Adding Rear Audio Controls

VT_Z71 · June 4, 2010

For those with extended cab SLT/LTZs or highly optioned other trims with the center console, adding the Rear Seat Audio unit is a quick and simple mod you can do to your truck. Once you get a RSA unit and the correct console wiring harness, its completely plug-n-play.

Note: The RSA unit was standard in all 2007-2009 crew-cab trucks with center console and Bose audio, but not available for the extended cabs. In its place, the extended cabs just have a blank 'pocket' instead of the RSA unit. For 2010, the RSA unit is now optional on all crew-cab and extended cab trucks regardless of audio system, and not available unless you package it with the expensive rear AV system (DVD monitor, etc.). This mod should work for 2010 trucks that want to add the RSA unit, however, the console wiring harness part # listed below will be different. The 2010 console wiring harness will have a USB connection for the center console in place of the power outlet that the 2007-2009 trucks have. I'm not sure of the 2010 harness part #, but I'm sure you could get it from the dealer or perhaps from GM insiders such as Rich (MS3DALE).

Parts you will need:

- RSA Unit: got mine off EBay for $100. As you can see in the pics, mine includes Rear Air controls as it came from a Suburban. The ones for the trucks are the exact same, just without the Rear Air. The Denali ones are the same as the one I got, but they have rear seat heater buttons in addition. No matter the variation of RSA unit you find, as long as it is from a GMT-900 it should be plug-n-play. Of course, none of these extra options will work since your truck doesn't have the associated hardware, but at least the audio portions work perfectly. Note: Escalade RSA units have 'blue' backlighting, while all other versions have 'green' that match that of your truck

- Console wiring harness: GM Part #25781098, got from GM Parts Direct for $50. This particular harness is made for the 2007-2009 trucks with the RSA unit, Bose speaker system, and rear A/V. Since I dont have the rear AV input nor ever plan on using one, I just taped this extra connector to the one for the rear cigar lighter and don't plan to use. Note: there are other console wiring harness part #s from GM that closely mimic the one I gave the number for, so don't get confused with those. One is the one that came stock in my truck (extended cabs with Bose but no RSA connections) and the other is for Suburbans/Yukons/Tahoes that have the RSA & Rear Air standard but NO Bose (as was the case with the harness that came with my Ebay RSA unit). In fact, some people without the Bose system who want to add a center console and RSA unit, the latter would be the harness for you.

As far as installation, it is extremely simple. The RSA unit just screws into the back of the rear console trim (black piece) in place of the little tray. You have to remove your center console, however, to swap out the wiring harnesses. To do that, again it is very simple, see the steps below w/ a few pics:

1. Remove your center console. Instead of me typing up directions, I simply followed those borrowed off JL Audio's Stealthbox installation page (see steps 1 - 14 at this link): http://mobile.jlaudio.com/pdfs/12371.pdf

One word of advise here. All of the console screws are black and the same length, but there are certain ones (6 total I think) that are for screwing into the metal clips and not plastic. The (6) locations of special screws into metal clips are the (4) inside of the console under the lid (where you store CDs and stuff) that go into the top of the console 'bracket' that you see in the pics below, and (2) in the rear of the console that you see once you remove the rear panel (where the RSA unit screws into). These special metal screws can be distinguished as they have a uniform tread and smaller shaft at the very tip. All of the other regular screws (that go into plastic) have an alternating large/small thread. Dont get these 2 screw types confused. Keep the metal screws separate and use ONLY those for the (6) locations of metal clips. They will go in no problem at the plastic conneciton locations, however, the plastic connection screws will NOT go into the metal clips and will give you headaches.

2. Once your center console is removed, you should be seeing this:

Notice the Bose amp is underneath the metal console 'bracket', and forward of this is the black Bose woofer.

3. You need to remove the silver console 'bracket', which is simply held down by (4) screws. Here is a top view of the console 'bracket'.

4. Once you have the console 'bracket' removed, the console wiring harness can be easily removed. Just in case, make sure to disconnect the negative from your battery prior to diconnecting any of the wiring harness connections. With the complicated electrical architecture of these trucks, there is no telling what could potentially go wrong so better to be safe than sorry. Here is a picture of the wiring harness, amp, and sub with the console 'bracket' removed.

The wiring harness is pretty simple to figure out, here are the connections: On the NEW harness (part #25781098) from the main 'lock-type' blue connector back, you have (1) connection for the Bose woofer, (3) for the Bose amp, (2) for the RSA unit, (2) for the cigar lighters, and (1) extra one in case you have the RCA connectors in the rear panel for the video system (again, I'm not using the RCAs so I just taped it away for non-use). The stock harness is the same, just without the RSA and RCA connectors. Everything matches up between the harnesses, including 'christmas-tree' hold downs, so swapping one harness for the other is a simple breeze. Here is a pic of my new harness prior to installation....looks complicated but really isn't.

5. Put everything back together, including the console 'bracket', the console itself, etc. The final step of re-installing the console is the black back panel that now holds your new RSA unit, so the final connections to make are the (2) from the new harness to the RSA unit.

6. Reconnect your battery, turn your truck on, and enjoy!

Needless to say, the audio portion works great, everything lights up perfectly, and when you attempt to use the rear HVAC functions, nothing happens just like I planned. When you turn the RSA unit on, the rear speakers mute and sound directed to the earphone ports. The RSA allows you to listen to the same, or have complete control over a different source than the front seat passengers.....for instance, in the case of the picture, my front radio was playing XM while the RSA was controlling the 6-disc changer (with corresponding song info displayed on the screen).