97 Lumina Radio

[mikeslag]

Hey my CD player in my car doesn't work, it didn't work when i bought it from the dealer, but I said screw it and he knocked a few dollars off, and I'd like to replace it, but I don't know how you would do it with the theftlock system and all that, does anyone know?

[cadgear]

If you're going to swap it for another factory radio (say, one with the cassette or a different CD player system) then its direct drop in. The theftlock system is independant to the radio; it won't affect the rest of the car. Just get a wiring kit from anywhere, even wal-mart carries them now, and a faceplate adapter, and any radio you buy can be made to fit in the space. But theftlock is specific only to the radio, nothing else in the car is affected.



If/when you do swap the radio, would you be interested in selling it to me?

[mikeslag]

Originally Posted by cadgear

If you're going to swap it for another factory radio (say, one with the cassette or a different CD player system) then its direct drop in. The theftlock system is independant to the radio; it won't affect the rest of the car. Just get a wiring kit from anywhere, even wal-mart carries them now, and a faceplate adapter, and any radio you buy can be made to fit in the space. But theftlock is specific only to the radio, nothing else in the car is affected.



If/when you do swap the radio, would you be interested in selling it to me?

I don't know if we're talking about the same thing here, but do you mean I can just replace the CD player and leave the radio in, I don't know much about cars really, so bear with me, I thought that they were like one entire entity.

[cadgear]

No, the radio and CD are one unit. But the theftlock system has nothing to do with anything else in the car, and if its not armed it will work just fine in another car. It all comes out as one unit and can be replaced as one unit (radio & cd together).
Hope this clears some things up.

[jeffcoslacker]

I can help you with getting the Theftlock unlocked if you replace it with an identical unit. If you go aftermarket, you don't need to worry about it. I just replaced the stock cassette head unit in mine with a CD head unit from a friend's wrecked Lumina. However, he did not know the code to unlock it (I didn't know the code for mine either) but I was able to pull some strings and call in a favor, and I now have the code unlock procedure (top secret!!) I think I've seen it posted here, too. Dealers charge $50 to unlock 'em. Bastards.

I do like the Delco/Bose units, they seem to have adequate power for my listening needs, and a useful control setup. Besides, I'd rather plug and play than mess with adapter harnesses and instructions. For $25 for the unit I put in, I'm very happy. I'm suprised my speakers aren't hammered yet, loud as I go with the kinda music I like. Seem like very good for stock systems.

[jeffcoslacker]

I have the cassette unit still, if you want it. Personally I hate cassette.

[tblake]

I have a delco cd player stock from my 2001 lumina that I pulled out for an aftermarket replacement. Make me an offer. Sometimes is plays cd's, sometimes it doesnt and displays err. Last time I used it, theftlock was enabled, but I set it myself, and the code is 1986. Dont ask why, I couldnt tell ya. Maybe just a dirty lens, maybe more. All the display lamps have been replaced my me. less than 24 hours of radio use ago. It was the damndest thing. I replaced all the lamps with radio shack ones that last 10,000 hours, and I still have 2 left in an un opened package, which I can include, just in case. Yeah, as I was saying, i just replaced all the lamps, put my cd player back together, and back in, and a week later, just quit playing, and has only played off and on since. So I said, screw it, Pioneer here I come. Make me an offer.

[mikeslag]

Originally Posted by jeffcoslacker

I can help you with getting the Theftlock unlocked if you replace it with an identical unit. If you go aftermarket, you don't need to worry about it. I just replaced the stock cassette head unit in mine with a CD head unit from a friend's wrecked Lumina. However, he did not know the code to unlock it (I didn't know the code for mine either) but I was able to pull some strings and call in a favor, and I now have the code unlock procedure (top secret!!) I think I've seen it posted here, too. Dealers charge $50 to unlock 'em. Bastards.

I do like the Delco/Bose units, they seem to have adequate power for my listening needs, and a useful control setup. Besides, I'd rather plug and play than mess with adapter harnesses and instructions. For $25 for the unit I put in, I'm very happy. I'm suprised my speakers aren't hammered yet, loud as I go with the kinda music I like. Seem like very good for stock systems.

Hey thanks for the tip, do I still need the unlock procedure if I were to replace it with a non-chevy head unit? I'm thinkin from what I've read that the the ones that come with the car aren't all that reliable.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by mikeslag

Hey thanks for the tip, do I still need the unlock procedure if I were to replace it with a non-chevy head unit? I'm thinkin from what I've read that the the ones that come with the car aren't all that reliable.

No you just need the correct adapter harness and mounting hardware. I f you buy a unit from best buy or circuit city, theycan do the install very cheap (sometimes free) and you don't have to worry about it. I don't know about durability of the stock units. I haven't had any trouble with them.