My dad is thinking about getting an aftermarket head unit, will everything work like normal for example will the headunit turn off when I open the door with the keys out of the ignition? I also heard thet you will loose all chimes, is this true for the 05 and up ?

 

i had the same thing in my 03 GMC.....if you go with alpine they have a module that wires in with the head unit harness to give you your chimes......i didn't put mine in.....chimes are annoying.....but yes the head unit will shut off when the doors open and the keys out of the ignition......

 

mine is chim less. i love it

 

There are afew adapters you can buy that allows you to keep everything like it was stock. Unfortunately it gets epxensive.

Look up Peripheral Electronics.

 

I started working at best buy (car audio) about a week ago and it was explained to me it controls door chimes air bags abs light all kinds of stuff the facotry deck actually has a computer in it but the harness for it comes with that computer (you will see a little black box) and its a little under $150 iirc

 

it doesn't control any of that! I had my factory HU out for several days when I was supposed to get my new deck (shipping was delayed, factory deck stayed at work all weekend) and nothing bad happened. Thats just the BS line all installers feed customers to get them to buy the stupid databus adaptor, which I have, and it sucks. the radio turns off sometimes when I shut the engine off (no RAP) and sometimes when the trucks parked, key out of it, the chime will just start going off. All the factory radio does is control the chimes- they go to the driver speaker I beleive, and his module just has its own (LOUD) speaker for all chimes. I actually had a BB salesman tell me only they could install a new stereo in my truck, if I pulled the radio, my airbags would blow, and that it required extensive custom work to install it. I work on cars for a living, and knew it was all BS (as the new deck was already in- I was speaker shopping when he told me this) I called him out on it- loudly. I feel sorry for the people who go there and buy that crap line.

 

I wanna get a flip-out 7.5" Kenwood. That thing is the shiat!