Radio Change

[BurkeMan]

Hey everybody... New here. I just bought a 2001 1500HD 4x4. I have considered changing a few things. First, the radio. My question is, what effects does upgrading the factory radio have on anything else. I know that it can be tied into other things and I don't want the headache if I screw up. Thanks!!

[scottmoyer]

Originally Posted by BurkeMan

Hey everybody... New here. I just bought a 2001 1500HD 4x4. I have considered changing a few things. First, the radio. My question is, what effects does upgrading the factory radio have on anything else. I know that it can be tied into other things and I don't want the headache if I screw up. Thanks!!

The 2001 doesn't have RDS if I remember correctly. If it doesn't, you shouldn't have any trouble upgrading it. The only instance would be with the Bose system. I have 2 cars with the Bose stereo and each speaker is individually amplified. I would assume that the trucks are the same way. If you are replacing a Bose system, then you'll probably need to replace the speakers also.

[Tdragone]

LOL;

I have a Kenwood stereo in my house that arrived today waiting for a wiring harness that will be delivered tomorrow so I can install it.


(BTW; I got the Kenwood X789 off ebay for 150.00. It HAS RDS and wil play CD's with MP3's on them

Long story short is this:
up to and including 2002 (I have an 02 silverado) does NOT have RDS; If you have on Star; you need the 80.00 module to retain the functionality of On Star that is built into the Factory radio. If no onstar; you can replace with ANY aftermarket stereo; and either snip the harness and hard wire the in dash wires to your Aftermarket harness that comes with the radio. You CANNOT however wire a 2003 or above Chevy radio (That HAS RDS; a cool feature; but the electronics in the radio will SHUT DOWN your truck and require you to have it towed to the dealer to be reprogrammed; When it is reprogrammed; it will be reset for the old radio; you CANNOT under any circumstances get an RDS radio to work with a Silverado earlier than an 03)

That bieng said; you can buy any radio youwant and then just go to Crutchfield.com and get the appropriate harness (No onstar) or Harness + Electronics (Truck has onstar) and then you just wire the two harnesses together. This gives you the ability to throw the old one in if you go to the ghetto or sell the truck and want the radio; you just yank the radio + harness and use the still existing factory plud to re-connect the factory radio.

Swapping the units is easy on my 02; the while huge trim 'ring' just pops out (You have to shift out of park to get it out) and there are 2 little quick releases to move on the sides and the whole thing slides right out. When you are on crutchfield; order the mounting kit for your car; you get a set of the quick release sliders and a faceplate to change the double DIN opening to a single DIN opening.

My truck was broken into; and my last radio stolen; so I jus tpopped the factory one back in. Now that I have a new radio; the install should take me 15 minutes to crimp the wires together on the 2 harnesses; and less than 10 to remove the old radio; unplug harness; plug in new harness; slide radio in and put trim 'ring' back on.

If you have any other questions; please ask.

[TexasF355F1]

If you take it to any competant stereo shop they can install and work around anything.

[jeverett]

On the 01, the radio isn't really tied into anything else except onstar. I've done an assload of installs on these year trucks. Some of the easiest i've worked on.