ultravorx
05-28-03, 07:53 AM
Well, i almost bit the bullet and bought the factory radio/screen for my sts in hopes of installing a factory nav system. But once i looked into the nitty gritty details, i found it may be WAY more trouble than its worth.
THe following is the procedure for setting this up, IF you have the time, patience, and money!
Parts needed:
Display unit: $1000
GPS data unit: $1200
GPS Antenna: $200
GPS Radio(Resides in trunk) : $800
First off the display head unit: Is not a radio at all, its just a, display piece. You will lose your single CD function with this. You do need a seperate radio, but that actually resides underneath the back deck. Its under the UY4 package. It has 2 "c" connectors The factory bose radio will not work because it is missing a plug for navigation stereo input. (i thought i could just throw my factory radio in the back)
Next peice is the GPS data box which resides in the trunk. It connects directly to the radio and to the display unit. The extra wires needed to connect this besides power and ground are VSS wire and the serial data bus wire. The VSS can be found at the ECM, while the data wire is the purple wire on the ODBII diagnostic plug. And if you want to watch video on it, you will need the RCA connctor peice that fits into the glove box.(Just more wiring to do) Not a big deal. THen a seperate antenna must be used for the GPS and you must reroute a lot of wires to front to back and vice versa. MAinly the radio wires and cd changer wires from the front of the car to the rear deck. Then the wires from the GPS data unit to the fron of the car.
I spent 3 hours reading wiring diagrams from GM to figure out if i want to purchase the display unit for $71!!! And then slower buy the other pieces.
The determining factor for me NOT doing this project was getting a hold of the wiring harnesses for all these parts. Granted i could have soldered the wires right to the board, but to keep the factory appearence, i want plugs. And to get the harnesses from GM would be 1) a Pain in the rear 2)very, very expensive.
Being a certified MECP installer, i know i could handle rewiring the vehicle, but i think in order to get GPS in my car i will chose an easier route.
I will flush a garmin street pilot 3 in the dash below the heater controls, where the ashtray is. I dont smoke so i really dont need it. The size of the street pilot III is a perfect fit. THe following is a pic of how i did this in my previous vehicle. I can do the same thing in the caddy, for about $800 with parts and supplies. Instead of over $2000 for a factory NAV and probably close to30 hours of labor!!!
http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/attachments/nav2.jpg
Once i complete the garmin project, i will definatly post pics.
Frank
THe following is the procedure for setting this up, IF you have the time, patience, and money!
Parts needed:
Display unit: $1000
GPS data unit: $1200
GPS Antenna: $200
GPS Radio(Resides in trunk) : $800
First off the display head unit: Is not a radio at all, its just a, display piece. You will lose your single CD function with this. You do need a seperate radio, but that actually resides underneath the back deck. Its under the UY4 package. It has 2 "c" connectors The factory bose radio will not work because it is missing a plug for navigation stereo input. (i thought i could just throw my factory radio in the back)
Next peice is the GPS data box which resides in the trunk. It connects directly to the radio and to the display unit. The extra wires needed to connect this besides power and ground are VSS wire and the serial data bus wire. The VSS can be found at the ECM, while the data wire is the purple wire on the ODBII diagnostic plug. And if you want to watch video on it, you will need the RCA connctor peice that fits into the glove box.(Just more wiring to do) Not a big deal. THen a seperate antenna must be used for the GPS and you must reroute a lot of wires to front to back and vice versa. MAinly the radio wires and cd changer wires from the front of the car to the rear deck. Then the wires from the GPS data unit to the fron of the car.
I spent 3 hours reading wiring diagrams from GM to figure out if i want to purchase the display unit for $71!!! And then slower buy the other pieces.
The determining factor for me NOT doing this project was getting a hold of the wiring harnesses for all these parts. Granted i could have soldered the wires right to the board, but to keep the factory appearence, i want plugs. And to get the harnesses from GM would be 1) a Pain in the rear 2)very, very expensive.
Being a certified MECP installer, i know i could handle rewiring the vehicle, but i think in order to get GPS in my car i will chose an easier route.
I will flush a garmin street pilot 3 in the dash below the heater controls, where the ashtray is. I dont smoke so i really dont need it. The size of the street pilot III is a perfect fit. THe following is a pic of how i did this in my previous vehicle. I can do the same thing in the caddy, for about $800 with parts and supplies. Instead of over $2000 for a factory NAV and probably close to30 hours of labor!!!
http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/attachments/nav2.jpg
Once i complete the garmin project, i will definatly post pics.
Frank