Need To Ask A Rookie Question

StoneCutter · July 8, 2008

I realize that this might or might not have been covered in the "Onstar Brain Location" thread, but from what I can see, that dash they are showing in all those illustrations doesn't look like mine. It looks like (in those illustrations) that the finish trim doesn't come off. (Or does it? I can't tell...)

I used to own an '06 Sierra, and when I needed to get into the dash, it was a simple task. Pop the finish trim off, and I was in... My new '08 looks like a different story. It doesn't want to budge as easily as the old truck. So I usually try for a bit, then chicken out for a while. Is it held on with push-in clips or is there a trick to get it off?

Second question. By any chance does the radio / cd player have an AUX in port on the back of the unit in addition to the one on the front?

I'm trying to hook up my Sirius Radio, and can either do it by FM Direct Adapter, or by AUX in, I prefer the AUX in, but I don't want to put the wire in the front of my radio unit. (I don't want it dangling all over).

Thanks!

jrrod2004 · July 8, 2008

I realize that this might or might not have been covered in the "Onstar Brain Location" thread, but from what I can see, that dash they are showing in all those illustrations doesn't look like mine. It looks like (in those illustrations) that the finish trim doesn't come off. (Or does it? I can't tell...)

I used to own an '06 Sierra, and when I needed to get into the dash, it was a simple task. Pop the finish trim off, and I was in... My new '08 looks like a different story. It doesn't want to budge as easily as the old truck. So I usually try for a bit, then chicken out for a while. Is it held on with push-in clips or is there a trick to get it off?

Second question. By any chance does the radio / cd player have an AUX in port on the back of the unit in addition to the one on the front?

I'm trying to hook up my Sirius Radio, and can either do it by FM Direct Adapter, or by AUX in, I prefer the AUX in, but I don't want to put the wire in the front of my radio unit. (I don't want it dangling all over).

Thanks!

you do have the ability to remove the finish trim, but I would not recommend it unless you were replacing the trim with something else. The trim is stuck to the underlying panels....you just pop the underlying panels off (I cannot remember if there are screws involved). I dont know about the radio as I dont have a GMT900 and that information does not appear in the Service Manual, nor diagram of these vehicles. I would suspect that it may have one as the GMT800's did, but then as we have found out, GM does change things from year to year and the platform could remain the same....if you need some diagrams, let me know...

24v · July 8, 2008

If you look further down the same thread you will realize that there are pics of both dashboard options. I pulled the bezel off by itself. No need to undo any screws. Just work your way around it slowly, and pop it off. The bottom left corner by the streering wheel fits behind the knee pad, but the overlap is so small that you can work it out of there. As for an aux input on the rear, there is not one. 2 plugs for the power/speakers, and one antenna.

jrrod2004 · July 8, 2008

If you look further down the same thread you will realize that there are pics of both dashboard options. I pulled the bezel off by itself. No need to undo any screws. Just work your way around it slowly, and pop it off. The bottom left corner by the streering wheel fits behind the knee pad, but the overlap is so small that you can work it out of there. As for an aux input on the rear, there is not one. 2 plugs for the power/speakers, and one antenna.

Thanks 24v

StoneCutter · July 9, 2008

If you look further down the same thread you will realize that there are pics of both dashboard options. I pulled the bezel off by itself. No need to undo any screws. Just work your way around it slowly, and pop it off. The bottom left corner by the streering wheel fits behind the knee pad, but the overlap is so small that you can work it out of there. As for an aux input on the rear, there is not one. 2 plugs for the power/speakers, and one antenna.

Actually, I couldn't get those installations to be applicable to what my dash looks like. But I did find some great illustrations in the Tech Wiki (Thanks for that, BTW). I kind of figured I'd be out of luck for the rear AUX, I'll still need to try to get to the antennae wire, though to install the antennae interrupter.

Thanks to the both of you for the info.