2005 Cavalier Cd Player Installation...how Do I Do It???

does anybody know how to install an aftermarket cd player into a 2005 chevy cavalier? the guys at best buy said something about hooking the wires onto the starter??? i am lost. can anybody help me? thanks.

Buy an aftermarket wire harness for your car from wal-mart or an audio shop. One end hooks into your factory wire harness (which plugs into the back of your stock deck) and the other end splices with the wire harness that is attached to your new deck. The wires should match up in colors so you just splice the same color wires together. I recommend doing this by soldering and using electrical tape. After this it should work just as the factory deck did.

Does this mean you have to keep the stock deck hooked up?

No. If they tell you that don't believe them. They may tell you it will cause your airbags not to work, but all it does is cause your chims (when you leave your lights on, etc.) not to work. Crutchfield has a harness that has a speaker on it that will let you keep your chimes, but it costs around $80 (at least they had one for my 01 Cavalier). If you want to keep your chimes like I did, thats a good harness to use.

Does that apply to the 2005 Sunfire too? I read somewhere that if you unhook the head unit on a 2005 Sunfire, the car won't even start anymore until you bring it to the dealer to reset something.

Does that apply to the 2005 Sunfire too? I read somewhere that if you unhook the head unit on a 2005 Sunfire, the car won't even start anymore until you bring it to the dealer to reset something.

Hah thats a new one. It should work the same for a sunfire as it would a cavalier. Just think about something though...do you honestly think they would sell a car that would have the airbags, or even starting the car depend on the cd deck? Get a proper harness/installation kit and you should have no problems.

So the only thing that will not work is the chimes? That's good, I guess the guy who said the car won't run at all didn't know what he was talking about. And who needs the chimes anyways?

Ok so to install a new unit, I need:
-a new unit, obviously
-a mounting thing because the new one is probably smaller
-a GM wiring harness (are all GM wiring harnesses the same or do I need a specific one for a Sunfire?)

anything else I need?

Also, what do you think about this unit:
http://xscargo.com/product.php?dept=Electronics&cat=Car%20Audio&index=6&item=CE3040MP3

I'd say spend a few extra bucks and get a better one. Anti skip is really nice feature to have. Eclipse, Pioneer, and Alpine are really good ones, but also carry a higher price. Having the MP3 capability is also awesome. I've never heard of that AutoSound brand so i'm not to sure the quality.

Getting an aftermarket cd player will also produce better sound. Buying some aftermarket speakers will make the sound a whole lot better. Everyone likes what they like....me, I like Alpine, Eclipse, Diamond Audio. More exspensive, but better sound.

Yeah more money almost always means better quality, but the problem is that I'm really short of money and I figure anything would be better than the stock deck so I'm looking for something cheap, my only requirement is that it can play mp3's and that it can provide decent power to the speakers (I'll also get new speakers). Also, these things get stolen around here all the time, so that's another reason I don't want an expensive one.

Btw anyone know how many watts the stock deck is capable of (it's the deck that plays cd's but no mp3's), and how many watts are the stock speakers in a base model 05 sunfire?

When I got my aftermarket cd player for my 2000 cavalier, after what seemed like a day, I blew my factory speakers. It could have blown them right away, I don't know. My Eclipse deck has an 8v preout. Where others are normally 4-6. Get an alarm for your car. It would scare off thieves. It did to ones around here that is.

So the only thing that will not work is the chimes? That's good, I guess the guy who said the car won't run at all didn't know what he was talking about. And who needs the chimes anyways?

Ok so to install a new unit, I need:
-a new unit, obviously
-a mounting thing because the new one is probably smaller
-a GM wiring harness (are all GM wiring harnesses the same or do I need a specific one for a Sunfire?)

anything else I need?

Also, what do you think about this unit:
http://xscargo.com/product.php?dept=Electronics&cat=Car%20Audio&index=6&item=CE3040MP3

This is the wire harness I have for my 01 Cavalier...this link is also specific to your 2005 Sunfire...

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Z0BCUkGZbc8/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=751&I=120GMRC01

Its pricey, but it allows you to keep your chimes. Try searching google for cheaper harnesses or try wal-mart. If you go to an audio shop, they will try to sell you a $100 (give or take a few) wire harness that actually extends to your trunk so you can mount your factory radio (they will tell you you will have to keep the factory or something will not work).

As for the deck you picked out...I recommend you go with a named brand. Even if you don't get an expensive one, go with something that you know you can trust and comes with a warranty.

Mine came with a 1 year theft warranty and 3 year warranty, pretty much if it f-ups at all. The 1 year is over but still got 1½ year left on the other. When that is over, i'm going to upgrade. I'm going to get another Eclipse and will probably spend another $500-600 again.

thanks for the quick answer!! i'm gonna try it out this weekend and hope it works.

thanks for the quick answer!! i'm gonna try it out this weekend and hope it works.

Did it work? He's only posted twice, i don't think he'll come back.

i actually didn't get a chance to try it out last weekend. and this weekend i'm heading east for the endless summer car show :-P hopefully i'll be able to try it soon.

i actually didn't get a chance to try it out last weekend. and this weekend i'm heading east for the endless summer car show :-P hopefully i'll be able to try it soon.

Enjoy.

In the 2005 cav. you need to get an interface for it, to keep the beeping that comes from your driver side front speaker, because I heard that your dash lights come on, but i am 100% sure you need the interface, its about $100

Shawn

His dash lights won't come on if his chimes don't work. Where do you people here this crap?

I dont miss my chimes. They were annoying as all hell. Now that I have my remote start and alarm and keyless entry with the two way responder remote. When I arm my alarm after leaving my car, and if a light is left on whether it is the dome light or my headlights, my remote will beep at me an extra time to notify me that something is left on.

i think i'm just gonna take it to best buy or something and have them do it. at least that way if anything happens, they'll fix it.

i think i'm just gonna take it to best buy or something and have them do it. at least that way if anything happens, they'll fix it.

Good idea. But it takes the fun away from learning how to do it yourself.

Good idea. But it takes the fun away from learning how to do it yourself.

That and they'll try to rip you off. I'm positive they will tell you you need to keep your factory deck and sell you a $100 maybe more wire harness.

i already bought the harness and stuff from them. they didn't try to rip me off or anything. i think i only spent like $40 or so on the harness and wires and stuff. and installation is $60 i think. so that's not bad. and i know it takes away from the learning experience, but i don't plan on installing another cd player for quite some time so by then i'll forget anyway.

Wow...I'm shocked they didn't sell you a harness that makes you keep your factory deck mounted in the trunk. But hey...if you have no intentions on installing another one anytime in the near future, I guess its worth the $60 to have it done professionally and you know it will be right the first time....or you can hold them liable.

$60 for labor. Damn.....$30 for having a cd player put in here. My harness to not have the chimes was $15.