z120bt in 09 Tahoe LTZ

[ptwat]

I found a forum article about placing a GPS antenna (http://chevroletforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2155) and was able to put the aftermarket antenna in. It is not as bad as I thought it would be. Take the A-pillar covers off (attached).

 

[ptwat]

Then pop the clips (seven I believe) in front of the dash (nearest the window) and you uncover the GPS antenna. I unscrewed the OEM GPS antenna from that metal plate and secured it inside the dash in case I ever want to use it again. I then attached the Pioneer antenna, fished the cable down inside the dash with a fishtape then to the HU.

 

[ptwat]

What started out as nicely routed and tucked cables became increasing difficult to keep orderly as I debugged my install.
I also ran the BT mike to just in front of the mirror. I made one call and my wife said it sounded good on a short call.
Tested the RSE and I can put a DVD back there and it plays over the head phones as advertized with the GMRVD.
I also tested the XM input even though I don't subscribe. XM sent me notice that they are having a limited free service until the end of the month so I should be able to test it more. My first reaction is that trying to use XM through the DIC is not very intuitive. If I was serious (or sirius ) about XM I would probably get the pioneer module although space is tight right now without putting a module way back in the dash.

 

[Modded]

Good write up ptwat. I only made one write up and lost the patience to make any more.

 

[webf2010]

I have already started doing the modification for my car, but it is still in progress , I shall update you once it is finished.

 

[ptwat]

Thanks.

Although I don't think the chimes are as bad as I thought they would be, but I wonder if the Scosche chime module is any better. (http://www.scosche.com/ecom/download/GMCM2B12B.pdf)

Good luck webf2010.

 

[ptwat]

A few final observations-
I have the free two week XM satellite deal going on and so I have been using it a little with the DIC base interface. If you are a big XM/Sirius fan and change programing a lot, the OS4 does not have the best interface.
Since I use the Ipod interface (which is excellent) I have to choose either XM or the RSE inputs as the second A/V input but not both. I don't use either very much but changing back and for means taking the woodgrain trim off and I don't like having to do that.
Programming the SWI-PS was a pain but once it is done it works well and integrates with the OS-4 well.
The Z120BT nav function is adequate and better that the OEM but I hope Pioneer updates it like a lot of people have said in various forum.
The OEM backup cam integrates well except it only turns on when the truck is in reverse. No big deal unless you want to use the "Backup" function of the Z120BT that allows you to split screen and leave the cam on all the time. The OEM unit will be on in reverse but turns off in any other selection. Must be an OEM thing.
The Metra adapter is a little too wide to fit in the OEM woodgrain trim. I wish I paid attention to that and made adjustment before putting everything together.

Having said all the above, I am very pleased with my setup.
Pandora is great and integration with Ipod/Iphone is execellent,
Bluetooth is excellent, unlike many have experience, my mic works great and noone has complained about noise or hearing me,
Integration with the RSE works great (with caveats mentioned above),
The sound is great,
Onstar works (although I don't use it),
SD music works well and moving around to find things is easy, almost as good as Ipod (I have not tried movies on SD but looking into that.

I can't imagine doing a project like this without the input, support and information from forums like this and others that I used to learn from others experiences. I thank everyone who has contributed.

 

[ptwat]

Just got done reading your posts about your install. Wow... excellent stuff. Thanks so much for all the info and pictures, it really helps. I'm planning on putting a X920BT into my 2007 Tahoe so I assume it will be a pretty similar install to yours. I have almost all identical harnesses. I have a couple questions if you get a chance to answer them:

1) On the GMRVD there are two grey connectors (a male and female). What do these plug into?

2) I have the PAC SWC-PS and an Axxess SWC that automatically programs itself. Which would you recommend using?

3) There is a green/white wire coming off of the PAC OS-4 that controls Onstar volume. What did you plug that wire into?

4) Did you cut the brown mute wire off of the PAC OS-4? If so, what did you hook it up to? I want to perform the bypass; will cutting the brown wire interfere with that?

5) How in the world did you get all the wires/harnesses to fit?!

Again, incredible job. Thanks so much for the help you've already provided!

ugadawg?? Man I am a tnvol...

I live here in GA so I will help you anyway

Seriously, you should probably ask these questions in the thread, someone else might have the same questions.

1)Match the connectors that went to the OEM HU by color. The grey will actually fit the brown but that is not correct. One end of the GMRVD hung free in my install since the OEM is no longer there. It is really just a breakout cable in this application. I tucked the free end down and to the right looking into the hole for the HU. I originally was not going to cut the lower horizontal plastic piece but had to in order have space for all the cables.

2)I used the SWIPS because there is a direct connector on the OS4. The SWIPS is a bit of a pain to program but once you have it, you have it. Looked like the Axxess unit would have to be custom wired.

3)Can't remember on the green/white wire. Let me think about that one and get back.

4)I cut the brown wire and connected to the mute in on the z120bt. You have to use the mute out end of the cut OS4 brown wire. If you don't cut it, the OS4 will turn off the HU when when a call comes in.

5)As above, I had to cut some extra plastic at the bottom of the HU well and tucked the cables back into the recesses at the bottom left and right under the HU. It is tight but they fit. I put the SWIPS at the bottom of HU well below where the climate controls are.

Thanks so much for all the help! This is awesome. Just some follow up questions:

1) For the SWIPS programming, I've read that people have programmed it for version 1 and 2. Which version did you program it for? And did you just use the instructions that came in the box? Also, did you cut the two loops on the connector for the SWIPS?

2) Did you perform the bypass? If so, did cutting the brown wire from OS-4 and connecting it to the mute wire on the radio interfere with the bypass?

3) Where did you ground all the ground wires? Is it safe to assume that the PAC-OS4 has a ground connection in it? Therefore, you dont actually have to ground the black wire from the radio to a screw, you just have to make sure that it's connected to the black wire on the PAC-OS4.

4) Are the red, yellow, and black wires coming off the top of the PAC-OS4 the wires that I should connect to the red, yellow, and black wires on the radio?

Thanks again for all your help. And I will be putting this all in a thread soon so that other people can see.

ugadawg311,

The *** are getting a little long so I am putting it all here in the thread. Hope that is not a problem.

---------- Post added at 10:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 PM ----------

To answer the second set:

1) I used the OS4 instructions and it says version 2 when using the SWC connector (from the OS4). I did not cut the loops, again per the OS4 instructions.

2) I did the bypass. There is an extra wire on the OSNAV connector loose (green/white) that I did not need to use on the OSNAV connector. I used that wire for the bypass wire since it already had the pin connector attached. It takes a little doing but it fits inside the pioneer connector. The mute wire does not affect the bypass.

3) I am a firm advocate of a good ground. I did not count on the OS4 for ground. I soldered all wiring connection that were not connector and used heat shrink over the joints even the ground wires. I like for a ground to be where I want it to ground. I ran an extention wire from the comibined grounds to one of the screws in the back of the HU well with crimped and soldered lug on the end. Do not do a half job on the ground(s)- it is not the place cut corners. Did I mention being meticulous with the ground wires?

4) There is a relay on the OS4 that you need to use the output of the red and yellow for the HU power in. That relay is meant to relieve the OS4 from carrying all the current for the RAP loads for the HU. Black is ground (see above).

 

[ugadawgs311]

Awesome. I was planning on putting everything in the thread anyways, so thanks for doing that. Again, thank you so much for all this advice, it's really helpful.

In response to question 2: Can I just move the mute wire over one slot on the harness and ground that, along with the green parking brake wire?

I also cut the brown loop wire on the PAC OS-4 and will just tape both ends up. Should I do that or attach one end to the mute wire in the white harness for the HU?

Also, did you get the auto-dimming feature to work (i.e. does your map background turn black when your headlights turn on)? I assume you attach the orange wire from the HU to the orange wire on the PAC-OS4, but I've read a lot of forums where people have said that this did not work. Will you let me know what works for you?

Thanks again.

 

[ptwat]

You can move the mute wire over one slot and ground it (for the bypass), but then you will not have a "mute in" to connect to the brown "mute out" on the OS4. I used a spare wire mentioned above for the bypass.

If you do not use the brown "mute out" on the OS4 to connect to the "mute in" on the HU, do not cut the brown loop. If you do, the radio will continue to play when you receive or make a blue tooth call or onstar call.

Auto dimming works in my setup (z120bt) with the orange wires connected to the HU from the OS4.