New Car Stereo

**Jeremie** · 05-10-2016

I need a new stereo. Mine has a bad receiver.

I've been trying to do some research, but I can't get a straight answer from the internet nor any salesman at Best Buy (who just wants me to pay them an arm and a leg without telling me why) I'm an electronics technician by trade so I can handle the technical jargon.

It's the wiring harness that's confusing me. They vary in price without giving any information on why. Why am I paying anywhere from $50 to $200 on just wires? How do I know what features I'd be getting with any one wiring harness over any other wiring harness if their costs vary so drastically? I'm not spending this kind of money on a wiring harness that's shrouded in mystery.

Also, is the wiring harness just wires and connectors or are there actual electronic devices in the mix (other than the car stereo itself?

Any help would be appreciated! Greatly!

**Burbman** · 05-10-2016

Go to www.crutchfield.com. They have a good selection and will set you up with the right harness. The wiring harness let's you connect to the factory connector so you don't have to cut and splice in the dash. Harness shouldn't cost you more than $20 or so, but the one you need depends on whether you have Bose and/or OnStar. If you need hardcore tech advice goto www.the12volt.com, it's the forum for car electronics installers.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

**J57ltr** · 05-10-2016

What year is your car? If you have an 04+ (well 05+) they are canbus and don't have an ignition hot and the radio also controls the chimes and some other functions. You need the interface modules to retain chimes and steering wheel controls. Many people do a half ass job and just install them without the correct harness and sometimes they have issues and sometimes they don't. I have heard of gauges that stop working and other issues. In the later cars the modules run $100+ to do it right, but I have yet to have someone that had everything working 100% without issues.

If you have a pre 04 then it's just a regular install.

Jeff

**Jeremie** · 05-10-2016

I have a 2008 GXP with Bosman and OnStar. I apologize; I should have included that information.

**JoeNest** · 05-11-2016

On my 04, I had to get a module for the door chime and a steering wheel control box + the harness. If I remember correctly it was around $100 for everything (Amazon). (J57ltr) Jeff is correct, I had a wire come off the chime module when I first installed my stereo and the odometer on the DIC quit working. If you do it right the only thing you loose is the date on the DIC.