There is a new radio harness that is coming out for the CTS. It allows you to use a aftermarket radio/or navigation unit and keep your stock bose amp and speakers. It retains the door chime's too. It will be out in two weeks or so.

There is a new dash kit for the car now too. You can use one single din radio, two single din radio's or one double din (big navigation style)

They come in black plastic, black color matched painted, and grey painted color matched. I bought the grey one, and it is a perfect match...

Who is the company making the kits??

How does this solve the problem of seperating the DIC from the rest of the unit (ie tape player, CD player/changer)? I thought that was the main hurdle in adding aftermarket equipment...

Yeah, no kidding. If it keeps the DIC and it's functions then I'm sold in a heartbeat, even though I already have an aftermarket system in.

Ya all of the above are nothing too new...the problem is the DIC display......soldering and unsoldering are the way to remove the two, and then making a custom bracket.........can be done, but not the easiest....if I didnt already put my nav in though I would have tried it....but thanks for the info :)

I'm hoping that the harness he's talking about - the one that helps keep your stock system, plus the door chimes etc will also help keep the DIC...

Is that really too much to ask? :)

umm more info?

source of info?

The kit hes talking about CANNOT give the DIC infor.....it would have to be separate computer and specific to just Caddy...and very expensive.....the only other way to retain the DIC is to unsolder it and either make a bracket for it, or if someone makes a kit that the DIC after being pulled out of the stock radio, would fit in.....The problem is that the DIC and the stock radio are one unit......

Metra makes both. The dash kit has been out a couple months, but the harness will be available in a a couple weeks.

However it won't retain the DIC. You would have to set your clock (don't know what years use the analog clock) and unplug the stock radio. The only things you loose is the personalization, mpg info, the useless timers and the oil change message. The memory seats still work... and the air stays in the same place it did when you turn the car off.

I personally know when to change my oil, I have a gas guage and I don't have to know that I get great MPG... I feel like the DIC is way over rated. There is also another unit that retains the steering wheel volume controls. I am sure after afew hours with one of the new double din nav units out there you wouldn't even miss the DIC.

The cool thing about this harness is you plug it up, then plug it in the back of the radio and it converts the signal for the Bose amp, and allows for Onstar to function correctly. You could have the superior sound quality of the aftermarket unit, navigation etc etc connected in thirty minutes. All you would have to do to connect a subwoofer amp is run the RCA to the dash instead of using a LOC and another unit to clean up the sound. However this is only if you will give up the personalization, and the info the DIC gives.

The painted kits look like factory pieces... If you already had the factory Nav unit this may not be the way to go because they are nice...

But if you had the regular CD player and wanted to upgrade, this may be for you. For the money you would spend on attaining a factory unit, you could have a high end aftermarket unit.

Chris

Sounds pretty good, keep us updated please!

Thinking about it you're pretty dead-on about the DIC. The timers are useless...setting my clock manually will be a pain (I have the analog). Besides that though, my DIC is mainly for the temperature outside which isn't all that important. Hmm...DVD NAV/Video or temperature...?

The only things you loose is the personalization, mpg info, the useless timers and the oil change message.

Oh really?

DIC Warnings and Messages:
Battery Not Charging
Battery Saver Active
Battery Voltage High
Battery Voltage Low
Buckle Passenger
Buckle Seat Belt
Change Engine Oil
Change Trans Fluid (Automatic Transmission)
Check Brake Fluid
Check Coolant Level
Check Gas Cap
Check Washer Fluid
Driver Door Ajar
Engine Coolant Hot – Idle Engine
Engine Coolant Hot – AC (Air Conditioning) Off
Engine Overheated – Stop Engine
Engine Power Reduced
Fuel Level Low
Headlamps Suggested
Ice Possible
Oil Pressure Low – Stop Engine
Left Rear Door Ajar
Passenger Door Ajar
Personalization Off/Driver Identification
Right Rear Door Ajar
Service AC (Air Conditioning) System
Service Air Bag
Service Charging System
Service Electrical System
Service Fuel System
Service Idle Control
Service Steering System
Service Theft System
Service Transmission
Service Vehicle Soon
Service Stability System Message
Stability System Engaged Message
Stability System Off Message
Stability System Ready Message
Starting Disabled – Remove Key
Starting Disabled – Throttle Problem
Theft Attempted
Top Speed – Fuel Cut Off
Traction Engaged
Trans (Transmission) Hot – Idle Engine
Trunk Open
Turn Signal On

Damn I didnt even know it said all that... Ha ha....glad I added the stock navi;)

im definately interested in the dash kit so i can upgrade to a double din nav/dvd system...do you have a picture of the dash kit?

where can i purchase the dash kit?

Shaft,
Alot those messages are common sense, and alot will throw a check engine light... However I will take my chances. I am a audiophile. The sensible people like you will keep the DIC because it obviously means more to you than superior sound quality.

My corvette Z06's DIC hasn't ever told me anything worth while in the three years I have owned it... except the the traction control engaged message.

It is a trade off.

http://i15.ebayimg.com/01/i/07/57/4c/4c_1_b.JPG

That is the black one. When I get home next week I will take a picture of the painted grey one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/99-2006-Cadillac-SRX-CTS-2003-06-Radio-Dash-Kit_W0QQitemZ9737479950QQcategoryZ85806QQssPageNam eZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This is the guy I bought mine from. If you email him, he can get you the painted black kit or the painted grey kit in a couple of days. The painted kit is $49 through him, and $99 through any other dealer... so he has the best prices on these kits ( i have been looking at them for awhile). Tell him Chris sent you, and if you want to be notified about the BOSE harness just tell him.

Shaft,
Alot those messages are common sense, and alot will throw a check engine light... However I will take my chances. I am a audiophile. The sensible people like you will keep the DIC because it obviously means more to you than superior sound quality.

My corvette Z06's DIC hasn't ever told me anything worth while in the three years I have owned it... except the the traction control engaged message.

It is a trade off.

I'm all for superior sound, I would just like to get it done without getting rid of the DIC. I have a stock Navigation now. But I would like something with dvd/mp3/ipod/sat/bluetooth etc support. Alpine has some interesting products. I wonder if anyone has ever added a second radio/lcd down by the ashtray/climate control. Or if ther is even room for another 6.5 inch lcd.

I will be interested to hear from the people who have replaced their radios.

Shaft,
The new Alpine IVA-W200 double din touch screen is headunit I will be using. It is just awsome...

I have thought about the different options to retain a stock nav, and use a seperate unit for CD playback only. If you could find a place to mount a single din SQ unit, you could run the signal from the stock NAV into a auxillary input on the unit. Then when you wanted to watch a dvd, or use the nav system just switch the source to the aux input.

I have seen someone put a cd player where the ashtray goes... but it is right infront of the shifter.

that alpine iva-w200 looks real nice...i like that as well...although it doesnt have navigation does it? i would want to get a double din unit with nav...probably the eclipse one...

but that is very pricey, if not i will just settle with the alpine iva-w200

...when will you be putting the alpine in your car?

Shaft,
Alot those messages are common sense, and alot will throw a check engine light... However I will take my chances. I am a audiophile. The sensible people like you will keep the DIC because it obviously means more to you than superior sound quality.

My corvette Z06's DIC hasn't ever told me anything worth while in the three years I have owned it... except the the traction control engaged message.

It is a trade off.

An audiophile life for me too!!! Its the only way tek.....BUT you dont have to replace the stock to get that goo sound.....I know you have been listening to me preach about the Jl AUdio Cleansweep.......it gives you the aftermarket headunit soundquality and features, from your stock system......Sounds impeccable!!!!!!! And yes others have installed a radio in the ashtray area, but I wouldnt want to do that, it gets in the way of the shifter and its not in an easy viewing area......to me it would just be taking a way out to put it there.....if you want to do it, check out Mbai2's install its sick and shows that keeping the DIC can be done.......If I had known before adding the stock Navi and about grand in audio equip, I might have done something similar.....notice MIGHT.....I love Mbais carputer and am very envious, but there is something about the stock look that I love....it just looks sooooo good in the car and with the cleansweep I get that good aftermarket sound......Navi/DVD cant go wrong....I love watching Debbie do Dallas....shes soooooo good at it and knows how to work the town ;)