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I think we should have a sticky at the top of the PPV and SSV forums, with the basics about getting our trucks back to a more "civilized" form. We can also have a breakdown of the differences between civilian tahoes and PPV and SSV + other Fleet optioned vehicles.
The goal would be a comprehensive list of the basic stuff we all (or most of us) encounter when we bring our Government Owned Tahoes home with us for the first time.
Some topics or examples are:
- Rear Door Locks - Getting them to lock/unlock and have the ability to auto lock or unlock via Key fob and front passengers buttons
- Basic how to on all essential maintence to do when first getting the 'Hoe home like liquid; Oil, Coolant, Steering fluid, Brake fluid, Differential fluids, Transfer Case
- How to Make Rear Door Interior Door Handles Functional
- Radio swap for USB+BLUETOOTH+6 disc (XM undelete?)
- How to get 2nd row speakers working (mine are plugged in at the speaker but must be disconnected somehow between the B Pillar and the head unit as they do not function, makes me wonder if adding the small tweeter speakers on the upper rear C pillars would be plug N play since the rear passenger door speakers don't work and are plugged in )
- How to make electronic rear windows workable by the rear passengers (mine were disconnected, and each rear switch was taped over on the actual PCB board where the switch makes contact, but when switches were fixed and felt "right" the windows still only roll down from Driver's control, this leads me to believe the entire harness for each rear door must be disconnected because the rear speakers also don't work)
- Center Consoles with all the different options
- How to Add DIC button
- How to Add a Self Dimming and other features rear view mirror
- Floormat & cargo area options + model numbers
- How to remove spotlight and make civilainized
- How to swap steering wheels with radio controls
- How to swap front cloth seats for better options
I also know there are a bunch of mods that are much more than just simple plug N play mods such as:
- Folding+Heated+Signal Side Mirrors
- Rearview mirror with LCD built-in license plate camera
- Front Heated Seats, Rear Captains Chairs, Third Row Seating?
- Adjustable Gas Pedal ?
- Adding Carpeted floor & Replacing/Adding vinyl flooring
- Adding stock 8 speaker system components + aftermarket audio
- Adding rear climate controls on headliner (manual and automation)
- Adding rear heated seats
- Adding rear radio functions
- Adding civilian center consoles
I know I'm forgetting a bunch of stuff but do you guys think this is a worthy endevour? As a newbie myself (less then a month owning) I'll tell you I could really use a thread like this, to this day! A lot is info I don't have an need to learn/find and other stuff I'd be willing to write up.
Please help lol
Joe, if you can the up fitter book it will tell you or download, it will explain a lot of the wiring.
Rear door locks are usually unhooked by taking the rod out or just disconnecting the rod, sometimes you will find the buttons and sometimes you have to order the little pieces of plastic, also the the door candle cable is usually disconnected , just have to hook it back up to the door handle. Rear windows just need new switches, the switches that are in there are missing components to let the rear passengers use them. As far as the speakers in the rear, if they are hooked up the you should check the wiring out under the dash by the floor, they may have been used for a radio and never hooked buck up.
The DIC can be added, I did mine, just cut the hole to hole the switches and plug it in, radio controls can be added to the wheel or entire wheel can be replaced with them. Fog lights you need the entire mount and light, need to see if wire is available and would need new light switch. Mirrors you will have to check the plugs that are there to see if they will match up with signal,folding mirrors. Dimming mirror will only work to dim and compass, temp gauge to work is a programming thing along with DRLs and a few other things.
I'm not sure on a rear camera but you would need wiring harnesses for rear climate and media. Center consoles can be added but you would need the harness for that also. A third row can be added, the bolt hookups are under the vinyl matting, and to add carpet the right way all seats need to be removed.
To be truthful, you saved a lot of money buying one, just the basics but by the time you add everything and get things programmed by the dealer to work it's going to cost just as much. You should have spent the extra and waited and looked for what you wanted in a Tahoe. One last thing is the spotlights, they make kits so when removed the cover the holes, just remember to seal really good. Check your light housings, if they have holes in them from hideaways, make sure they are all sealed as well. Hope this helps a bit. Also look inside the passenger side wheelwell behind the headlight, there may be a headlight flasher in there also. I'm still adding to mine, looking for the headlight flasher and push bar. Also from MI now in NC.
