Replacing Bose System
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: southeast AZ
Replacing Bose System
Hey all. I was hoping I could get some clarification over a few things. First off, I picked up a 2003 C5 couple about a week ago. I have come to a consensus that the Bose stereo isnt going to cut it for me, and have decided to change the headunit, all speakers, and add a 10 or 12" sub in the process.
I have done some research and decided I am just going to replace the system as a whole, rather than try to keep the externally powered Bose system. I want to power the speakers from the headunit, like normal, but reuse any factory wiring thats possible. First, I picked up a Scosche GDMA wiring harness adapter. Is this the right connector? I know there is some special module that is used when keeping the Bose amplifiers, and the RAP stuff (I dont care about that, it can turn off with the key).
Next, will removing the stock stereo cause the computer to throw any codes (ie check engine light on), if I dont use the special adapter? If I cant use the stock wiring harness I could always run my own wiring, but I dont want the check engine light on because the radio is removed.
Any help is appreciated!
Btw, here she is
I have done some research and decided I am just going to replace the system as a whole, rather than try to keep the externally powered Bose system. I want to power the speakers from the headunit, like normal, but reuse any factory wiring thats possible. First, I picked up a Scosche GDMA wiring harness adapter. Is this the right connector? I know there is some special module that is used when keeping the Bose amplifiers, and the RAP stuff (I dont care about that, it can turn off with the key).
Next, will removing the stock stereo cause the computer to throw any codes (ie check engine light on), if I dont use the special adapter? If I cant use the stock wiring harness I could always run my own wiring, but I dont want the check engine light on because the radio is removed.
Any help is appreciated!
Btw, here she is
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
First off check engine light won't come on, If you scan all you will get in "No Comm" with the radio removed.
Dennis at DoubleDMods.com a forum vendor here can and will answer all your questions and he has some great deals going on a Double Din install kit and units.
Mr.Bill
Dennis at DoubleDMods.com a forum vendor here can and will answer all your questions and he has some great deals going on a Double Din install kit and units.
Mr.Bill
Last edited by Mr.Bill; Feb 2, 2011 at 12:55 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: southeast AZ
Thanks for the info. I did look at doing a double din mod, but decided I wanted to go with something more basic. Ive had a dvd player in my blazer for 2 years and maybe used it once. Heck I dont even use the CD player, so I went with a Pioneer MVH-P8200BT. No CD, Ipod and SD support, BT calling, even a mini full color display.
I'll see if I can get ahold of Dennis, thanks again!
I'll see if I can get ahold of Dennis, thanks again!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Thanks for the info. I did look at doing a double din mod, but decided I wanted to go with something more basic. Ive had a dvd player in my blazer for 2 years and maybe used it once. Heck I dont even use the CD player, so I went with a Pioneer MVH-P8200BT. No CD, Ipod and SD support, BT calling, even a mini full color display.
I'll see if I can get ahold of Dennis, thanks again!
I'll see if I can get ahold of Dennis, thanks again!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: southeast AZ
ah yes I do want nav, but my phone has it. and I live in a small town and rarely go anywhere to justify having it in my car. whenever I need it im either tdy or on vacation, and dont have my car anyway.
what head unit do you have? (i mean model, i see its a pioneer)
what head unit do you have? (i mean model, i see its a pioneer)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 4
From: Freeport, FL
You won't need the fancy wiring harness if you are not using any existing Bose equipment. Just get the non-Bose harness for around $10.
You will need to find a switched power source however. I spliced into the switched power at the ignition switch. Others have also ran a wire down to the fuse block under passenger floor mat. You can do a search to figure out which location to use.
Other than hooking up the switched power source the job is straight forward.
If you're amplifying the sub, you might as well find a nice 5-channel amp and power the front/rear speakers too
Oh, and I know everyone will have their own opinion, but if you're not amplifying the front/rear speakers, I have found that Infinity speakers provide wonderful sound and bass without distortion when powered by just the headunit. It just seems that most aftermarket speaker really lack unless additional power is supplied. Infinity's do use a 2ohm VC which helps to draw additional power from the H/U as compared to other speakers. There are other 2ohm speakers I imagine though.
You will need to find a switched power source however. I spliced into the switched power at the ignition switch. Others have also ran a wire down to the fuse block under passenger floor mat. You can do a search to figure out which location to use.
Other than hooking up the switched power source the job is straight forward.
If you're amplifying the sub, you might as well find a nice 5-channel amp and power the front/rear speakers too
Oh, and I know everyone will have their own opinion, but if you're not amplifying the front/rear speakers, I have found that Infinity speakers provide wonderful sound and bass without distortion when powered by just the headunit. It just seems that most aftermarket speaker really lack unless additional power is supplied. Infinity's do use a 2ohm VC which helps to draw additional power from the H/U as compared to other speakers. There are other 2ohm speakers I imagine though.
Last edited by manley845; Feb 2, 2011 at 01:22 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
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From: southeast AZ
thanks manley845, that's exactly what I needed to know. I figured I would have to splice into an accessory wire.
and for the amp, I have an MTX 4244 4ch amp I was thinking about wiring into the main speakers, but I dont know where I would put it. I was thinking about behind the passenger seat, but it looks like a lot of work to pull out the seat and carpet to put in a board to mount it to, plus I would have to run a lot more wiring. But then again, if I'm going to do it I should probably do it right no?
and for the amp, I have an MTX 4244 4ch amp I was thinking about wiring into the main speakers, but I dont know where I would put it. I was thinking about behind the passenger seat, but it looks like a lot of work to pull out the seat and carpet to put in a board to mount it to, plus I would have to run a lot more wiring. But then again, if I'm going to do it I should probably do it right no?
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CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 19
From: Northern CA
St. Jude Donor '10-'12, '25
No double-din....
I ran mine down to the fuse block, pretty easy. You might want to check this thread out....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/audi...audio-faq.html
BTW, nice vette!
I ran mine down to the fuse block, pretty easy. You might want to check this thread out....http://forums.corvetteforum.com/audi...audio-faq.html
BTW, nice vette!
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 19
From: Northern CA
St. Jude Donor '10-'12, '25
If you need any other ideas you might find some here....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ds-w-pics.html
Good luck!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ds-w-pics.html
Good luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 4
From: Freeport, FL
Not really that bad of a job. The seats unbolt easily, as they are only held in by four nuts per seat. All the trim just pulls out. The carpet is in sections so it can be moved easily to place your wiring. If you're running a sub (with amp) then you are already installing amp wire and RCA cables, so all you need to do is run a couple more RCA cables and some extra wire for the four speakers. As far as mounting the amp, honestly, you probably don't drive the car off-road so you could probably do as I did; just use adhesive Velcro to the underside of the amp and place the amp on the carpet (it's amazing how well it holds. 25k of hard miles on my car this year and mine hasn't budged, and I have two big Alpine amps behind my seats). Oh, I mounted my ground cables to the door jambs (under the trim piece).
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: southeast AZ
No double-din....
I ran mine down to the fuse block, pretty easy. You might want to check this thread out....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/audi...audio-faq.html
BTW, nice vette!
I ran mine down to the fuse block, pretty easy. You might want to check this thread out....http://forums.corvetteforum.com/audi...audio-faq.html
BTW, nice vette!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: southeast AZ
Not really that bad of a job. The seats unbolt easily, as they are only held in by four nuts per seat. All the trim just pulls out. The carpet is in sections so it can be moved easily to place your wiring. If you're running a sub (with amp) then you are already installing amp wire and RCA cables, so all you need to do is run a couple more RCA cables and some extra wire for the four speakers. As far as mounting the amp, honestly, you probably don't drive the car off-road so you could probably do as I did; just use adhesive Velcro to the underside of the amp and place the amp on the carpet (it's amazing how well it holds. 25k of hard miles on my car this year and mine hasn't budged, and I have two big Alpine amps behind my seats). Oh, I mounted my ground cables to the door jambs (under the trim piece).
Corvette Cowboy
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,852
Likes: 23
From: Cen-Cal Broke A$$ Kalifornia
thanks manley845, that's exactly what I needed to know. I figured I would have to splice into an accessory wire.
and for the amp, I have an MTX 4244 4ch amp I was thinking about wiring into the main speakers, but I dont know where I would put it. I was thinking about behind the passenger seat, but it looks like a lot of work to pull out the seat and carpet to put in a board to mount it to, plus I would have to run a lot more wiring. But then again, if I'm going to do it I should probably do it right no?
and for the amp, I have an MTX 4244 4ch amp I was thinking about wiring into the main speakers, but I dont know where I would put it. I was thinking about behind the passenger seat, but it looks like a lot of work to pull out the seat and carpet to put in a board to mount it to, plus I would have to run a lot more wiring. But then again, if I'm going to do it I should probably do it right no?
I have 2 amps mounted on a leather box sitting behind the ledge in the trunk area up close to the seats
How do I know stereo shop mounted my amp behind my pass. seat and put 4 holes in my tank since I only filled the tank when I went on runs I didnt know it was leaking because when I got home tank was empty. But one Thursday night I filled the tank took it to the Stereo shop to have work done and picked my car up early friday for a 3 day run and thier shop was full of gas and my tank was empty.
Last edited by BOUT X; Feb 2, 2011 at 01:45 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: southeast AZ
thanks manley845, that's exactly what I needed to know. I figured I would have to splice into an accessory wire.
and for the amp, I have an MTX 4244 4ch amp I was thinking about wiring into the main speakers, but I dont know where I would put it. I was thinking about behind the passenger seat, but it looks like a lot of work to pull out the seat and carpet to put in a board to mount it to, plus I would have to run a lot more wiring. But then again, if I'm going to do it I should probably do it right no?
and for the amp, I have an MTX 4244 4ch amp I was thinking about wiring into the main speakers, but I dont know where I would put it. I was thinking about behind the passenger seat, but it looks like a lot of work to pull out the seat and carpet to put in a board to mount it to, plus I would have to run a lot more wiring. But then again, if I'm going to do it I should probably do it right no?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,095
Likes: 42
From: Pewaukee WI
Like Mr. Bill, Dennis @ DoubleD Mods (aka c5bearsfan) can sort out your questions and provide you with a full kit to meet your spec's.
I purchased items from Dennis and was a pleasure to do business with. Was an enjoyable DIY fitment. I mounted my 4 channel Amp on the rear body panel in the hatch area (I have a C5 coupe).
Great fun doing stereo upgrades
Good luck with your project
I purchased items from Dennis and was a pleasure to do business with. Was an enjoyable DIY fitment. I mounted my 4 channel Amp on the rear body panel in the hatch area (I have a C5 coupe).
Great fun doing stereo upgrades
Good luck with your project
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: southeast AZ
Like Mr. Bill, Dennis @ DoubleD Mods (aka c5bearsfan) can sort out your questions and provide you with a full kit to meet your spec's.
I purchased items from Dennis and was a pleasure to do business with. Was an enjoyable DIY fitment. I mounted my 4 channel Amp on the rear body panel in the hatch area (I have a C5 coupe).
Great fun doing stereo upgrades
Good luck with your project
I purchased items from Dennis and was a pleasure to do business with. Was an enjoyable DIY fitment. I mounted my 4 channel Amp on the rear body panel in the hatch area (I have a C5 coupe).
Great fun doing stereo upgrades
Good luck with your project
Like behind the seats or in the way back? I worry about running powered lines long distances due to interference. Thanks for the tips, unfortunately for me I just realized I ordered the wrong rear speakers (5.25 instead of 6.5
)
