I'd like to replace the stock radio(with XM) on my 03 LS. Crutchfield has a nice selection of units I'm interested in. Don't need navigation since I have that on my phone. I would like Bluetooth enabled, XM enabled, etc. Prefer to keep stock size vs the thin radios.
Thinking of this unit:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130P8000BT/Pioneer-FH-P8000BT.html?tp=5684
How hard is it to install these units in Cavaliers?
Thanks.
Looks like I couldn't use the stock XM antenna and plug it into the aftermarket radio without splicing I'm guessing. Shame. I hate messing with factory wiring in any way shape or form. Maybe I'll just keep the factory unit. Bummer.
Where are you located? If you are close to me, and not comfortable with installing a head unit yourself, I could do it. OR, ask any questions you are unsure on. Upgrading your head unit is always a good first step to a good sound system. More bells and whistles, more adjustments, better internal amplification, the list goes on. ALSO, do directly answer your question, that's a somewhat deep unit if I remember right, and you will have a piece of plastic on the inner dash frame that needs to be cut. And being a double-din unit, might have to trim a little on the bezel to make it fit perfectly. I don't know how comfortable you are with that, but even a single DIN unit is going to require that plastic inner brace to be cut to fit flush in a J body dash. They are fairly shallow. That's not a big deal though.
Anyway, any more questions or concerns to help you learn more about audio, or specifically installing a new head unit, ask away. It's not something to just not do if you really want it done. There is plenty of info to help you learn, and plenty of shops and knowledgeable people out there that could do it for you if you prefer to go the safer route.
On the other hand....you have other fingers.
In my family we teach that boys have a God-stick and girls have a Shame Cave. -John Stewart
Thanks. I'm in Boston. It would just seem that by now some of these manufacturers would have a way to plug in the factory XM receiver antenna into the new radio head unit. Cutting plastic isn't a big deal to me. Easy actually. Even wiring. But when I have to buy a whole new XM kit for the new radio then it's more of a turn off than anything else.
Yeah I hear ya on that. But such is the situation when you want to upgrade. Sometimes some of the factory features you like, you give up or pay more for, in order to get all the other goodies you want. Boston USED TO be about 3-4 hours from me, but I live in Omaha now, so no help here lol.
On the other hand....you have other fingers.
In my family we teach that boys have a God-stick and girls have a Shame Cave. -John Stewart
Yup, indeed. Still thinking about doing it. Such a pain though.
I installed the Pioneer AVIC-U310BT, The one with the GPS. I had to pretty much cut the entire plastic tray out and reroute the wiring harness under the tray the radio sits in... and then of course I had to wire the dimmer to the wrong wire and redo everything. And the chime thing that comes with the harness I routed behind the gauges as it was the only spot that it would fit in without zip tying it. You also have to cut the extra tabs off the universal mount that comes with the kit.
The biggest pain is routing everything and cutting the tray.
