New stereo and OnStar

[Rollingbones]

I'm thinking about dumping the stock stereo from my ride. The part I'm concerneind about is I have BlondeStar..errr..OnStar and the radio is part of that. QUESTION: Has anyone out there who has OnStar ever changed your stereo out and is so, is it possible to keep the OnStar active and if so ,how??? I use it and don't want to loose it.
THANKS!!!

[sportin83]

there are some companies that make adapters to keep this. they are not cheap.

try
www.soundgate.com
www.metraonline.com
i am not sure if those are the right companies but its worth a try or a start.

[atlsilver]

metra and scoshe make an adapter for your onstar.also certain functions of your vehicle also go through your radio. like the AIRBAGS. make sure you get a metra gmrc02. thats the part number. get it at circuit city.

[sportin83]

Originally Posted by atlsilver

metra and scoshe make an adapter for your onstar.also certain functions of your vehicle also go through your radio. like the AIRBAGS. make sure you get a metra gmrc02. thats the part number. get it at circuit city.

that part is for the 03 and newer trucks and his is a 02. met 1858 harness for the base radio but for onstar it is a separate piece.

[misfitt006]

Originally Posted by atlsilver

metra and scoshe make an adapter for your onstar.also certain functions of your vehicle also go through your radio. like the AIRBAGS. make sure you get a metra gmrc02. thats the part number. get it at circuit city.

I have changed out the stock stereo in my '02 for a pioneer with 2 10" kickers under the back seat. This is the fist I've heard about airbags being tied to the radio. What is this about and do I need to worry about my airbags not working properly? I don't have any indications that they aren't working and the light for my passenger airbag displays correctly when it is turned on......I'm a little rattled at this news...

[Rollingbones]

If you have OnStar and the airbags deploy, a signal is automatically sent to OnStar. OnStar will automatically attempt to contact you in the vehicle (the vehicle actually has a cell phone with a number in it). If there is no response or you tell them you're injured, they will automatically send emergency vehicles to your location, and believe me, they can almost tell what side if the street you're sitting on. Anyway, the communications portion of OnStar works through the stereo. I doubt (but can't swear to) that disabling a radio will prevent your airbags from deploying. At worse, it would only prevent communication with OnStar.

[sportin83]

Originally Posted by misfitt006

I have changed out the stock stereo in my '02 for a pioneer with 2 10" kickers under the back seat. This is the fist I've heard about airbags being tied to the radio. What is this about and do I need to worry about my airbags not working properly? I don't have any indications that they aren't working and the light for my passenger airbag displays correctly when it is turned on......I'm a little rattled at this news...

there is nothing to do with your airbags. in the 99-02. in the 03 and newer if they have a radio that says RDS on it which is the radio data system, i believe thats the terms. if you remove it you lose door chimes and get electrical problems and can have air bag problems.

[misfitt006]

Originally Posted by sportin83

there is nothing to do with your airbags. in the 99-02. in the 03 and newer if they have a radio that says RDS on it which is the radio data system, i believe thats the terms. if you remove it you lose door chimes and get electrical problems and can have air bag problems.

whew thanks a lot! What genious engineer thought to tie things to a stock radio with so many people choosing to replace them so often??

[sportin83]

Originally Posted by misfitt006

What genious engineer thought to tie things to a stock radio with so many people choosing to replace them so often??

thats a good ? but many of the new cars out there are making it more and more difficult to change anything at all in the cars without it causing problems. because they want you to buy everything from them so they can bend you over and give it to you however hard they want.

[jethro_3]

Remember how easy it used to be to jack a pre '99 Chevy???? Too easy. Now if you touch about anything it is wired through the radio and nothing will work. Sure you can bust a window and steal what is on the seat but if you try to get anything else that is wired stock the truck and some of the electrical components will disable. Try to hot wire and it will go dead.....

[sportin83]

[quote=jethro_3]Remember how easy it used to be to jack a pre '99 Chevy???? Too easy. QUOTE]

the chevy trucks and honda civics were on the list of the top 10 most stolen vehicles a few years back.