Help with Bose (help Cadillacsts2003!)

[mcarcher]

CadillacSTS2003:

I hear great things about you. I have yet another Bose question.

1) Have non-Bose Catera (1998)
2) was given Bose CD/Cass + both amps (1997) from Elvin315, (thanks again!)
3) unlocked radio with Tech 2
4) installed, no sound

Realizing that the HU is actually a pre-amp, I bought a Line L. conv. and want to install a 4 channel Alpine I have laying around. I just assume the vehicle does not have the necessary wiring for the stock amps. I'll just use them as paperweights!

I know that HU has to be sending out a signal somewhere, but still no sound with it all hooked up for a test. Tech 2 says no amp communication. I wonder if a 1997 Bose would be data-bus (class 2) by then. Swapped back to non-Bose, getting signal no prob.

Any way to get a signal to my Alpine. I've also heard that Bose sometimes is a 'fixed level' output, not variable. If not, I'll install my pioneer HU and scrap all the stock. I just wanted to hear if the Bose was any good. I'm pretty savy at this stuff, but Bose puts up one hell of a fight. Any input is appreciated.

Thanks.

I can't send pms yet so could someone let CadillacSTS2003 know that I'd appreciate his advice? Thanks to all in advance.

[CadillacSTS2003]

sorry i missed this i dont often check the Cat forum
im at work now and will be until 4pm.
I will DEF look into it but to answer a few quick ?s
Yes the hu sends out a fixed low level output the volume knob is interfaced with the amp and is more like a gain nob on an aftermarket amp, it adjusts the amps power.
No sound from the hu at all though IS indeed quite odd, i shall bose the bose wire pin outs for your car when i get home as i have access to GM ESI.
Im sure as long as you have all the components i can get it working but you likely will have to run some additional wiring and i hope you have the 6 bose speakers (2 6.5 mids in the doors, two 1inch? triangle tweeters in the window triangles, and 2 6.5 mid bass in the rear shelf).

[mcarcher]

No need for apologies. I know you have been bugged to death about this, 'Bose stuff'. I guess I'm more into it now because I can't figure it out yet, so it's, 'a challenge'!

So, a 'fixed level out' means I'll need the interface that alters the class 2 D-Bus, allowing HU attenuation. Unless ALL Cateras come prewired for Bose systems, (which I doubt), then I would have to re-create that. That's some work. Plus, I believe everything goes into the...BCM? If so, that sounds like a real pain.

As far as the Line L. conv. goes, I removed one front door speaker and tapped into that. Perhaps I should have tapped into it right at the Bose HU.

As far as my OEM stereo goes, I have the following:
1) Radio/cassette (UL-1)
2) 6.5 & 1" (front door/pillar)
3) 5.25 & 1" (rear door/rear door)
4) no 6.5 in deck/trunk (the covered holes are there, but no speaker)

It think I have all components, yet I seem to remember a processor/tuner or something of that nature. Unless it is combined in one of the 2 stock amps Elvin315 gave me, I don't have that. From wiring diagrams I've looked at, it looks like a seperate unit, (goes between HU and amps).

Well, that's about it. Like I said before; I have an entire system I can put in if the GM/Bose wins! Thanks for your response. I've read many of your posts and I value your opinion.

[CadillacSTS2003]

Ok lets 1st catch me up on things so far
1 you have a 98 Cat
2 you bought a full bose system for a 97 Cat and want to install it

now just curious why all the hassle of this, want the stock look?

that aside if this was a Deville Seville or Eldo i could walk you right through this right now, but a Cats a whole different animal but like i said you want the help ill provide it

now what connector end views would you like? i assume for your car and the car the radio is from connector ends of the radios at least?

an "tuner/eq" box was used in the older bose systems which used mini amps, the one major amp systems do not have that (least on Eldo/Sev/Dev they dont) so that shouldnt be a problem

the other main part you need is the bose speakers, any other speakers will either mess with the bose system or just sound horrid

[mcarcher]

Oh geez! I completely forgot about the impednce thing with the Bose speakers. I have 2 bose amps,(1 black, 1 silver). I probably won't use them.
I basically just want to use the Bose HU with aftermarket amps. If it is a 'fixed level', then I think I will need a class 2 data interface that also provides RCA outs. Would that 97 HU be class 2?

You're right; I'm not going to go through all that hassle. And yes, I was trying to keep the stock look. I found a dash kit that contours my dash nicely, so I'll use my Pioneer HU. I'm thinking the Bose can handle 4 ohm speakers. I just wanted to see if the Bose sounded better than the Pioneer.

Thanks for your help.

[CadillacSTS2003]

if you wanna keep the stock deck an interface it with an aftermarket amp that we should be able to do pretty easily
hell i think theres an interface kit for that...

[mcarcher]

Well friend, I decided to scrape all the factory and go with all my aftermarket equipment. I bought a Scosche GM035. It includes the Catera in it's compatibility list. I works for everything except 12volt ignition. Scosche also offers one, (GM03B). I don't know if this one works better, whatever. Any suggestions on a wire to tap into for ignition signal?

I guess I could use the wire diagram for a 98 Catera non-Bose. I need to find out what all the factory wires in the harness are. I use a test light and found on that put out .5 volt. It doesn't correspond to a pin in the aftermarket side of the harness. I'll look at tapping into tommorrow.

[CadillacSTS2003]

it should have an ignition signal the constant though is what most harnesses dont have for cadillacs
in which case you need to run a wire from the battery to the radio

what radio RPO code do you have and ill post the pin out

[mcarcher]

Do you mean model? If so, it's a UL1.

[CadillacSTS2003]

model or rpo
ill post it when i get home
at a friends house tonite

[CadillacSTS2003]

Sorry for the delay
here you are
sorry for the size

[mcarcher]

Hey, thanks a bunch for all that. I'm wondering about the battery guard circuitry. It obviously senses any kind of battery draw. Does it sense one when it comes to the memory/presets on the stock radio? Or does the HU have a battery built in to maintain them?

[CadillacSTS2003]

HU has an internal memory which stores the presets

at one time i thought it was actually stored in the BCM but upon my factory nav upgrade from the standard bose deck the presets were different than the ones stored on my standard cd player

i plugged in my old cd play just for kicks and it still has the original presets

[eastsidercaddy]

Hey there , I'm currenltly installing a Pioneer HU and have a Scoche GM035 Wireharness. I've got power and pre-amp working to my sub and amp but the internal door speakers aren't working. I'm thinking that the Bose radio amp is not being turned on. Could you please help me with this and all fuses are good. Please post radio pinouts of a 97 catera. Thanks!

[LatinConn]

Cadillacsts2003, Thanks for the image of the wiring-pin location. I was wondering... I really hate to think that 'my' 98' catera is the ONE that will prove "EVERY" manufacturer of wiring harnesses out there WRONG. You pin location is the 'closest' i've found and believe me, I have looked. I would love to understand your chart better, for example "CD Data Bus" what would that be used for? Is it at all possible to put it in 'stupid people' terms? I have a simple radio (I think, as far as the connections goes) it requires, power constant, power switched, ground, the speakers x4 (I think these are ok on the harness i have) a parking break switch (it has a built in dvd player) and I think that's it. I have two harnesses (both the same) but Pin F2 has a wire in it, and it's supposed to be switched 12V+. Please help!!! -Mario