help installing an aftermarket radio in a 04

[crazeclay]

just purchased an aftermarket radio and was going to install it when I was told I need a data buss interface/adapter? If not connect right I would loose my door chime, my computer system wouldn't work right, and my airbag might be affected. Does anyone know about this and how to connect it? Thanks

[simple_country_guy]

It can be installed with just the cheap wiring harness as long as you have a little basic wiring experience. You will lose your door chime and you have to run a 12V ignition wire to the radio location. You can also buy the interface that will give you a 12V source and allow you to keep your door chime. Either way, your truck will run just fine. If you have onstar you will lose it with either wiring harness.The voice prompts come through the factory radio. The more expensive harness runs anywhere from$50-$100. Good Luck.

[crazeclay]

I've always installed my own audio, but wasn't sure if I wanted to attempt this. I don't have onstar. Do you know where I can purchase the harness that will let me keep the chimes. I saw somewhere that a Metra VT-GMRC-01 might be the interface that I need, but I don't know where to get it. Thanks

[simple_country_guy]

Crutchfield.com, but I warn you, there's is $79.00

[huminski]

I put an alpine v-drive cd unit in my 04. You can definitely do it either way, and the only thing you will lose without the module is the chimes. This includes all chimes, like headlights on, fuel level low, buckle seatbelt, etc. I found the module locally at an installer shop for $30. It was open box but it works and it was 1/2 price.

I actually wired it both ways. You need to know that the factory radio has no 'switched' +12v lead to turn on the radio. Instead it has a 'data' wire that actually 'tells' the radio to turn on, and 'tells' the radio to sound the chimes, etc.

You need to run a separate +12v wire from somewhere else as was mentioned above if not using the data bus adapter. What the data bus adapter does is 2 things:

1. It accepts the data wire input and internally relays a switched +12v output to the radio.

2. It uses an internal speaker (in the adapter) and sounds a chime when when the data wire tells it to, when the lights are left on, when the doors open, when the fuel level is low, etc, etc.

Hope this helps. I personally would bite the bullet and pick up the adapter. Local shops had them new for $59.99, look around. Crutchfield is always more expensive than the locals, strange for a mail-order outfit....

Hope this helps!

[majorpain]

After much research on this topic and getting infomration from a kid at Circuitcity, I found the following website that can offer assistance with your wiring needs. http://www.installer.com/

Just plug information for your vehicle and the site will give you the information you need. I will be using these guys products to install my Dual brand DVD player.

Circutcity only sells the data bus if you have them install your aftermarket radio at a toon of $100, plus the $50 for installing. These guys are nuts. Figure I will save myself money and install it cheaper.