Quick re-cap from about a year ago:
I got a 03 Cavalier. I tried to install the stereo myself like I had done on my previous 2 cavaliers. Well, this one has some other crap going through the stereo so it got all mucked up. Here is what I did:
Removed stock stereo. Chopped off the harness for the radio wires. So, now, in my dash, I just have a bunch of wires coming out that would have gone into the harness which plugged into the stock stereo.
I tried to run those wires DIRECTLY into my Sony deck. It worked, but it also caused the deck to be "on" all the time even though I would shut it off, it would still drain the battery. So, for about a year now, I have just removed the deck all together and drive without music. It sucks.
So, I'm talking to this guy online and he says that I should get a reverse harness from Radio Shack or something that I should splice into the wires that are currently coming out of the dash. Then I should buy a GMRC01 and plug that into the "new" harness. Then, splice the wires coming out of that into the Sony deck. Is that the correct plan of action? I was just going to take it to a place and have them install the stereo, but for that to happen, I need to get the factory harness back on. So, I could either buy a harness and splice it in myself, or go to the dealership and have them put it back on somehow. But he said that they would probably have to replace all the wires back to the fuse box. That will cost a lot of money wont it?
What do you think. This is my christmas present to myself so any thoughts or info would be appreciated. Thanks,
Chris
"There were some Luddites with some kind of PC-based, primitive [operating system], I think it's called Windows, who couldn't figure out how I got a TV on the plane." Trent Reznor referring to peoples reaction to his PowerBook G4 Titanium
Radio Shack doesn't carry car stereo harnesses. Hasn't for over 5 years.
The easiest (and least expensive) thing to do would be to hardwire the Sony harness like you had it before, but you will need to run the switched accessory power from the ignition harness or fusebox. You only need to get a harness out of a junkyard and splice it on and then use an RC01 or OS01 IF you want to keep the retained accessory power and door chimes. Up to you.
-Chris
Well.. I think thats the advise that was given to me before and obviously I screwed it up. I have no idea what a RC-1 or OS01 is. I could care less about the door chimes. I just dont want to drain my battery again. And I dont know how to run the switched accessory power from the ignition harness or fusebox =(
"There were some Luddites with some kind of PC-based, primitive [operating system], I think it's called Windows, who couldn't figure out how I got a TV on the plane." Trent Reznor referring to peoples reaction to his PowerBook G4 Titanium
One way you could do it is hook every thing up like you had before. On my system ( I have a Pioneer) There is a red wire and a yellow wire. Both are power wires. One is a constant power wire, and the other is the power wire that powers the stereo when the car is on. With mine the yellow is the constant power wire. I have it wired into my harness. The red I ran a 16g wire to the fuse box and stuck it into the fuse labled RADIO. Works great!
In the planning stage for an all American TRD Cavalier.
So.. for the constant power, you spliced a 16g wire to that and ran it to the fuse box and just jammed it into the "radio" fuse?
"There were some Luddites with some kind of PC-based, primitive [operating system], I think it's called Windows, who couldn't figure out how I got a TV on the plane." Trent Reznor referring to peoples reaction to his PowerBook G4 Titanium
what the previous guy you talked to online is correct. there is a reason that they make a harness for our cars, so that we dont mess anything up and so you dont have to hardwire everything. You are lucky you didnt throw any check engine lights or gauges stop working or wires melt. trust me I have seen some bad stuff while installing stereos. another thought to save you the money from going to the dealership to get the original harness is to try to find a cavy at a junk yard. late 02-2005 are all the same not sure about other years. then yes get you a gmco1 from a local radio shop or online. yes they are 80-100 dollars, periphial makes a good one. and I am sure half the guys dont care about chimes but you will be alot happier spending 100 as apposed to 200+ if you mistakingly connect a wrong wire and you car nearly catches on fire. the only way you can mess up on the harnesses is if you are color blind. good luck with the harness situation any questions when hooking it up feel free to ask
ARGH. Called around. Nobody has an 03 or newer cavalier in their junk yards. Called the dealership and they dont have anything. They only have the bare harness without any "plugs" or whatever he called them. He said each one of those are about $5.00 and there are 24 of them in the plug. He suggested calling a stereo shop to see if they could repair it for cheaper. Called the stereo shop he suggested and they said I have to have the dealership fix it first and then they can take over.
"There were some Luddites with some kind of PC-based, primitive [operating system], I think it's called Windows, who couldn't figure out how I got a TV on the plane." Trent Reznor referring to peoples reaction to his PowerBook G4 Titanium
I dont think most radio shops will be able to get you the original harness for the radio, however I will check a few places around here for it. your best bet is then going to probably be to hardwire the gmco1 to the factory wires
dnacustoms,
Hmm.. yea. They cant. My only other thought was to look elsewhere for any cavaliers where somebody could lop off the thing and send it to me. I'd be willing to pay somebody to help me out. I would rather not try hardwiring again as that wasnt so successful last time =)
Let me know if there's anything else I can do or try or whatever. I appreciate it. Trying to make this my christmas present to myself this year. BAH HUMBUG! =)
"There were some Luddites with some kind of PC-based, primitive [operating system], I think it's called Windows, who couldn't figure out how I got a TV on the plane." Trent Reznor referring to peoples reaction to his PowerBook G4 Titanium
hey man no luck with the harness... sorry hope you find one though. i would try someone on here that just totalled there car and trying to part it out.
Do you have a local Circuit City around? I used to work for them and we used to fix peoples F ups like this all the time. But its not the normal $35 fee its usually atleast a $50 fee.
you guys keep factory harnesses there? what kind of distributor do you get them from or is it from the dealership?
No, we don't have factory plugs. Metra makes reverse harness adaptors. We just hardwire the radio and run the accessory to the ignition harness.
-Chris
