'05 Navigation means NO CD-Player at all?!?

I was in the middle of buying an '05 Yukon XL that was equipped with latest iteration of the factory Touch Screen Navigation Radio, including XM. This head unit replaces the 6 disc in dash changer / head unit that comes standard on the 1SD package.

I thought, no problem, since I had seen the GM Navigation unit in Denalis and in the GM Yukon brochures, and there was always a REMOTE 6-disc in-dash changer mounted in the Denali front facing center console (like where the remote cassette player used to be in older Suburban/Yukons).

But in this 2005 Yukon XL with Nav, there was NO remote CD changer, and upon further reading at the dealership, there is apparently NO option or provision at the factory or at the dealership to have the front facing center console mounted remote 6-disc in-dash CD changer (Option code "UC6") when the touch screen navigation radio (Option code "UM8") is installed.

That was a shock.

After spending $2,145.00 for a Navigation Radio, (yes, a mid '05 price increase from the former $1,995.00 earlier this model year), it turns out that GM apparantly expects it's Yukon XL customers to be satisfied with having to REMOVE the navigation DVD (hence disabling navigation) in order to play a single CD in it's place.

That is downright silly.

I am buying the navigation system to help me navigate, at all times. I don't necessarily want to listen to XM radio all day, because I have reading to do, and I can get that reading done with audio books on tape (well, I can't anymore because there is no cassette player either) or nowadays, audio books on cd.

I don't like the idea of an aftermarket stereo shop cutting and splicing the multiplexed wires in a new $55,000 GM vehicle, one that is already known to have various random heater, a/c and radio problems anyway. I simply want a GM factory cd player solution like I saw in the Yukon brochure.

Anyway, this was the deal killer. Not being able to have navigation going while listening to books or one's own choice of music (on a GM plug and play factory cd player) is beyond belief for the amount of premium on has to pay for that lack of capablity.

Can anyone help? I otherwise very much like the Yukon XL. I cannot get the Denali or the Escalade for several reasons, including 1) needing a less glitzy and more commercial appearance, as this is for work, 2)needing the 3/4 ton capacity, and 3) needing the 4wheelsteering option which is not available on the Denali or the Escalade.

It's now 2:AM in the morning, New Year's Eve, and I've spent the better part of the last 4 (FOUR) hours searching google for help or suggestions, with no luck. The trouble is, all the appropriate search terms like "2005" "Yukon XL" "navigation" "remote" "in-dash" "6-disc" "changer" turn up is a 1000 million sites that want to either sell me the Yukon, or review the Yukon.

This is in fact the first decent Yukon-specific forum I've found, and I was hoping that someone else might have noticed the same problem with the GM Navigation versus CD player I did. Not being able to play a cd while having navigation in use in a vehicle designed for long travel trips and towing is just plain unacceptable! Has someone found a way to plug and play a Denali console mounted cd changer, either the concealed vertical kind under the lid, or the forward facing in-dash kind (preferred)? Or something else?

I do not want the factory wires cut, spliced, or tapped into. No way do I want to live through the warranty voiding nightmare that may invite.

Is there a GM Factory plug and play solution to this dilemna? I can't buy this SUV it there isn't. Can anyone help, or direct me to some other good forums where people might know?

My apologies, this ended up being kind of long for my first post, but I wanted to give you enough information to help you help me! Thanks for reading, and I look forward to any answers, ideas, or links you may have. In the absence of that, perhaps you may know of names of other good Yukon forums where I can ask.

BTW, the selling dealership offered no solutions (not even to save the deal) other than for me to see this local aftermarket guy that works out of his van!.

mine has one...its above the ash tray...

Mine has one too. 6 disk in dash CD player. When I bought mine I was a little bit worried that I wouldn't be able to listen to the radio or CD player while I had the nav screen up, no worries though everything works beautifully. Did you even test drive the rig? Because if you did you should have been able to see the disk player without a problem.

Edit: Sorry I own a Denali. I am not familiar with what the regular Yukon line has to offer as far as CD players/nav systems go.

Hi,
I don't have the nav system in my 2001 YXL K2500, so I am not an expert.
GM dealers have no knowledge about Delco radio products, and Delco does not support customers. Go figure...
It is my understanding that you can remove the nav DVD once it has loaded and you can then play a music CD.
Please do a test drive and try that out.

You should be able to plug an external GM CD player or Cassette player into the nav radio using the multipin connector in the back, if it still has one. I would pop it out and look - I will try that at my GMC dealer.

Take care, Eggert Johnson :bananasmi
P.S. The thread below from another forum deals with a 2003 nav radio conversion.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28030

Smurof--yeah, that is pretty stupid on GM's part; what the hell were they thinking? Anyways, there is a solution--buy the external factory 6-disc DIN-size CD changer and the harness required to connect it to the nav. I don't know what the lower center console looks like on the Yukon/Tahoe/Suburban, so if it doesn't have an opening for the changer, you'll need to go find a console off a Denali.

Eggert--IIRC the nav disc has to remain in the unit for the map to display; if you need to pull up the map screen--say, by pressing the "NAV" button--I believe you will get a "No Map Disc" or similar error message.

Is there a GM Factory plug and play solution to this dilemna?

Hello

YES there is a solution.
We just picked up our "Loaded" ..'05 Yukon XL, Black, 4x4 3/4 yesterday. I am loving it. Today I got to play with all the buttons.

The Nav does replace the 6 cd changer BUT we also have the rear entertainment center. So after reading this post I went to play some more. I put a cd in the overhead DVD ... .. and the nav cd in the main unit in dash. Press the cd button until you see the RSE symbol. That should do it.. Nav worked perfect as well as the music cd. The only fall backs are that you have to reach behind you to put in a cd and use the remote to change tracks.. BUT it can be done.

The way I see it is that the nav company and XM radio are in bed together so they want your XM subscription. Anyway.. If a RES can be hooked up... so can a remote player an changer.. I will ask this guy that installed some extra goodies the wife wanted...dvd headrest.. He should know how it is done.

I have a 6 cd changer w/nav unit, Not sure what you mean.

Reels

Which Nav unit do you have?? Is it the touch screen with XM ?

Hello

YES there is a solution.
We just picked up our "Loaded" ..'05 Yukon XL, Black, 4x4 3/4 yesterday. I am loving it. Today I got to play with all the buttons.

The Nav does replace the 6 cd changer BUT we also have the rear entertainment center. So after reading this post I went to play some more. I put a cd in the overhead DVD ... .. and the nav cd in the main unit in dash. Press the cd button until you see the RSE symbol. That should do it.. Nav worked perfect as well as the music cd. The only fall backs are that you have to reach behind you to put in a cd and use the remote to change tracks.. BUT it can be done.

The way I see it is that the nav company and XM radio are in bed together so they want your XM subscription. Anyway.. If a RES can be hooked up... so can a remote player an changer.. I will ask this guy that installed some extra goodies the wife wanted...dvd headrest.. He should know how it is done.
Yes you can do that, but by creating a workaround for the "no CD in front" problem, you've potentially/essentially have created another problem--namely, folks in back can no longer watch DVD on the RSE. The issues you brought up are valid but relatively minor compared to the fact that if that is what you plan to use the RSE for most of the time...that's a lot of money to pay for the RSE option just to use it as a glorified CD player.

Yes, it is sad that GM was shortsighted in this regard (on Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon); however, for a few bills (and maybe a slight modification to the center console) you can just add the factory slave 6-CD changer, which will/should work in conjunction with the factory nav unit. A much more elegant solution than the one you suggested, if you ask me... :2cents:

Reels

Which Nav unit do you have?? Is it the touch screen with XM ?


Yes, I have the touch screen with XM1&2. THe 6 CD Changer is just above the ashtray, factory installed.

When I arrived at the dealership I had every intention of buying a Yukon SLT with the 1SD package and the Nav and DVD in it. The AWD, 6.0L engine and heated rear seats were just not important to me. When the salesperson mentioned the CD Changer was not available I ended up with the Denali. The $1000 discount package for the Moonroof, Nav and DVD helped seal the deal.
BTW, the quadrasteer system will be killed after the 2005 model year. Since 2002 they have only sold 16,500 vehicles total with that option.