02+ Radio installs

[Exalted512]

As a lot of you guys know, the newer Chevy/GMC trucks are a little odd as far as installing an aftermarket radio.


Most of you have 2 options

Option 1:
Buy the Metra 70-2003 harness, find an accessory power and be done with it. You will lose your door chimes. That is all on MOST models.

Option 2:
Buy the Metra GMRC-01. This is a $100+ harness. The ONLY thing it does is retain the door chime.

So whats the difference?
The difference is your trucks computer. GM has integrated some of the diagnostics to show across the radio. For instance, the "Low Engine Coolant" and messages like that will stream across your radio's display.

If you don't have RDS, you will never have to worry about it. You can buy the 70-2003 off eBay, your local audio store, or best buy/circuit city.

If you DO have RDS, its not the end of the world. If you have a message center in your instrument cluster that displays your engine's diagnostics and nothing shows on the radio, then you're okay with the 70-2003.

Hope this clears up some things.
-Cody

[Nick]

Shouldn't that be "03+" ?

[badboyztn]

yeah 99-02' use one adapter and 03'+ trucks have another. I have an 01 Tahoe non-Bose with Onstar and I needed the metra GM 70-2006.

[Exalted512]

Originally Posted by Nick

Shouldn't that be "03+" ?

some 02s use the 70-2003, but youre correct, most still use the 70-1858
-Cody

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Exalted512

some 02s use the 70-2003, but youre correct, most still use the 70-1858
-Cody

Just pointing out that they started using the Class II databus in '03.

[ibthumpin]

So when would you need the GMRC-01 since it "only" retains the door chime?

And I thought all the clusters in the NNBS were the same -in that they had a display for the warnings.

[Exalted512]

Originally Posted by ibthumpin

So when would you need the GMRC-01 since it "only" retains the door chime?

And I thought all the clusters in the NNBS were the same -in that they had a display for the warnings.

you only need the GMRC-01 when you have diagnostic messages that stream across your radio. Its very rare to have to use the GMRC-01 in trucks. Ive run across 3 trucks Ive had to use that module in a year of installing professionally. Most of the time youll find it used in Impala's.
-Cody