Looking to upgrade stereo...Need Help Please

4479 Views 24 Replies 12 Participants Last post by josney, Apr 19, 2010

J.McCaughey

Discussion Starter · Mar 22, 2010

I have recently purchased a 2007 CTS, within the last 5 days, and the car while incredible, does not have NAV. I looked into an aftermarket NAV but U will lose the system information center on the stereo. Does anyone know where I can find a factory NAV DVD System to install of if I even can do that?

Any help would be great.

Thanks,
J.

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

Gaetano04

· #2 · Mar 22, 2010

you can put an after market navi and keep DIC many of us have done it

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Brandon06CTS

· #3 · Mar 22, 2010

It's true. I had the Pioneer F900BT but dold it and purchased the Alpine INA-W900 for a more "seamless" factory look... No external knob, all screen, and a flat black finish with no badging. Search " aftermarket radio, retain DIC,AVIC F700BT, and mjs0202." mjs0202 did an excellent write up that is spot on and easy to follow. The best part is that you retain your steering wheel control, factory chimes, onstar, DIC, everything. The best part is that it may take some patience and a steady hand, but it only cost $15 beside the price of the head unit you go with. Good luck

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Braz60

· #4 · Mar 22, 2010

Can I do this with my 2003 CTS and finally get to use my IPOD? Is there a IPOD hookup to the Alpine unit?

josney

· #5 · Mar 22, 2010

I would have to say that you should be able to control iPods with about any aftermarket NAV unit. you can with the Alpine INA-W900 for sure.
just give a little effort in to searching. give crutchfield a call

Brandon06CTS

· #6 · Mar 23, 2010

Braz60 said:
Can I do this with my 2003 CTS and finally get to use my IPOD? Is there a IPOD hookup to the Alpine unit?

You definitely can with the Alpine INA-W900. And the interface is way nicer than the Pioneer IMO. Read up on the 900. It has definitely improved the look and functionality of the system.

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07RavenCTS

· #7 · Mar 23, 2010

quick question, instead of using a Nav unit...im gonna build a caputer, is retaining the DIC the same in both cases?

Kingoftypos

· #8 · Mar 23, 2010

07RavenCTS said:
quick question, instead of using a Nav unit...im gonna build a caputer, is retaining the DIC the same in both cases?

Yes, it's all about the wiring and face lift that is the same for the both.

KOT

TunixComplex

· #9 · Mar 23, 2010

Will you guys post the link to the tutorials for those? I was under the impression that i ould only swap for a stock nav and i wasn't going to drop the money.

scoundrel111

· #10 · Mar 23, 2010

do a search on aftermarket radio while retaining DIC. There's 100's of threads and a few DIY's.

TunixComplex

· #11 · Mar 23, 2010

How to chop up your radio to support aftermarket stereo:
http://cadillacfaq.com/faq/answers/aftermarketradiodic/index.html
Did a lot of you guys that did your own stereo use this guide? did everything go exactly a expected?

mjs0202's guide for doing his own radio:
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forum.../159972-pioneer-avic-f700bt-nav-2006-cts.html
i read the whole thread but im still a little confused, id like to see an actual tutorial from someone thats done it front to back. you know tools list, parts list, usual install time?

Gaetano04

· #12 · Mar 23, 2010

i used the faqs to fab the unit, pretty good write up, also pretty straight forward.. i followed MJs write up aswell, with some slight modifications but very similiar.. as for tools, pretty much to remove you need a flathead screw driver, rachet set, mainly 10mm and 8mm, and a torx set to remove face plate and metal housiing.. to fab the metal and plastic a dremel is a great tool, i dremeled the plastic plate then filed to size, for the metal housing i used a milling machine much faster, easier, and precise then a dremel, but not to many people own a milling machine so a dremel is fine

.. for wiring some rca cables, electrical tape, wire cutters/strippers, and voltage meter doesnt hurt.. pm me if u need anymore help

TunixComplex

· #13 · Mar 23, 2010

Thanks Gaetano04!! also another question. i have a bose radio it has a tape deck and a 6CD changer, in most of the guys pictures i looked at they made their cuts right below the F keys, but mine jumps right into a tape player.

is the fabrication still possible? i have a feeling the guts wont look like anything in the FAQ

ProudCaddyDaddy

· #14 · Mar 23, 2010

Tunix,
It really isn't that hard to do. I was scared and put it off for a while. I bought a spare center dash console off of ebay and chopped that up, took about a day. 1 tip is to cut the hole smaller than you need, then you can file away the excess to the exact fit. you won't have any gap surrounding the new unit. Installing the unit in the car took about an 1 hour. I had a hiccup with audio, but replaced the RCA cables and everything is golden. So total, it was about 1.5 hours.
MJS' write up is perfect and I followed it to the letter and am very happy with my new unit. I think the only important pages are like 6,7,8. Gaetano was a big help as well. you will also need the wiring diagrams that can be found on the FAQ page.
I have never seen the CD/tape unit from a CTS, but if you post a pic, it might be easier to tell where to start cutting.
Again, I know it's scary, but once you're done, you won't believe how easy it was.

josney

· #15 · Mar 23, 2010

Electronics Technology Electronic device Multimedia Car

here is my old one

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ProudCaddyDaddy

· #16 · Mar 23, 2010

seems pretty clear were to start cutting. right along the upper lip of the tape deck. Directly under the F keys is about an 1/8 to 1/4 inch, go along that line all the way across on both ways, to the grooves, then down the sides.
Remember to cut a little smaller than you actually need so you can shave some off to get that perfect fit

TunixComplex

· #17 · Mar 23, 2010

yep thats it! okay ill take another look, yeah im scared also if you couldn't tell lol

How much is it to buy a new face plate like you did?

and in the picture, where would i start cutting, right when the tape deck begins? (i guess this all really depends on what type of radio i get)

Gaetano04

· #18 · Mar 23, 2010

proudcaddydaddy lol you werent lying when you said you were going to become a supporting member lol hows the navi treating ya

TunixComplex

· #19 · Mar 23, 2010

ProudCaddyDaddy said:
Tunix,
It really isn't that hard to do. I was scared and put it off for a while. I bought a spare center dash console off of ebay and chopped that up, took about a day. 1 tip is to cut the hole smaller than you need, then you can file away the excess to the exact fit. you won't have any gap surrounding the new unit. Installing the unit in the car took about an 1 hour. I had a hiccup with audio, but replaced the RCA cables and everything is golden. So total, it was about 1.5 hours.
MJS' write up is perfect and I followed it to the letter and am very happy with my new unit. I think the only important pages are like 6,7,8. Gaetano was a big help as well. you will also need the wiring diagrams that can be found on the FAQ page.
I have never seen the CD/tape unit from a CTS, but if you post a pic, it might be easier to tell where to start cutting.
Again, I know it's scary, but once you're done, you won't believe how easy it was.

As soon as i get the money im doing this and ive already been saving up.

Heres one i have found:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PIONEER-AVIC-F7...ultDomain_0?hash=item4cee5f9a0c#ht_500wt_1182

Also heres where i start getting all confused and such. heres a quote from mjs0202's post and ill explain what im confused about in orange maybe you guys can help

3 – AAC (ignition) wire on the new head to brown(on mine) wire on the air-con controls.

This basically means the head unit will come with a wire that is specifically for ignition and that wire can be found coming from my heating and cooling controls?

4 – Audio – Strip the factory audio harness back a little. Cut the factory audio wires about 3 inches from the plug, this leaves plenty of wire to rewire the factory head later if required. Take a good quality shielded RCA cable (monster or equivalent) cut about 18” off each end and strip back the wire until you have +/- wires. Take the RCA wires and carefully splice them to the harness end of the factory audio wire ( green, green, dark green and tan). It is important to get a really clean and shielded join because the RCA/audio cables pick up the old factory radio if the connections aren’t really good. Now plug the RCA cable to your new head.

This is where i start getting very lost, am i splicing all the wires from my new nav unit into my old factory harnes. and why do i need RCA cables again? am i basically leaving everything alone but sending the audio signals from the RCA ports into the output of the DIC? can anyone explain this for a simple man lol

josney

· #20 · Mar 23, 2010

did you notice that unit is a refurb? you can check around www.fatwallet.com http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/994740/
You can find the x910bt unit with $100 rebate brand new for close to the same money. well, maybe a little more. But i think the 910 is a little nicer unit. just sayin.

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

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