How to install Parrot Bluetooth on a CTS Bose

[JimmyH]

Oh and XM has nothing to do with any of these installs. It is not affected in any way, other than its sound being blocked along with the radio when a call comes in.

[talonstylz]

Originally Posted by JimmyH

you believe correctly. It is the purple wire on the black power connector going into the amp. Without accessing the data bus, I dont think there is any other way to turn it on and off.

ya, but theres gotta be a way. there always is.

[yourgmsolutions]

Originally Posted by JimmyH

So I am wondering now, is there a way to tell the amp to turn on if the radio is off? I do drive sometimes (very infrequently) with the radio off. I got a call yesterday, and I did have the radio off. Said "hello, hello, hellow?!" before I remembered to turn the radio on.

I have been looking over the connectors. There does not seem to be any options for this. Other than the audio inputs and power, all that is left is the serial data, which I imagine is what tells the amp to turn on and off.

the mute line on the parrot outputs 12v+ when it is activated by a call coming in. I wish there was a way to turn that into a signal to power on the amp if it is off.

there is the way to make BT work with radio on or off, but I have not tested on CTS with Bose yet. If you want to try it, I can tell you what to do. but few wires will need to be cut at the amplifier and you will have to unplug your Parrot from behined the radio.
I've used this method on Non Bose CTS and it worked fine

[JimmyH]

let me know what is involved, and I will try it and let you know how it works.

[yourgmsolutions]

Originally Posted by JimmyH

let me know what is involved, and I will try it and let you know how it works.

this is a brief description. how its get done.
1. turn your radio on and make sure audio is playing.
2. cut power wire on your amplifier. Audio should disappear. touch those 2 end of the power wire that you cut together. If audio comes right back on, thats good. (then follow the rest of instruction). if it does not (then its not going to work), just splice them back together and cycle ignition.
3. You'll need a relay.
a. connect power wire that goes to amplifier side to # 30 on the relay
b. other side of power wire goes to # 87a on the relay
c. make a little jumper wire from #87a to # 86
d. mute wire from your Parrot goes to # 85
4. Disconnet Parrot kit from your radio ( but you still need to connect your BT kit to power / ignition / ground
5. locate fron left speaks wire in&out on your parrot harness ( those are the ones you'll need)

now this is how I did it. ( but this can be done in different ways)
1. I ran 5 conductor cable from amplifier to the BT kit that I've used
2. One of those wires I used for mute (from relay to BT kit )
3. Located center channel speaker wires and cut them
4. amplifier side of those wires I connected to "in wires" of BT kit
5. and speaker side I connected to "out wires" of BT kit
so this way, no matter radio on or off you can use BT kit

how to use factory OnStar microphone ( for those who don't care cutting some wires) and remember, this method will still allow you to use OnStar microphone for onStar it self
you'll need a relay
1. cut you BT kit mic. wire
2. cut your OnStar mic wire (cut positive side only and just strip negative side)
3. positive side of BT mic. wire will go to #87 on the relay
4. positive side of OnStar mic (microphone side). wire will go to # 30
5. other side of OnStar mic wire that you cut earlier will go to # 87a
6. #86 of relay will go to 12v power
7. #85 of relay will go to mute wire of your BT kit
8. negative side of BT kit mic. wire just splice it to negative wire of OnStar mic. wire
for those who don't give an "F" about OnStar, just cut wires and splice it direct without using any relays

[JimmyH]

Wow, that is really really interesting. That was what I was trying to accomplish originally when I got my V. I just could not get my head around it. I think I am going to have to try that.

FWIW, I think you are better using the left and right front speakers than the center speaker. Depending on where you mount the microphone (mine is near the rear view mirror) I think the rule of thumb for the echo cancellation to work, the microphone has to be at least 18" from the speaker. In my case, the center speaker on top of the dash would be too close.

And as for the onstar microphone, remember that most car kits come with microphones that are optimized for echo cancellation. Using the onstar mic is going to lose the echo cancellation. Not a problem for you, but the caller on the other end will find it annoying.

[JimmyH]

I used the above instructions over the weekend on the V. yourgm's method worked perfectly. I went ahead with the center speaker, and it works with no feedback. I was surprised by that. Since the parrot outputs audio to two speakers, I also did the left front speaker, for a little extra sound.

I played a pretty loud song, and there was no distortion from either speaker going through the parrot's relays. As far as phone volume, I have the parrot turned up all the way, and I was able to have a conversation with the driver windows down at about 60 mph, which I am happy with. With all the windows closed, plenty of volume.

I will post pictures I took of the install when I get time.

[yourgmsolutions]

just did one like this yesterday.
this is where I placed Mic and controller

[LS6TT]

that looks like a great place to do the install, I think thats where I am going to put mine.

[gtsviper2000]

The serial data cable going into the Bose amp probably triggers a relay inside the amp to switch on the power...someone who knows what there looking for could open the amp up and solder a wire to the relay to trigger it when they want (might need a diaode to make sure you dont backfeed the circuit)..just an idea.