2000 C5 - use different GM head unit?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 6
From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
2000 C5 - use different GM head unit?
I have a brand new cd player I took out of my 97 cavalier and I would like to use it in the C5 because it only has a cassette player. is there any way to make this work? I like the look of the factory head unit (over a single DIN aftermarket) and at this point it seems cheaper to use what I have. I have printed off the wiring diagrams from both the cav and c5 head units. the main issue seems to the the complete lack of low level outputs on the cav cd player.
can someone out there help me out? is there an adapter to get this set up to work. would there be an option to use the cav head unit and bypass the bose amplifier (use an aftermarket amplifier and/or HU power)? lets hear your ideas!
thanks
Rob
can someone out there help me out? is there an adapter to get this set up to work. would there be an option to use the cav head unit and bypass the bose amplifier (use an aftermarket amplifier and/or HU power)? lets hear your ideas!
thanks
Rob
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
could u make it work with some extensive wiring yes but its gonna require alot of bs work. IMO get a c5 tape player or even better to the jason novak mod to ur cd player to get the aux input, i can only assume thats why u want to go to a tape unit
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 6
From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
any more ideas?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
i can dig up more info its doable, if u wire in a Line out converter to power the door subs, as well as run an accesory wire to trigger the headunit on and off, u will not get rap function for the radio
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 6
From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
what will not having rap do? (retained accesory power right?)
here is my thought on the whole situation. people add aftermarket hu's all the time. I am just going to use this gm unit as my 'aftermarket'. then I will probably run a couple of amps. one for the sub amp one for the speakers (however that works out).
thanks for the help here!
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
No RAP = new radio on/off with engine (it won't stay on until you open a door)
You should be able to do it, but it may take a few tries to get it right.
All of the C5 radio schematics and plug pinouts are available here.
You can use the aux power wires in the footwell as your power sources (constant and switched), then you have to decide if you want to use the bose amps in the C5 or just let the new HU power the twiddlers. If you only have the new HU power the speakers, you'll loose the bass speakers in the doors. It would be a bit more work, but it doesn't look like it would be too hard to use converters to supply the bose amp inputs and retain the bass amps in the doors.
To use the bose amps, the green wire at pin A8 of the main connector is the one you need to connect the 'external amp turn on' wire from you new HU.
Check out this thread for some info about the door subs.
You should be able to do it, but it may take a few tries to get it right.
All of the C5 radio schematics and plug pinouts are available here.
You can use the aux power wires in the footwell as your power sources (constant and switched), then you have to decide if you want to use the bose amps in the C5 or just let the new HU power the twiddlers. If you only have the new HU power the speakers, you'll loose the bass speakers in the doors. It would be a bit more work, but it doesn't look like it would be too hard to use converters to supply the bose amp inputs and retain the bass amps in the doors.
To use the bose amps, the green wire at pin A8 of the main connector is the one you need to connect the 'external amp turn on' wire from you new HU.
Check out this thread for some info about the door subs.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
