2008 Tahoe Hybrid added factory bluetooth

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hermetics

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I have had my 08 hyhoe for about 6 months now and absolutely love it. The only thing it lacked was bluetooth integration for calls but it came with an external parrot bluetooth so it was not too bad but not quite factory quality. I did some research and found that the blue tooth functionality resides in the the vcim module which in the 08 was not an option but in 2010 it was. As it turns out the 2010 vcim is compatible with my 08 and once swapped would give me bluetooth and mobile app functionality. Note 2011 and newer is not compatible with 2008 to 2010 due to the change in hardware in back of the vcim. Here is how I got mine to work.....

The vcim is located behind the navigation system / temperature controls in the center console. Even if you buy a 2010 tahoe vcim it may not have the bluetooth module so confirm its on the back as is obviously visible. If not they can be purchased on ebay for 25 bucks or so. Mine came with it already attached.
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First do yourself a favor and order the car trim removal kit on amazon for like 12 bucks. You dont want to be the rocket scientists I have seen on youtube using a pocket knife.

Once you have the trim removal tool make sure you also have a socket set and a small socket head for removal of the screws. There are about 10 total screws if I remember correctly and they are all the same size but two of them are awkward to get at if you dont have a right angle socket.

Ok so now you have the two things needed, plastic trim removal kit and socket set.

Take you trim removal tool and wedge it between the trim around your radio and create some space. You will need to use a little force but will eventually hear the clips pop free one by one as you work the tool along the trim. I started at the top left corner and slid the plastic pry tool down and around popping each one along the way. If you need more help just YouTube it something will come up. After the trim for the radio is removed you will see the bolt screws mentioned early. Remove all of the screws on either side from the radio down to the cigarette lighter portion. Now slide out the bottom parts first which may require you push some clips in slightly to pull it out. Do not disconnect any wires just pull them forward enough to see the vcim.

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Vcim
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Now that you can see the vcim you should use a flash light to get an idea of what's going on in there. Not much to see but better to know your surroundings. Notice the black clips holding the vcim in place? Those are the biggest pain in the ass of the whole process. Before you get to the black clips unscrew last two remaining nuts holding the vcim in place. Now as for the clips. My suggestion is to use the plastic pry tool and push it until it give you enough space or snap it. Don't worry about snapping the black clips they are completely unnecessary fire keeping the vcim in place as the two screws are plenty strong enough to hold it down super secure.

At this point you have the vcim ready to be pulled out just enough to remove the cables from its back and swap it out. A note of caution regarding the two cables in the back left of the vcim....push down on the clip and pull to remove those two.
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Now just reattach the new vcim and put everything back the way it was.

Once your back to the way things were you need to pair your bluetooth module with your phone. Here is where I panicked because it did not work when I tried using the most common methods such as pressing the voice button in the steering wheel for 2 seconds and saying blutooth.

Quoted from another forum:
"Hold voice button for two seconds, you will hear a beep then say ONSTAR, the system will reply that Onstar is ready, then say BLUETOOTH, then say PAIR, the system will ask you to run your phones bluetooth scan and the system will also give you the PIN number you need to enter in to your phone...... All should work."

We'll that's it and if you want the onstar functionality to be integrated you should know that each vcim is tied to a vin number, so if you get a 2010 vcim from a tahoe and want to put it in your 2008 Denali onstar will think you have a tahoe but who cares about that when your able to turn your car on from your phone. :]
 
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bjeremi

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Good job. What part number vcim did you get and where did you get it from?
 
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hermetics

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I bought my vcim from ebay but an online junk yard database is another option. Part Number 20787107 and a ton of other part numbers will work also, just need to confirm its from a compatible year. I have seen them new from some GM parts resellers online but I hear they don't ship them even if it let's you add to cart and check out but it might be another option.

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Rickz04Yuk

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Looks like it will work from reading other forum's, but wont work with streaming music to the HU. Guess I'm stuck with possibly adding iSimple Blutooth or BlueFusion Blutooth.
 

swathdiver

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We've used an Aux cable from our phones to the jack built into the Nav Radio to play music before. With the CD player and SiriusXM and the few local stations we listen to, all of our interests are pretty well covered, though limited.
 

Rickz04Yuk

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We've used an Aux cable from our phones to the jack built into the Nav Radio to play music before. With the CD player and SiriusXM and the few local stations we listen to, all of our interests are pretty well covered, though limited.
I'm trying to eliminate the AUX cable and stream via bluetooth and have the ability to change tracks/songs via the steering wheel controls.


 

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