The navigation unit has more connectors than the radio unit. Does anyone know what the connectors are used for?

 

I imagine that it will depend on the model year of the Corvette that the NAV head unit was removed from. One from a 2005 will have fewer than a 2013. The remote USB and AUX ports located in the center console came in 2011, so there is one deviation. I am not certain, but there may be a relationship between the bluetooth and NAV unit which was introduced around 2009. In 2012, the Corvette got more speakers, so maybe there are more speaker connections in the later NAV unit.

I am just throwing out possible reasons for the extra connections between various NAV units, so you can imagine the deviations between the generic radio and the NAV.

For pictoral clarity, here is the USB and AUX ports I had mentioned. The red thing plugged-in is a USB memory stick with all my music.

 

If car does not have Boses on the door speakers, then will not have the VSS connector that will be needed to make the Nav system work.
If does have Bose on door, then that connector is tucked back and taped to main connector that you use.

Then you get into the laster cars, that do have the blue tooth and USB connector plug in the back of the center console.

So need to know car year, if bose or not car, and then what year nav unit for the other connectors that may need to be added, over just the mic in the left hand A pillar.
Note, Bose will have the connector for the mic, while none Bose will need to add the wire and connector instead.

https://www.kawal.net/USB%20Nav.htm

 

You’re much better off to not even bother with an out dated stock nav unit, and go with a quality brand name aftermarket system instead i.e. Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine etc. Not only will you have more up to date features, be you’ll also see a noticeable improvement in sound quality. You can find lots of info here. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...lectronics-20/

 

Very first MOD I did on my 2012GS with NAV was remove the OEM, go to cruthfield and Bought a Kenwood

 

But our ignorance (our inexperience with "better") is bliss. We are pleased with the NAV unit in our 2013. Yet, if we had a standard radio and planned on an upgrade, I would consider an aftermarket unit.

Many people including my wife and I agree that the NAV could have been better, most especially with its screen resolution & menus, but we leave well enough alone, in-part because of its integration with the car.

Replacing a NAV with something better, will NOT be a plug-and-play installation because of so much integration. Some vehicle features may be compromised. The hacking of wiring is another concern of mine. You need to know what you are doing for sure, and be **** about it. Soldering, shrink tubing, and possible connector modifications are anticipated.

Those are my thoughts about it.

Back in the day when I flipped some C5 Corvettes, we picked up a 1999 with a super-D-luper aftermarket sound system that was way over the top. The trunk had a couple of amps laying in-view and a subwoofer set in the center storage compartment. The dang head unit screen was always flashing blue graphics with no way to control it properly, a serious irritation during night driving. I reverted the sound system back to OEM which naturally deleted the flashing irritation as well as cleaning up the trunk, then sold it to a retired couple who like all my senior client base, valued an unmodified Corvette.

Seniors always had the cash. The youngins always needed a loan that never materialized, hence convertibles with automatics was my focus. "All Original" was a huge selling feature.

Here is one of my sale pics of that 99.

 

My kenwood install with pak5 integrated perfectly with my 2012 GS works flawless and with modern functionality.

Go on crutchfields site to learn more.
Thou some are happy with basics and nothing wrong with that. Everyone is a bit different. 😊

 

Lots of wisdom and experience shown in this one!

 

Well to each his own, however installing an aftermarket system can be plug and play if you utilize Crutchfeilds wiring service where they'll wire the head units wiring to the interfaces wiring for a small fee and send it all to you, then alls you have to do is unplug the old stock system, the plug in the new one. Depending on the system and features you want you may have to run wiring for a mic and back up camera if you want those features. Going aftermarket, the only features you’d lose is the nav and radio displays on the HUD but everything else on the HUD still works. And if you’re wanting XM radio, the stock XM tuner can’t be reused with an aftermarket system however they make a separate XM tuner to use with the aftermarket head units, so you can retain that feature. Having the improved and up to date functionality i.e. wireless CarPlay, more up to date Nav systems, the ability to add front and rear cameras, and the noticeable improvement in sound quality is a must do with the C6, but there again, if this is something you’re not will to undertake, that’s up to you.

 

I did mine so quick didn’t even know my hud would display nav and radio.lol

 

Yeah, if I remember correctly it shows a directional arrow of when to turn when using the navigation, and shows radio channel info when listening to the radio. But I’m like you, the first thing I did to my Vette when I got it was to pull the stock system, and put a Pioneer nav system in it with front and rear cameras, XM radio, and a subwoofer I designed and built, and amp for it, and haven’t had any desire at all to go back to stock. The sub amp I mounted behind the water fall in my vert where the stock XM tuner was, and this is the subwoofer I built. It fits in place of the rear speakers, and adds that much needed bass these cars lack.

 

You could help us help you by being more specific about what you are trying to accomplish. Are you swapping the oem nav unit for an aftermarket head unit? If so, there will be a plug or 2 that do not get connected.