brand bew 2005 sierra, need cd player

johnad · June 8, 2005

Hello, I got a brand new base model sierra. It only came with raido. I'm firmalar with installing stereos, but I was wondering where I can get some instuctions on my truck on how to take it apart and stuff. Also where is the best spot to get a fit kit for cd player?

BBSilverado · June 8, 2005

Hello, I got a brand new base model sierra. It only came with raido. I'm firmalar with installing stereos, but I was wondering where I can get some instuctions on my truck on how to take it apart and stuff. Also where is the best spot to get a fit kit for cd player?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Crutchfield.com has all the kits and they come with vehicle specific instructions.

BBSilverado · June 8, 2005

Hello, I got a brand new base model sierra. It only came with raido. I'm firmalar with installing stereos, but I was wondering where I can get some instuctions on my truck on how to take it apart and stuff. Also where is the best spot to get a fit kit for cd player?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Congrats on the new truck. where are the pics?

To remove the radio:

first remove the dash bezel, it just pulls off by pulling straight out as you work around.

then all you need to do is remove the 3 screws holding in the radio.

I know most aftermarket headunits are better in quality and features, but they are a pain to do because these trucks have a databus system. a aftermarket unit will require a interface module and a ugly looking adapter to make it fit in the double din opening.

You can upgrade your radio to any of the factory non-bose headunits. It would be a direct swap and a reprogramm (if you get a used unit)

mmmikkke · June 9, 2005

Or you could buy the data bus adaptor for about $70 and then exorcise the evil factory radio.

johnad · June 9, 2005

whats a databus system.

If I buy a kit from crutchfield will it com with an adpter.

My cd player is a PREMIER DEH-P860MP

thanks

johnad · June 9, 2005

I know what is is now, I got that 70$ harness.

Thanks for info.

mmmikkke · June 10, 2005

There are 2 ways to install the radio. One way includes use of the trim ring (plastic rectangle surrounding the radio's faceplate) that comes with the radio; the other way mounts the radio onto the backside of the "kit" plastic, with only the radio's face showing through the kit plastic. No ugly trim ring.

Most "professional installers" routinely leave the trim ring in place, and the result is pretty ugly, and the customer never knows there was a second, better looking option. But it's incredibly easy to remove the trim ring, and once you've done that, you can make the install look a lot more...dare i say...professional.

Click on view vehicles under my ID on the left side of the screen. Go to my "modifications" and check out the pics of my install. I mounted my Pioneer DEH-P9400MP to the back of the kit plastic.

johnad · June 10, 2005

Mike, I understand what you mean kinda. I saw your pictures and I agree it looks better, but how do you do that again?

Could you just go into a little more detail about this

the other way mounts the radio onto the backside of the "kit" plastic, with only the radio's face showing through the kit plastic. No ugly trim ring.

emitsTech · June 10, 2005

Mike, I understand what you mean kinda. I saw your pictures and I agree it looks better, but how do you do that again?
Could you just go into a little more detail about this

the other way mounts the radio onto the backside of the "kit" plastic, with only the radio's face showing through the kit plastic. No ugly trim ring.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey mike, is that a double din radio install kit you're using? Who makes that kit? I have an AMI kit w/ the radio on top and a useless small pocket on the bottom. The pocket isn't good for much since it's about the size of a cd case, but only a few inches deep, so any cds in there fly out at my rear passengers everytime i step on the gas! Any info is appreciated, thanks!

mmmikkke · June 10, 2005

Mike, I understand what you mean kinda. I saw your pictures and I agree it looks better, but how do you do that again?
Could you just go into a little more detail about this

the other way mounts the radio onto the backside of the "kit" plastic, with only the radio's face showing through the kit plastic. No ugly trim ring.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

First you have to figure out how to remove the trim ring. It probably is just anchored like mine was, and you just pull it out away from the radio chassis and then lift it off. Once it's off, you have a unit that is ready to be mounted from the rear, against a DIN-sized hole in the dash, or in your case, a din sized hole in the kit plastic.

Then you screw the plastic sides (from the kit) to the radio and then clip the kit plastic to the front of the plastic sides. At this point, you can see how your Pioneer will look "in the dash" and decide if this mounting method is acceptable.

Next step is to figure out how to use a back brace. Mine turned out easy because I was able to reuse the plastic stub on the back of the factory radio. As you may have seen in my pictures (see View Vehicles under my ID on the left side of the screen), I mounted both a Pioneer DEH-P9400MP and a Cobra 18 WX CB. The CB was just the right depth for me to be able to attach the plastic stub to the Cobra, and so I could just push everything into the dash and make it work.

One word to the wise: It's incredibly easy to remove the heater/ac controls and so you should do that. It allows you much more working room and you'll be glad you took the 60 seconds to remove the heater controls. Just leave the wires still attached but let the heater controls dangle while you're pushing your radio and its wiring back into the dash. This will also give you room to figure out how to back-brace the radio, if you want.

mmmikkke · June 10, 2005

Hey mike, is that a double din radio install kit you're using? Who makes that kit? I have an AMI kit w/ the radio on top and a useless small pocket on the bottom. The pocket isn't good for much since it's about the size of a cd case, but only a few inches deep, so any cds in there fly out at my rear passengers everytime i step on the gas! Any info is appreciated, thanks!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's a Metra 99-2003 kit. It comes with other plastic pieces than the ones I used, and I think the one you have is among them.

I had asked around at a few install shops if there was a double din kit that would let me put in 2 din radios. The anwser given by the "professional installers" more than once was, "No."

But as you can see, they were wrong. And they lost a sale. I was forced to order the kit over the internet because of their pompous assertions, but otherwise my attitude to them is "SEE ya, wouldn't wanna BE ya."

mmmikkke · June 12, 2005

Hey mike, is that a double din radio install kit you're using? Who makes that kit? I have an AMI kit w/ the radio on top and a useless small pocket on the bottom. The pocket isn't good for much since it's about the size of a cd case, but only a few inches deep, so any cds in there fly out at my rear passengers everytime i step on the gas! Any info is appreciated, thanks!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey, emitsTech, I have 2 10" infinity subwoofers, which are currently in separate custom 0.6 cubic ft boxes under my back seat. I see that you have possibly the same drivers, but in what kind of custom box?

I am not happy with mine right now. They put out reasonable bass, but they seem right now to cause some ear fatigue. They're down-firing, and there's about 1.5 inches of air space below each driver that vents on the right and left edges.

They're just gravity-fit right now. I didn't bolt them down partially because they were experimental. And since they were experimental, I have to face up to the fact that I think the experiment proved that I don't like how they sound. Plus I don't like the fact that they are separate. My new box will be a single box, and I'm going to try for maximum interior space per driver, something more like .75 cubic ft for each driver.

Any thoughts? How big is your custom box, cubic-ft wise?

emitsTech · June 13, 2005

Hey mike, I sent you a pm about the subs. Thanks for the info on the kit! I got the same response when I went looking for a double din kit. I was sure there'd be someone who would make a double din kit. Why would you want to stay restricted to a 1 1/2 din when you have a 2 din space? Anyways, thanks for the response!