Aftermarket Cruise and Stereo CD Player Questions

[RJB52]

I have a 2003 Impala 9C6 (police/taxi) model. I want to install an aftermarket cruise control on this car, has anyone on here done this, if so what one was it, how does it work, how easy was it to install?
Also, I want to install an aftermarket CD stereo unit. My OEM radio has displays like tire pressure monitor, doorlocks etc, any way to import them to a replacement unit??

[tom3]

The new GM cars have a Body Control Module, that's BCM that controls about everything on the car and it will probably screw it up replacing the factory stereo. Sounds crazy I know. A complete stand alone cruise control such as the AudioVox unit would probably work ok on the car, get at AutoZone for about a hundred bucks.

[bigrod118]

Actually, the BCM wont care about the cd player. as far as "importing" the features on the factory radio, you cant. but you can get a relocation harness if you want, and move the stock cd player to the trunk, where you will still be able to access all of those features. But it is not required. If you dont want to relocate the factory radio, you can just make sure all the feautres that can be changed, are how you like them, then take out the radio, the car will remember those settinsg, but you wont be able to change them. And as far and reseting message cetner lights (change oil, low tire pressure, etc) you can do those without the radio, with a few tricks.

[jrouter76]

Originally Posted by bigrod118

Actually, the BCM wont care about the cd player. as far as "importing" the features on the factory radio, you cant. but you can get a relocation harness if you want, and move the stock cd player to the trunk, where you will still be able to access all of those features. But it is not required. If you dont want to relocate the factory radio, you can just make sure all the feautres that can be changed, are how you like them, then take out the radio, the car will remember those settinsg, but you wont be able to change them. And as far and reseting message cetner lights (change oil, low tire pressure, etc) you can do those without the radio, with a few tricks.

what are the tricks...and also does this apply to 2005 models? and why do they need to put the VIN number in the radio..whats that all about? GM has just gone crazy with tying everything into the radio

[bigrod118]

well, you can find out the tricks if you look thru your owners manual, it will tell you in there, if you dont have a manual you can download it here.

http://www.impalaauthority.com/owners_manuals.html

Or you can take a look at this and it will tell you how to also.

http://www.impalaauthority.com/reset...ithout_RDS.pdf

And the stock radios need to have the VIN programed into them, so incase it gets stolen, and then put into a different car, it wont work, it has to reconginze the VIN in order to work, so tahts why the STOCK radios need to be programmed for the VIN, not any aftermarket ones.