2003 Radio/electrical issues

03Bluerado · April 22, 2003

Hey ya'll, I have been lurking around here for some time, this is my first post and I hope someone can offer some info. I have a 2003 reg cab with about every option I could get. One that I couldnt get was a 6 disc changer, well I tracked one down and after putting it in tried to get it programed by the dealer, no joy. Said he would have to get the vci info or something from GM, now the general says the radio will not work in the truck because it was not an original RPO option and cant talk to the BCM blah blah blah...anyway does anyone know a way around this or have installed aftermarket? I want to stay stock if at all possible. Thanks GM all I wanted was 6 hours of music...

carguru · April 22, 2003

Unfortunately, the dealer is right. They cannot unlock the radio on the '03. If you can get the VIN from the original vehicle it came from, then it is possible to unlock. The other alternative would be to get in contact with Delco. There should be a place that the dealer can send these radios to to get unlocked. Sorry not much help. BTW, welcome to the forum.

03Bluerado · April 22, 2003

Hey thanks for the input but the way I understand it is its not a matter of unlocking the radio it has to do with the computer not allowing the use of it because it was not an original option for my truck. The mech said he would call and get some info to make a custom program but now the service manager said they had no luck with it. The 03 radios talk to the bcm and are programmed to each individual VIN # and i guess the truck will not even run without the radio in it! Anyone who knows a way around this please let me know...or if you got a 03 extended cab and want a 6 disc player....

Firetiger(MN) · April 23, 2003

Will it even work if put into an ext. cab if it functions by the VIN? Or what is the key to this? I have a '03 ext cab with the single CD Bose.

What's the price on a 6-disc?

03Bluerado · April 23, 2003

Hey it should work in any extended cab, it just recognizes the model thru the vin. The extended cabs could get the 6 disc as an option, the reg. cabs could not. These things are not exactly cheap or plentiful right now, GM list is $796! GMpartsdirect has it for around 450, if I cant get this one to work for me I will let it go for 300 or best offer.

carguru · April 23, 2003

It should work. In the original vehicle it was installed in, the radio had to have the VIN# and some acoustics info programmed in using the Tech II programmer. This way the theft info is stored into the radio and locked to the vehicle. In order for it to be unlocked, the radio must be sent back to be reflashed. To do this, the original VIN# must be available. Otherwise the radio is useless. If all of the info is cleared, then it can be used in any vehicle that will accept that series of radio.