simply go into a car
> stereo store and and replace it because the door chimes are hooked up
> though the factory radio. Is this true? Can't I simply go to a good
> installer and get it done correctly?
>
> Forgive me if this has been asked 1000 times before. A I searched
> briefly and didn't find the answer.
>

[e-nigma]

"I. Care" > wrote in message
.net...
> In article . com>,
> says...
>> I've never heard of that but who knows with cars these days. Where
>> theres a circuit, theres a way around it. Im sure someone with
>> electronics experience and a diagram can figure it out. Who needs
>> those damn door chimes anyways? Those drive me nuts. Unless it
>> controls some kind of door lock security thing......
>>
>>
> If I remember correctly there was a car who's alarm system went through
> the radio.
> --
> I. Care
> Address fake until the SPAM goes away ;-}



Honda civic's had alarm, doorlocks control and dome light through factory
radio

[e-nigma]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
>I have a Chevy Equinox with the factory radio that I want to upgrade.
> When I bought it, the dealer told me that I can't simply go into a car
> stereo store and and replace it because the door chimes are hooked up
> though the factory radio. Is this true? Can't I simply go to a good
> installer and get it done correctly?
>
> Forgive me if this has been asked 1000 times before. A I searched
> briefly and didn't find the answer.
>

A lot of GM cars starting in about 1999 have the door chime through the
factory radio.
there is an adapter that metra and some other company's make that allow you
to interface with the factory wires and keep the door chimes

[DijitalAddict]

Just swapped the head unit in my 2006 TrailBlazer this past weekend.
It's the same way with the chimes through the head unit. You can use a
regular GM adapter but you will lose the chimes and the On-Star voice
prompts. You can use one of the PAC harnesses and keep both or you
could use this:
http://www.installer-data.com/item/display_item.php?it=GMRC-05.
With this you keep the chimes but still lose the voice prompts from
On-Star.

Hope this helps.

P.S. Or take it to a pro and they will get you going.

DA

[bob wald]

I woulod never use onstar.unless i started wearing dresses......
HahAhAHAHAhAHAhA.....
door chimes are good in some cases..to let you know if a door is ajar
before you drive though a car wash....

[Chad Wahls]

Or, until, you get plowed into head on by a drunk hauling ass, ALL of
the airbags deploy, OnStar calls and you (or your friend and his family
in my case) get your ass jerked out of the car before you die on a
side road. Do I have it... nope, can't get it. But if you are willing
to spend the money for peace and mind.........

Chad

[bob wald]

LOL..you are a tool...like thats going to happen..lol
They got you scared into buying onstar....lol
if you get plowed into.youd be dead most likely.hows your onstar going
to help you???lol
SUCKER......

[Chad Wahls]

"bob wald" > wrote in message
...
> LOL..you are a tool...like thats going to happen..lol
> They got you scared into buying onstar....lol
> if you get plowed into.youd be dead most likely.hows your onstar going
> to help you???lol
> SUCKER......
>

All occupants survived in the noted accident, Mostly a full recovery with
the exception of moderate hearing loss from the sudden pressure increase in
the cabin. It was a head on collision with both vehicles traveling in
excess of 50MPH.

If you really know as much as you think you do about car insurance you would
also note that the insurance companies give you a premium break for having
it (OnStar) also.

And of you could read you would know I DON'T HAVE IT! I WON'T HAVE IT. And
THEY have not scared me into anything. Unfortunately your mega 3-speed
tricycle with the big orange flag probably won't have it offered either.

LOLlolLOLlolLOLlolLOLlol

ROTFLMBFAO