are there any concerns with swapping out the stock head unit for an aftermarket one on a 04 gmc sle sierra

 

Do you have OnStar?

 

Yep, in order to do it the right way, you have to buy a wiring harness adapter, about $40-45 and use it to install your head unit. Your factory head unit has to stay in your truck, it is VIN specific to your truck and WILL NOT work in anyone elses. This coming from the dealer. Your radio knows your VIN#, option codes and computer. They now use it to pull codes and what not from your truck. NOt saying you "have to'' do it this way, but this is what my dealer told me. ALso, I tried to get around the $45 harness and found that the wiring harness to the radio only has a couple of wires. Apparently, now GM is using one wire to do multiple tasks, therefore the old days of having the 4 solid speaker wires and 4 with black tracers, a red, a black, a blue, etc are GONE!! Sucks huh? Well, if it make sit better, your head unit fits under the driver's seat perfect and the wiring hooks up way simple. I think other guys have done it a different way, but my dealer told me all this stuff and they're friends ofmine, known them for 10+years and I trust them when they tell me to "hang on to your factory radio, very important!" Just info to pass along. BTW ,this JUST STARTED IN 03 MODEL YEARS AND UP!

Ryan

 

I swapped my factory radio in my '03 for an aftermarket one and didnt have to keep the stock radio in it for it to function.

 

Same here, 03 truck, and no special wiring for my setup. It is true that this factory stereo will only work on this truck, but I will put that back if I get another vehicle.

 

See, I told ya' so! What did ya'll use to wire up the aftermarket radio? Just curious and I always like to have different ways to do things myself!

 

See, I told ya' so! What did ya'll use to wire up the aftermarket radio? Just curious and I always like to have different ways to do things myself!
BTW, I didn't mean that an aftermarket radio wouldn't function without the special harness. I was only referring to the code pulling and computer reading capabilities of the stock radio being gone if the harness isn't used. Sorry for the corn-fusion!!

 

You have to the radio in the vehicle and buy the adapter like Tucker said if you have RDS radio. Everything in the vehicle goes through that and does have to stay in the vehicle. If you don't have a RDS symbol on your radio, your in the clear.

 

where would that symbol be? were going throught this same thing with my gf's 02 cavalier

 

What does the RDS stand for?