05nali's HOW TO Ipod/AUX hookup for 03+ XM equipped trucks

[SteveCZ28]

I found this thread really late, but am glad I did. I currently have a USA-SPEC input that's installed on my 2003 Yukon. However, I got it installed YEARS ago and it only works with the older iPods and iPhones. Now I have an iPhone 5 and need to get that to where I can listen to it. Here's my question...I don't think I have the XM tuner box you're talking about. I haven't looked thoroughly yet but will tonight after work. However, I know my current USA-SPEC unit is wired through the XM because when I want to listen to it, I hit the FM button until it gets to XM-1 or XM-2. So does that mean I definitely have the XM tuner? This would save me so much time effort and money if I do and can do this wire up. Thanks.

if your head unit is recognizing xm-1 and xm2 you have xm sirius in your truck, and will be able to do this mod

 

[DonnieBrasco]

if your head unit is recognizing xm-1 and xm2 you have xm sirius in your truck, and will be able to do this mod

Thanks, Steve, that's great news! I looked tonight and didn't see the tuner with the yellow plug. Is there any chance it's back behind my radio where they wired in the USA SPEC? I don't want to pull my radio out and have it lock up. Thanks.

 

[DonnieBrasco]

Nevermind, I'm just going to go in behind the radio so I can take out the USA SPEC unit at the same time. Moreover, this new mod should be easy to wire in since the USA SPEC unit is wired in the same way (I think). Just so I'm clear...

1.) The ground wire is spliced INTO the existing ground wire, right? Meaning I don't cut through the ground wire like I do the two audio wires, right?

2.) Do I need to disconnect my battery before I pull the radio out? Does this keep the anti-theft from locking up? Or do I even need to worry about that?

THANKS!!!

 

[SteveCZ28]

Nevermind, I'm just going to go in behind the radio so I can take out the USA SPEC unit at the same time. Moreover, this new mod should be easy to wire in since the USA SPEC unit is wired in the same way (I think). Just so I'm clear...

1.) The ground wire is spliced INTO the existing ground wire, right? Meaning I don't cut through the ground wire like I do the two audio wires, right?

2.) Do I need to disconnect my battery before I pull the radio out? Does this keep the anti-theft from locking up? Or do I even need to worry about that?

THANKS!!!

all of your wires you will splice into. do not cut any of them.

as far as your stereo going into theft lock there is really no way of finding out if a previous owner set up a password for it. only way to find out is unplug stereo and when done plug it back in if it works your good, if not, youll have fun unlocking it. un hooking the battery will make no difference as well. as soon as the stereo senses complete and total loss of power it will go into theft lock, ONLY if a previous owner set it up. ive done alot of stereo installs in gm's and have yet to find a head unit set up on theft lock.

---------- Post added at 12:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:52 AM ----------

Thanks, Steve, that's great news! I looked tonight and didn't see the tuner with the yellow plug. Is there any chance it's back behind my radio where they wired in the USA SPEC? I don't want to pull my radio out and have it lock up. Thanks.

your xm reciever is behind the glove box.. open the box as far as it weill go, then look on the sides you will see 2 little posts in there that keep the box from falling completely open. just pull the sides of the box in and the box will open all the way showing you the xm tuner right there. super simple to find

 

[DonnieBrasco]

Can't thank you enough for the help, Steve. I dropped the glove box all the way down and didn't see it. But I've read elsewhere that sometimes (for whatever reason) it's not right there on all of them. Someone else said they've seen it all up in the dash next to the firewall. Maybe that's where mine is. Regardless, I'll just yank the radio.

So I need to tap and splice INTO the wires and not sever the wires. Got it. Thanks.

I've done some cursory searches on unlocking the radio in the event it does lock. My Yukon only had one former owner but I have no idea if he set one. However, I have a suspicion he did. Because years ago when I had the USA SPEC installed (before I knew how to do this shit myself) by BB I remember them saying they had to call a dealership because it did lock up. Worst case scenario, if mine locks up, will I need some special code from a dealer or can I just google it? How bad is it if this happens? Is it just a pain in the ass or will it add hours and hours to my project? Thanks boss.

ETA: Damn just looked more into theft locked radio. Wll I be able to get the code if it happens or do I have to go to a dealer? That would be a huge pain in the ass and likely not free. I'm big on free.

 

[DonnieBrasco]

I swear I'm not trying to be difficult, just want to cover all my bases so I have a plan in place if I get the radio out and it locks up...

Doing some more reading and it looks like GM vehicles are equipped with either TheftLock I (pre-2000 vehicles) or TheftLock II (later models). Moreover, TL-I uses a code set by the user; and TL-II uses EPROM or PROM and the code is burned in and the radio is married to the vehicle via the VIN. Long story short, it would seem to me that if I have TL-II, it wouldn't lock since I'm putting it back in the same vehicle, right? Further, since my Yukon is an 03, I should definitely have TL-II, right? Maybe I'm not thinking about it the right way but that's how I understood it.

So if that's the case, and all of the above is true and accurate, I shouldn't have a problem. Thoughts?

 

[SteveCZ28]

I swear I'm not trying to be difficult, just want to cover all my bases so I have a plan in place if I get the radio out and it locks up...

Doing some more reading and it looks like GM vehicles are equipped with either TheftLock I (pre-2000 vehicles) or TheftLock II (later models). Moreover, TL-I uses a code set by the user; and TL-II uses EPROM or PROM and the code is burned in and the radio is married to the vehicle via the VIN. Long story short, it would seem to me that if I have TL-II, it wouldn't lock since I'm putting it back in the same vehicle, right? Further, since my Yukon is an 03, I should definitely have TL-II, right? Maybe I'm not thinking about it the right way but that's how I understood it.

So if that's the case, and all of the above is true and accurate, I shouldn't have a problem. Thoughts?

in theory you should be fine pulling the deck, and putting it back in. you SHOULDNT have problems. but if you did, it usually ends up in a trip to the dealer.

---------- Post added at 07:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:43 PM ----------

Can't thank you enough for the help, Steve. I dropped the glove box all the way down and didn't see it. But I've read elsewhere that sometimes (for whatever reason) it's not right there on all of them. Someone else said they've seen it all up in the dash next to the firewall. Maybe that's where mine is. Regardless, I'll just yank the radio.

So I need to tap and splice INTO the wires and not sever the wires. Got it. Thanks.

I've done some cursory searches on unlocking the radio in the event it does lock. My Yukon only had one former owner but I have no idea if he set one. However, I have a suspicion he did. Because years ago when I had the USA SPEC installed (before I knew how to do this shit myself) by BB I remember them saying they had to call a dealership because it did lock up. Worst case scenario, if mine locks up, will I need some special code from a dealer or can I just google it? How bad is it if this happens? Is it just a pain in the ass or will it add hours and hours to my project? Thanks boss.

ETA: Damn just looked more into theft locked radio. Wll I be able to get the code if it happens or do I have to go to a dealer? That would be a huge pain in the ass and likely not free. I'm big on free.

youre correct, you only splice into the wiring. do not cut anything. i used a simple tap called a t tap for splicing into my wiring as i absolutely hate shaving insulation off wires, making a little path through the wire and wrapping my new wire around and taping everything back up. the t taps i use are super easy, and fool proof, and leaves a professional appearance when done instead of a wiring hack job that i see all too often.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-3M-951-...ideo_Connectors_Terminals&hash=item2ec9df5662

you can shop around and find smaller amounts of t taps, but this is exactly what i use. the red is perfect size for the gauge of wire you will be tapping into. then in future projects they make blue and yellow which are for bigger wire jobs.

 

[DonnieBrasco]

Alright, Steve, I'll give it a shot and keep my fingers crossed. I just need to find my soldering iron and I can hopefully get to it Sunday.

 

[DonnieBrasco]

One more thing, about wire to use to solder to the jack and tap into the XM wiring with. One YT video I saw doing this mod, he said a lot of people used an ethernet cable. He basically cut down an ethernet cable to expose the 5 wires inside the insulation. Granted, the 3.5mm jack he used had 5 posts. But could I get away with using an ethernet cable as well and just using three of the wires? That would be definitely convenient since I have tons of them lying around. If not, what kind of wire do I need to get? Getting all my supplies together to attempt this mod this weekend. Thanks.

 

[SteveCZ28]

One more thing, about wire to use to solder to the jack and tap into the XM wiring with. One YT video I saw doing this mod, he said a lot of people used an ethernet cable. He basically cut down an ethernet cable to expose the 5 wires inside the insulation. Granted, the 3.5mm jack he used had 5 posts. But could I get away with using an ethernet cable as well and just using three of the wires? That would be definitely convenient since I have tons of them lying around. If not, what kind of wire do I need to get? Getting all my supplies together to attempt this mod this weekend. Thanks.

yes pulling 3 wires out of the ethernet cable will be fine. i bought a wire kit from radio shack. had 3 different colors of spools of wire. i believe they are 18 gauge. then i also crimped in bullet connectors incase i needed to remove by dash trim anytime in the future so i can completely remove it from the vehicle, instead of having to remove and place somewhere in the vehicle as it would technically be "tethered" to the truck.