Stereo Swap Question

[CardboardHero]

Hello,

 

I've read countless posts that when you swap a factory style stereo into another vehicle, that the stereo has to be programmed. I even double checked with the service department at my local shop, to verify the time involved, and if they could do so while I waited (understand it to be a 20 minute deal).

 

So, you can imagine my surprise, after buying a stereo from a member here, putting it in my truck last night, and it working without any further steps.

 

My two theories:

 

1 - The vehicle it came from was another Silverado (I believe), and it only checks that portion of the VIN?

 

2 - My vehicle has 850 miles on it - maybe its still in a 'learning what it has mode'?

 

Of course, my answer that I believe, is this:

 

1 - My truck loves to be modified, so it said, "Screw you GM policies, Imma make it work!"

[MattHicks2010]

What type of stereo did you install. My truck is the WT model so my stereo didnt even come with a CD or tape deck so I swapped it out with another GM radio and my truck had to be programmed for that but whenever I swapped that out for my Pioneer i didnt have to do any reprogram at all.

[CardboardHero]

What type of stereo did you install. My truck is the WT model so my stereo didnt even come with a CD or tape deck so I swapped it out with another GM radio and my truck had to be programmed for that but whenever I swapped that out for my Pioneer i didnt have to do any reprogram at all.

 

 

I went from a w/t am/fm to a factory am/fm/cd/mp3 (GM).

[MattHicks2010]

What type of stereo did you install. My truck is the WT model so my stereo didnt even come with a CD or tape deck so I swapped it out with another GM radio and my truck had to be programmed for that but whenever I swapped that out for my Pioneer i didnt have to do any reprogram at all.

 

 

I went from a w/t am/fm to a factory am/fm/cd/mp3 (GM).

 

 

Thats what I did too and you didnt have to reprogram? I had to. That is odd

[sonjaab]

IIRC...........If the stereo your installing is a Theft-loc unit (03 and older??) and you have

the 3 digit code OR the code is not programmed into it it will work in any GM

vehicle.....................

 

OR if the radio is 04??? or newer it is tied to the vehicles VIN# and must be zapped by the Tech 2

at the GM dealer for it to work in another GM vehicle....................

 

Not exactly sure on the exact years............But someone will post the correct years.

[CardboardHero]

Both the truck and the stereo are newer than 2007 - my truck is a 2010, I believe the stereo is a 2009.

[blackout07]

The stereos are definately vin locked. I swapped mine and had to have the new radio unlocked at the stealership.

[sonjaab]

Card..........If you didn't need to do the dealer Tech 2 reprogram deal then

the new stereo must of been a 03?? or older unit.

 

Anyhoo you lucked out!

[CardboardHero]

This is the stereo - doesn't look like a 03 model to me...

 

And those that are checking the details - will notice my cargo light mod switch down in the corner....

[jrrod2004]

might have been a "virgin" unit that was not locked to a VIN...i.e. the radio was "unlocked" from the old VIN and ready to accept your VIN....

[RayGMC]

I bought a few from a seller on ebay that had the VIN unlocked. I didn't have to get the theft-lock removed at the dealer.