Now I Understand GM's Problems
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,730
Likes: 32
From: Northern VA
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10-11-12 Veteran
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Now I Understand GM's Problems
Far be it from me to cast disparaging remarks about the manufacturer of my car but . . .
I have just been informed by the Service Dept. of my dealer, who after "intense consultation with the T.A.C." that it is impossible to add an XM radio module to a Corvette if it was originally built without it. The reason given is that the Body Control Module (basically the computer that governs everything but the engine) is different for each type of Corvette. According to them, there are different BCMs for cars (1) with Nav; (2) without Nav; (3) with XM radio; (4) without XM radio; (5) with Nav and XM radio; (6) without Nav and XM radio, ad nauseum. With that many parts to manufacture and keep straight its no wonder that Delphi and GM are having money troubles. My preliminary and totally unofficial count is currently at 64 differently equipped Corvettes necessitating an equal number of different BCMs!!!
Of course, this could be
based upon a lack of knowledge how to instal the radio properly.
Anybody got any thoughts on how to do this? The car is 1SB equipped and the wiring harness is connected to the XM module which came from an '06 Corvette.
I have just been informed by the Service Dept. of my dealer, who after "intense consultation with the T.A.C." that it is impossible to add an XM radio module to a Corvette if it was originally built without it. The reason given is that the Body Control Module (basically the computer that governs everything but the engine) is different for each type of Corvette. According to them, there are different BCMs for cars (1) with Nav; (2) without Nav; (3) with XM radio; (4) without XM radio; (5) with Nav and XM radio; (6) without Nav and XM radio, ad nauseum. With that many parts to manufacture and keep straight its no wonder that Delphi and GM are having money troubles. My preliminary and totally unofficial count is currently at 64 differently equipped Corvettes necessitating an equal number of different BCMs!!!
Of course, this could be
based upon a lack of knowledge how to instal the radio properly.Anybody got any thoughts on how to do this? The car is 1SB equipped and the wiring harness is connected to the XM module which came from an '06 Corvette.
Last edited by GentleBen; May 2, 2006 at 12:55 PM.
Somba master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 63
Cruise-In 7, 9 & 12 Veteran
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11
If your dealer's service guy is right
then, you might have to check out a new BCM. It would be interesting to find out if there are different part numbers for all the different iterations of the build. OR if the BCM can be flashed with the software for the XM radio.
Personally, I'd contact the guys at XM tech support and ask about an aftermarket installation of the unit you have.
Good luck.
GM
then, you might have to check out a new BCM. It would be interesting to find out if there are different part numbers for all the different iterations of the build. OR if the BCM can be flashed with the software for the XM radio.Personally, I'd contact the guys at XM tech support and ask about an aftermarket installation of the unit you have.
Good luck.
GM
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 1
From: Rehoboth Beach Delaware
Originally Posted by GentleBen
Far be it from me to cast disparaging remarks about the manufacturer of my car but . . .
I have just been informed by the Service Dept. of my dealer, who after "intense consultation with the T.A.C." that it is impossible to add an XM radio module to a Corvette if it was originally built without it. The reason given is that the Body Control Module (basically the computer that governs everything but the engine) is different for each type of Corvette. According to them, there are different BCMs for cars (1) with Nav; (2) without Nav; (3) with XM radio; (4) without XM radio; (5) with Nav and XM radio; (6) without Nav and XM radio, ad nauseum. With that many parts to manufacture and keep straight its no wonder that Delphi and GM are having money troubles.
Of course, this could be based upon a lack of knowledge how to instal the radio properly.
Anybody got any thoughts on how to do this? The car is 1SB equipped and the wiring harness is connected to the XM module which came from an '06 Corvette.
I have just been informed by the Service Dept. of my dealer, who after "intense consultation with the T.A.C." that it is impossible to add an XM radio module to a Corvette if it was originally built without it. The reason given is that the Body Control Module (basically the computer that governs everything but the engine) is different for each type of Corvette. According to them, there are different BCMs for cars (1) with Nav; (2) without Nav; (3) with XM radio; (4) without XM radio; (5) with Nav and XM radio; (6) without Nav and XM radio, ad nauseum. With that many parts to manufacture and keep straight its no wonder that Delphi and GM are having money troubles.
Of course, this could be
based upon a lack of knowledge how to instal the radio properly.Anybody got any thoughts on how to do this? The car is 1SB equipped and the wiring harness is connected to the XM module which came from an '06 Corvette.
No one seems to know if the base radio (1CD, MP3, RDS) is XM ready.
This radio is used in other GM cars, but I almost feel that the dealer will tell you it doesn't work as GM prefers to upsell a "package" that includes XM radio, Bose, Nav, etc.
Radio in my 1LT is a Siemens VDO Model GMX425. Research I've done states that if you have a "band button", "RDS", and an orange data wire in the harness, then the radio is a Class II Data Bus XM Ready head unit. The radio has an unused 12 pin black color data/ cd changer port on the rear upper right hand corner. The XM direct harness has a connector that fits this port along with a connector that fits the existing 24 pin port.
Part should arrive today, radio already out so I'll know if it works in a matter of minutes. If it does, I'll post the results and some pix.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 74
Likes: 11
From: CORAL SPRINGS FLA
I HAVE A 2005 C6 WITH THE NAV SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO ADD XM WITH IT SHOWING ON THE NAV SYSTEM AND ON THE HEADS UP DISPLAY. SOMEONE IN THIS FORUM FOUND A WAY TO DO IT. HE GAVE THE PLACE TO PURCHASE THE PARTS. ONE PAIR OF WIRES HAD TO BE JUMPED. THE BEST THING WAS THAT THE ANTENNA COULD BE PLACED IN THE CORNER OF THE DASH INSTEAD OF THE UGLY BUG THAT CAME ON THE 2005s. IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, CONTACT ME AND I'LL DIG OUT THE PAPERWORK FOR YOU.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, CONTACT ME AND I'LL DIG OUT THE PAPERWORK FOR YOU.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,730
Likes: 32
From: Northern VA
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10-11-12 Veteran
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Update
Somehow (he doesn't know what he did), the mechanic at the local dealership, got the Bose Head Unit to recognized the GM (Delphi made) XM module but it showed as "XM Locked" on the display. I unplugged the module and immediately reconnected it and it began to play.
After I shut off the engine and restarted the car the radio then displayed only channels 1 & 2 which is reasonable as I had not activated the radio with XM itself. A quick phone call to them and that problem was corrected. The only thing I gained, but a great improvement, is the ability to turn off the radio when I shut the car down. I had inadvertantly left the Roady II in the console plugged into the cigarette lighter jack and run the battery down a couple of times.
Interesting to note however, is that according to the mechanic, the service writer, and, at least according to them, the GM Technical Assistance Center (T.A.C.) that you "cannot add" XM to car if it was not orginally built with it. They even went so far as to tell me that it was a different BCM for each type of car. . .not knowing that I would check to find there is one and only one BCM for a 2005 Corvette (part #H15216908).
After I shut off the engine and restarted the car the radio then displayed only channels 1 & 2 which is reasonable as I had not activated the radio with XM itself. A quick phone call to them and that problem was corrected. The only thing I gained, but a great improvement, is the ability to turn off the radio when I shut the car down. I had inadvertantly left the Roady II in the console plugged into the cigarette lighter jack and run the battery down a couple of times.
Interesting to note however, is that according to the mechanic, the service writer, and, at least according to them, the GM Technical Assistance Center (T.A.C.) that you "cannot add" XM to car if it was not orginally built with it. They even went so far as to tell me that it was a different BCM for each type of car. . .not knowing that I would check to find there is one and only one BCM for a 2005 Corvette (part #H15216908).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 0
From: Malibu California
Originally Posted by gmoller
I kind of thought the BCM thing might be
Glad you got it working.
PM will follow
GM
Glad you got it working.
PM will follow
GM
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Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 35,749
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From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
Originally Posted by scrannel
I believe mid-year ('05) they did have a BCM upgrade (an earlier part number), but there is only one part number available now for a BCM for that year. Which makes me wonder... can I put an '06 BCM in my '05 and "deactivate" reverse shut down?
That would be nice, but I think there would have to be a lot of programing done to get it to work right. That is if you could get someone to do it. Best bet Big Brother
would not be to happy about it. Remember GM said that the steering lock/reverse thing was a Fed thing. I hope it can be done and that it works, cause I would get it done.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 34,481
Likes: 0
From: The NW corner of the NW corner
Originally Posted by GentleBen
Interesting to note however, is that according to the mechanic, the service writer, and, at least according to them, the GM Technical Assistance Center (T.A.C.) that you "cannot add" XM to car if it was not orginally built with it. They even went so far as to tell me that it was a different BCM for each type of car. . .not knowing that I would check to find there is one and only one BCM for a 2005 Corvette (part #H15216908).
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
Originally Posted by GentleBen
Somehow (he doesn't know what he did), the mechanic at the local dealership, got the Bose Head Unit to recognized the GM (Delphi made) XM module but it showed as "XM Locked" on the display. I unplugged the module and immediately reconnected it and it began to play.
After I shut off the engine and restarted the car the radio then displayed only channels 1 & 2 which is reasonable as I had not activated the radio with XM itself. A quick phone call to them and that problem was corrected. The only thing I gained, but a great improvement, is the ability to turn off the radio when I shut the car down. I had inadvertantly left the Roady II in the console plugged into the cigarette lighter jack and run the battery down a couple of times.
Interesting to note however, is that according to the mechanic, the service writer, and, at least according to them, the GM Technical Assistance Center (T.A.C.) that you "cannot add" XM to car if it was not orginally built with it. They even went so far as to tell me that it was a different BCM for each type of car. . .not knowing that I would check to find there is one and only one BCM for a 2005 Corvette (part #H15216908).
After I shut off the engine and restarted the car the radio then displayed only channels 1 & 2 which is reasonable as I had not activated the radio with XM itself. A quick phone call to them and that problem was corrected. The only thing I gained, but a great improvement, is the ability to turn off the radio when I shut the car down. I had inadvertantly left the Roady II in the console plugged into the cigarette lighter jack and run the battery down a couple of times.
Interesting to note however, is that according to the mechanic, the service writer, and, at least according to them, the GM Technical Assistance Center (T.A.C.) that you "cannot add" XM to car if it was not orginally built with it. They even went so far as to tell me that it was a different BCM for each type of car. . .not knowing that I would check to find there is one and only one BCM for a 2005 Corvette (part #H15216908).
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,106
Likes: 2,511
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
Originally Posted by GentleBen
They even went so far as to tell me that it was a different BCM for each type of car. . .not knowing that I would check to find there is one and only one BCM for a 2005 Corvette (part #H15216908).
Ben, it must have been your lucky day! Was it your birthday and you didn't even know it???
Sounds like you found the answer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08
Originally Posted by dexter
The way to tell if the service writer is lying is to check and see if his lips are moving. If they are, he's lying. Come here for tech advice, there's no friggin' point in asking a dealer. I've had them deny to my face that a TSB existed on an a/c issue with my C5 when I had a copy of it in my hand.
Agreed. My dealer still does not know anything about the MP3 upgrade for the radios in some of the early 05's. This has been available since December and even when I carried a copy of the TSB in to show them, they "didn't know". I bought the discs and did it myself in January. Now the discs are free if you can find someone to post them as a torrent.
anothercrisis
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,935
Likes: 0
From: Anderson, SC
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08
Originally Posted by Low Rider
You can get portable XM radios that send the signal through your radio....the local Best Buys has them, they are made by Delfi and run a couple hundred.
I have done this with limited success. If you go with an aftermarket unit, you will have a better situation if you have it directly wired to the head unit through an FM modulator.
The FM radio signal tends to come and go depending on what local stations are on the frequency you choose. This is avoided if you hard wire it.