brianjg

Hey everyone, I'm new.

I'm having a bit of a hard time figuring out how to hook up my new radio I just picked up the other day. I've already opened my dash and got the mount in place, but to connect the wires I'm at a loss. I don't wan to blindly jab wires together, google isn't proving helpful for me, and I don't want to fry anything because I'm not informed on what I'm doing... and I'm not about to spend 250$ to have my 125$ radio installed.

So my car is a 2001 cavalier, and my radio is a Sony (I asume their harnesses are standard... the manual came with information on what each wire does anyway). The main problem is I cannot find a snap-on harness to connect my GM car to my sterio system.

I figured I could manualy put the loose wires from the sony radio directly into the GM's contact leads. I heard it's not as easy as this... That being said, I'm not illiterate of electronics... but I've never done auto electronics before.

I can easily take some photos of this if it would help anyone help me.

All of the stores I've been to either do not have the right connectors... and google is finding me nothing.

Any tips on how I can connect my radio wires? Thanks!

smpl_gy

I have a 2001 cavalier myself and you need a specialty harness (it has a data relay function with built in chime)...It's a bit on the expensive side, about $100 but you can find it for less. It works perfect and worth every penny....Its the Scoshe DCGM-09...Which model cav do you have?

brianjg

Thanks for the responce guys.

So I've found the DCGM09 for cheap
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_3775_Scosche+DCGM09+-+GM09SR.html
$70 Plus 17.57 shipping = about 90 bucks.

But I also saw this:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_9903_Scosche+GM11+-+GM11B.html#
Which appears to be the same thing for about $30, without the RCA plugs. Like I said I am not without some electronic skills, and I would be able to attach RCA plugs myself.

My bigger question is, do I really need the chime computer? I've been driving fine without it. Everything in my car is manual... windows, doors, lights, trunk. Nothing is computer-controlled. I figure the GM harness already has the DC power, as well as speaker connections right there, why can I not splice right into that?

I've never instaled a car radio before, so I just want to make sure I get this right. If I do get this DCGM09 (or that one without RCA cords), where would I make the connections on the sony side of this to the chime computer? I figure I splce the RCA cords to the sony cords, or attach RCA plugs to the sony end. But like I said, I don't want to pretend I know what I'm buying, and see that I need to buy somthing else extra.

Dukk

For this particular application you are going to need the specialty harness whether you do the install or a professional does it. Considering that the factory radio harness has no switched ignition lead in it and your lack of experience in radio installation leads me to recommend that you buck up the $50 for a shop to install it.

I'm all for people trying stuff on their own, but a deck install in a post 2000 GM car is not where you want to start off. Just my 2cents.

red rocket

iTrader: (1)

If you go and get the proper harness, you'll thank yourself afterwards. It gives you the switched 12v that you need, and its as simple as paint by numbers. All the wires on the radio wiring harness will match up to the harness that you've just purchased. If there are extra function wires there that you dont need then dont hook them up.

smpl_gy

In this particular car, there are data commands which are relayed through the factory head unit (class 2 data bus). These report current / healthy status of the car. Since you will be removing this head unit, you will require this harness to relay these data commands. If you do not use this module, your check engine or service light may come on intermittently for no reason (I've heard of other things going wrong but i haven't had confirmation)....

brianjg

Thanks everyone, I've decided to get the DCGM09. It seems like the best way to get this done.

smpl_gy

Another option would be Pacific Accessories Corp (PAC) C2R-GM24 harness....