Radio faceplate transplant a success?

[catesja]

Does anyone know if it is possible to replace just the face of the radio with a known working one? I am wondering if the code is in the head unit or in the face?

I am now replacing the lights in the display area for the second time. Today they all stopped working. I checked them each out and they were in deed burnt out.

But the display acts weird sometimes by giving weird characters and lighting up odd patterns, so if the code is not in the face then I should be able to take a face of another unit and transplant it to my unit. Then I don;t have to mess with the code crap. The last time I tried that I had two dealers try two different units and they couldn;t get them to work.
So I called GM and Delco responded that since they are VIN coded, they can't be erased and taught differently to work in another vehicle.

Anyway, any help would be great.

[Minivan Man]

Yes, it is possible!

I had the problem of the display lights burning out and replaced the entire face unit. I didn't even use a face unit from a radio with the same part number, so you may even consider looking at other model year radios (as long as it is the same basic configuration - CD, CD/cass, etc.)

The face unit is electrically connected to a circuit board in the radio's main body via 2 connectors. You should disconnect these connectors at the circuit board (the face unit side is hardwired in I believe) before removing the face unit since one of the sets of wires don't have much slack in it. From what I remember, you have to pull off atleast 3 sides of the radio and possibly remove the tapedeck unit (can't remember for sure on this one).

Good luck!

-Ben

[catesja]

I have taken the radio aprt several times. My biggest question was if the VIN coding was in the face or the head unit.

Thanks, I might look into a new face/unit. But I am also looking at a complete upgrade, the problem there is the cost and all the extra parts needed. Door chime module, steering wheel control stuff. That gets to be expensive.

Thanks

Jeff

[Minivan Man]

Since what I did worked and I didn't have to do any VIN reprogramming/writing to the radio unit, I'm going to say that the VIN information is not stored in the faceplate unit. There is a main circuit board within the radio casing, and that's where the main processor(s) are that store most of the radio functions.

Good luck with it.

-Ben

[BigRJ]

Hi: I have a 2002 Montana and the radio display recently went blank- the radio still works but its a pain. Where would a person find a replacement face plate and how long did it take to change one out?

[1999montana]

Originally Posted by Minivan Man

...There is a main circuit board within the radio casing, and that's where the main processor(s) are that store most of the radio functions....

That board probably has a E-PROM in it that stores data that is shared with the BCM. When the data doesn't match what is stored in the BCM, the radio doesn't work.

.