Hey guys,

I finally rounded up all the parts I needed, with the USA Spec Ipod Interface for my 05' silverado. I have the single in dash cd player, not a bose system, but I do have XM.

Here are some of the questions I have.

What is the easiest way to get the radio out of the dash? I am very new to this and I don't want to mess anything up.

Anyone have installation tips or pictures regarding this specific product?

Where should the IPOD interface be mounted inside the dash?

Pics and Instructions would be really helpful.

SHould I just pay the $100 to have this installed???? I would really rather do it myself and learn in the process.

Thanks A lot Guys!

-Matt

No way! Save the 100$ for some go-fast goodies!! Plus a lot of installers wont touch OEM stuff. Pulling the radio is easy...must have pulled mine a 100 times.
1. Steering wheel tilt down all the way
2. Parking brake on, shift down to "1"
3. Pry huge dash bezel off with either plastic "trim" tool or simply your hands (thats what I do). Start at a corner. I usually start on the upper right corner and grab the bezel with my fingers and pry against the air vent with my thumbs. It will pop right off, then just work around the whole thing, popping off every little clip inside that holds it on. Its a little tricky finessing it around the steering column/instrument cluster, but you'll get the hang of it.
4. Radio is held in with three 9/32" hex-head screws. I use a 9/32" nut driver, but you can also use a ratchet.
5. Pull radio out just enough to fit your hand back behind it. See how much slack you have on the wires before you pull it out anymore. GM banjo-strings some of the radios and then gives an extra foot of slack on other radios...all depends on the truck. If you appearently have no slack, try carefully tugging on the WIRES (dont tug on it by the plugs or by pulling the radio) and you should be able to coax out a little more slack. The coaxial antenna cable is the only one that was tight on my truck. Unplug the radio and there you have it!!!
6. The i-pod adapter should plug in-line with the smaller 12-pin radio connector. This is also called the "radio C2" connector. The adapter instructions should be able to help you from here on out. If not, post another question and ill see if i can help you out. Are you sure the ipod adapter is compatible with XM??? Most of them arent... Not to say its impossible to get them to work...just takes a little more custom work. I know with the PAC ipod-2-car adapter, you have to cut the XM power wire and put a switch in-line with it. Then when you want to use the ipod, you flick the switch and it cuts off the XM and allows the ipod adapter to function...
Reverse the procedure to put the bezel/radio back in. The bezel will press/snap right back in, no tools.

----Ben

Awesome Info Ben, Thank you so Much.

I also need to mount the IPOD interface adaptor inside the dash somewhere... How would I go about doing this? Am I going to have to remove the entire thing?

I also need to run a wire from that to the left side of the dash, over by the vent and the light knob. So I think I will need to get behind the whole thing...

Any suggestions...

Thanks for everything man.

-Matt

Anyone in SO. Cal. Wanna give me a hand with this??? lol :)

Well...personally I would just stuff the adapter box back there! As long as its wedged in a good spot, its not going anywhere and it wont rattle. What is the wire that you need to run for? It shouldnt be a problem...with that dash bezel off, just snake the wire behind or below the instrument cluster, then over to the other-side...remember all that is covered up when you stick the bezel back on! I wouldnt worry about that one wire being perfectly tied up or anything. Good luck!

---Ben

Those instructions are all you'll need to know. I pulled my radio out last night and compared to other cars I've worked on it was silly how easy it is to get out. You'll find that there's a cavern back there behind the radio to stuff almost anything you need to fit behind it.

It was suprisingly easy to get into it all, (Do you really have to disconnect the battery before working in there?) and then I found that I had the pre2002 interface so I had to rebutton it all up.... I have the new one coming. OK with the bench seat version with the basic stock XM radio do you have to install that switch? Which wire if so and where do you install it? I love that it has extra RCA inputs so I can jack in a seperate DVD player for the kids... Also does anyone have any experience working with the headliner? Where is a good spot to install a offboard DVD player? The seats are bench seats so no console... so under the center front seat maybe? How hard is it to thread a wire up through the seat covers? can you unbotton something at the bottom or something that opens that up? Thanks in advance!

Drew