$80 Wiring Harness!?

IMFLYN · April 10, 2007

I was planning on putting my pioneer head unit from my old car into my 07 silverado classic and circuit city said the harness was $100 bucks! I laughed and said I'd find another way. On ebay the harness was 80 and some other option was only 30 but I'm pretty sure it just relocated your factory radio to some obscure place in the vehicle. This can't be true! Why would GM make it such a pain to install an aftermarket stereo. Is there a cheaper way to install my pioneer head unit?

Nytemare · April 10, 2007

only if you want your Air bags going off at some random time...Apparently.

Thats what I was told anyway. They ran the computer for the Air bags through the stereo and now you have to either buy a simulator harness...($249 Canadian) or the cheaper one to relocate the stock unit.

It pissed me off too man...and I have an 03...I didn't think they started doing this until 05...oh well, stock it will remain for me.

Schmids5.3l · April 10, 2007

I told the guys at Best Buy to get bent. I had to buy a 20-30 dollar adapter though because I installed an Alpine 400W Class D and Type E 10.

Box needs carpet I know.

erickdj · April 10, 2007

you shouldn't have to spend $80 for a wiring harness on a 2007 classic. There's no "air bag" wires going to the stereo. I replaced mine about a month ago, I paid $20 for the wire harness AND the dash kit at a local audio shop. Mine is a 2007 Classic too. The only thing you should know is that the stock wire harness does not have a ACC 12v power wire, it only has the 12v constant. So you will need to tap into one of the wires coming from the ignition switch or somewhere in your fuse box. I tapped into a brown wire from the ignition, it woks perfect. If you do some searching around you can probably find some more info on where to find a wire for the 12v ACC. It's also very useful to have a volt meter handy. Hope this helps.

Rosedog · April 10, 2007

If I understand this right. You are talking about the piece that goes between your factory wiring and the aftermarket wire adapter.

This piece also allows your stereo to continue to play after you turn it off, door chimes, alert chimes, ect... I have a Sony headunit and I don't have that piece either but eventually I'll get it.

I was shocked too when I first learned of the price but then realized its probably worth it.

silverdrgn · April 10, 2007

My freind just bought a used 2004 Silverado and we installed his Sony aftermarket stereo with a 40 dollar Scosche harness from Walmart. Works great so far. Its been three days and no Airbag deployment! Really though, the harness allows for all your factory sounds to still function like the door ajar tone, Low Fuel tone, etc... The one thing he did not plan on was the stock antenna cable it was too small to fit into the Sony HU so we had to go back to Wally World and get the correct adapter. All in all he saved big bux by getting that kit and DIY.

IMFLYN · April 10, 2007

Thanks for all the replies so far. I guess I should have mentioned I have the base unit, radio only, no bose, no onstar.

Yeah, the harness I'm speaking of goes from the factory harness to the wiring for the new head unit.

I guess I'll swing into the local audio shop and speak with them. I have boycotted Wal-mart for the rest of my life cause they SUCK! I'd rather pay double than go to that POS store, but that's for a whole different thread.

This is my first NEW vehicle ever and I love it, but d**n it's a pain doing aftermarket stuff cause there is no aftermarket yet. Thanks for the help, keep it coming!

Dragon Slayer · April 15, 2007

I was planning on putting my pioneer head unit from my old car into my 07 silverado classic and circuit city said the harness was $100 bucks! I laughed and said I'd find another way. On ebay the harness was 80 and some other option was only 30 but I'm pretty sure it just relocated your factory radio to some obscure place in the vehicle. This can't be true! Why would GM make it such a pain to install an aftermarket stereo. Is there a cheaper way to install my pioneer head unit?

If you buy a head unit from Crutchfield that is over $129 then you get the harness for $40

I am looking at them right now... Trying to figure out which one I want.....

Panasonic CQ-C8803U

OR

Pioneer DEH-P7800MP

I have found them both for about $50 less on line BUT then there is the cost of $80 for the harness then having to buy the dash kit..

By ordering from them I get the dash kit for free and the harness for $40

IMFLYN · April 16, 2007

If you buy a head unit from Crutchfield that is over $129 then you get the harness for $40

I am looking at them right now... Trying to figure out which one I want.....

Panasonic CQ-C8803U

OR

Pioneer DEH-P7800MP

I have found them both for about $50 less on line BUT then there is the cost of $80 for the harness then having to buy the dash kit..

By ordering from them I get the dash kit for free and the harness for $40

Thanks for the info but I already have a headunit. I talked to a local shop and they concurred. Unless you want to lose the door chimes and stuff (that harness is only like $13) the harness is $100. I'll just save up and do polk speakers and I was thinking about this for a little bass under the rear bench seat.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KENWOOD-KSC...1QQcmdZViewItem

I know this won't rattle my windows out, I'm just looking for something to fill out the low end. Plus I aready have a couple tool boxes under the seat so not too much room left.

VanCityChevy · April 25, 2007

My bro did his new head unit on his 03 GMC and had to buy the wiring harness. I would like to find a ipod hook up for my 07 Classic Fac XM head unit? Also watch the shipping on some of the online retailers almost able to buy local cheaper.

preachp · May 3, 2007

Hi All,

I recently installed an aftermarket CD/MP3/SD/USB head unit into my 07 Canyon. I bought the $70 adapter. I can assure you that there is more to this than just the warning chime. The box had 2 or 3 IC's and a couple of discrete transistors and components. Without a pinout I cannot identify the function of each chip. However being schooled in electronics I can say that the discrete transistors and some of the compomemts are consistant with an oscillator (makes the chime noise) and a trigger circuit (tells the oscillator when to make the chiming noise). Now it needs to also be known that two of the lines that go into this adapter are identified as Data bus 1 and 2. This means they carry a digital sginal which is data for an eletronic deivce. What this info is for, I have no idea as I have no wiring diagram nor do I have the source of these data bus leads. It is safe to assume though that 1) they are digital, 2) that means that they either feed info to a device or carry data from it to anohter controller or device.

Now it seems to me that for $70 it is cheap insurance to install that adapter. It is however an individual choice as to whether or not to do so. Personally having worked with computers for some time, I choose no to take chances with the enginge managemnet computer or any of the other multitdue of expensive sensors and elctronics in my truck.

In the peace and love of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.....preachp

bluntlunchbox · May 9, 2007

I have a 06 Classic and getting ready to install a new head unit, components in the front doors, bass under rear seat and amp...all this work and another $70-80 for an extra harness?!?!? Are there any GMC/CHEVY techs out there to shed some light on this one?

Dyabolical · May 9, 2007

Ignore the added adapter. Your stock head unit is wired that your door chimes will go through the factory deck. The adaptor just makes it that you still have a door chime...it just comes from the adapter instead of through your speakers.

I have done probably 30 or 40 installs with the same issue and i have yet to hear anything bad happening.

bluntlunchbox · May 9, 2007

Ignore the added adapter. Your stock head unit is wired that your door chimes will go through the factory deck. The adaptor just makes it that you still have a door chime...it just comes from the adapter instead of through your speakers.

I have done probably 30 or 40 installs with the same issue and i have yet to hear anything bad happening.

awesome!!! just what we needed to hear, from a pro

Dyabolical · May 10, 2007

Ignore the added adapter. Your stock head unit is wired that your door chimes will go through the factory deck. The adaptor just makes it that you still have a door chime...it just comes from the adapter instead of through your speakers.

I have done probably 30 or 40 installs with the same issue and i have yet to hear anything bad happening.

awesome!!! just what we needed to hear, from a pro

Anybody is more then welcome to email me on anything regarding Mobile Audio...i spend hours and hours every day researching new products and techniques and i am always up for chat and giving advice.

dyabolical(a)gmail.com