Can anyone provide detailed step by step instructions on how to install a Terk XM radio. I have a 99 Vert with the 12 disk changer. I have read from time to time on this Forum about needing this cable or that cable. What do I really need? Will the CD changer still play? Thanks for any and all help.

 

Check the C5 Audio FAQ section. I did a write up on my install. But, the install I did would render your CD Changer inoperable. Some have done the install with other parts to get both to work.

 

Thanks for the information. I may have to use your method, but I would really like to keep the CD changer working. Maybe some one who has accomplished this will chime in.

 

TTT for ya!

 

Come on Folk's someone has to have some information that will help me out. What do ya say? I read QuikZilvers artical and it helps a lot but I would like to keep my CD changer in operation.

 

I don't think it's possible to connect a PIE adapter to your changer harness and keep the changer operating. The PIE adapter fakes out your radio head unit to "think" that a changer is installed and is playing disk 1 track 1. It works well in my C5, but I never had the changer to begin with.

The only way I can think of keeping the changer is to skip the direct connection and go with an FM modulator. The sound quality of the hard wired modulator isn't too bad, but it's not as good as a direct connection.

Good luck

 

Ttt

 

It is possible to add an aux input to the HU while keeping the CD changer, but you have to splice into the changer harness.

Click here to see the diagram for what you'd need to do.

Brief explanation of how/why it works:
There are two connectors at the end of the changer harness in the passenger footwell. One plug is the "control" signals, and the other is the audio signals. The relay mod above cuts into the audio signals and allows you to put in whatever audio you want in place of the changer audio output. Just be aware that if you do this mod, whenever you want to listen to your XM you would have to play the changer also so you can fool the head unit into using the aux audio input (it won't play the music it thinks is coming from the changer if it doesn't think the changer is running). That's why the PIE adaptor is needed if you don't have a changer, to fool the HU into thinking the changer is there.

If I were doing this mod the only thing I would change in the relay diagram above is the source of the +12VDC for the relay. The link shows to use the orange 'always hot' aux power wire, but think it would be better to use the F10 wire on the C2 connector of the I/P fuse box. That wire is powered by the radio and stays energized with Retained Accessory Power, but it is not energized when the car isn't running. Relays don't use much power, but it will be a drain on your battery if you don't turn the switch off. You could also use the yellow accessory wire instead, but then your XM would switch over to the changer when you turned off the car while the radio stayed on with RAP. Check out post #9 of the C5 audio FAQ thread for a more detailed explanation of how to get at the RAP wire under the fuse box, but you can ignore the relay portion of that post since all you'd be powering from the RAP wire is another relay

Confused yet? Post here or send me a PM if you have any questions