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JohnC12
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For those interested, here's the How-To Guide. If anyone has any questions or comments, please let me know.
Aftermarket Radio Installation - 2015 Tahoe LS with IO3
- Thread starter JohnC12
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Wow that's a great install guide. Thanks John! I haven't done my install yet. Been so busy at work that I just haven't been able to find an evening to do it. Will hopefully be happening some time this week. I didn't know that you lost your steering wheel back lighting. I wonder why that is. Hopefully doesn't happen with my kit but I'm not very optimistic. Guess we will find out!
On a side note I see that idatalink is now making a maestro kit for 2015 Tahoes and Suburbans. However, it does not support the retention of the factory Bose amplifier. So you have to wire around it. Not sure I'm real hip on doing that so I'll stick with the Scosche kit for now.
On a side note I see that idatalink is now making a maestro kit for 2015 Tahoes and Suburbans. However, it does not support the retention of the factory Bose amplifier. So you have to wire around it. Not sure I'm real hip on doing that so I'll stick with the Scosche kit for now.
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JohnC12
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Hey Hahler! I was going to ask where you were with your build. I completely understand about being busy!!! Living it!
I hope the guide helps you. Feel free to let me know if you have any specific questions - I'll PM you with my email address.
I too am curious to see if you experience the steering wheel control lighting issue since you went with the SCOSCHE equipment. Personally, I think it has something to do with the Axxess equipment, but I'm not yet 100% positive. If you have back lighting, this may be another reason to switch my equipment out.
I did see they recently released the idatalink for our trucks. Since the LS doesn't have the Bose amp, LS owners should be okay. (I guess there's one good thing to owning an LS with the IO3.) LOL
Depending on your outcome and experience, I may order the SCOSCHE equipment and add the idatalink and replace my Axxess and Metra equipment. Keep me posted.
I hope the guide helps you. Feel free to let me know if you have any specific questions - I'll PM you with my email address.
I too am curious to see if you experience the steering wheel control lighting issue since you went with the SCOSCHE equipment. Personally, I think it has something to do with the Axxess equipment, but I'm not yet 100% positive. If you have back lighting, this may be another reason to switch my equipment out.
I did see they recently released the idatalink for our trucks. Since the LS doesn't have the Bose amp, LS owners should be okay. (I guess there's one good thing to owning an LS with the IO3.) LOL
Depending on your outcome and experience, I may order the SCOSCHE equipment and add the idatalink and replace my Axxess and Metra equipment. Keep me posted.
Well an update for everyone. So far it has not been a smooth experience. The Scosche DDR-GM01 kit does not work with vehicles with a factory amplifier. I got everything connected the other night and no sound. So I called Scosche and they said oh it doesn't work with factory amplifiers. While why does it say on your website that it does!?
So I'm returning that and going to try the Metra kit. It too says it works with a factory amplifier. I'm not optimistic though. If this Metra kit doesn't work then I'll be giving up on this project and putting the Pioneer radio on eBay.
Idatalink does have a maestro kit available for our vehicles but it does not work with the amplifier. It says in the instructions that you have to run speaker wires all the way to the back of the vehicle to the amplifier and wire around it. That sounds like a ton of work and I'm concerned what affect that would have on the sound quality so I'm not going to go down that route.
So I'm returning that and going to try the Metra kit. It too says it works with a factory amplifier. I'm not optimistic though. If this Metra kit doesn't work then I'll be giving up on this project and putting the Pioneer radio on eBay.
Idatalink does have a maestro kit available for our vehicles but it does not work with the amplifier. It says in the instructions that you have to run speaker wires all the way to the back of the vehicle to the amplifier and wire around it. That sounds like a ton of work and I'm concerned what affect that would have on the sound quality so I'm not going to go down that route.
So far trying to replace the mylink stereo with factory bose system has been a total failure. I got the axxess kit that John used in his install and that didn't work either. I tried 2 of them. Neither one of them would power the radio up properly. It would power on when the key was off, and as soon as I turned the key on it would just sit there and cycle power to the radio constantly. It would turn on long enough for the splash screen come on and then it would shut down again. The people at crutchfield think that there's something different enough in the can system of my vehicle that it's not feeding everything switched power properly. So at this point in time I have given up. I returned everything and am selling the Pioneer radio to a friend of mine.
I'm fairly confident that the idatalink system would work, but it says specifically in the instructions that it must be wired around the factory amplifier. That is not something that I'm willing to do at this point in time. So for now I'm just going to stick with the factory deck and maybe in the near future someone will come out with a product that better supports the amplifier in these vehicles.
I'm fairly confident that the idatalink system would work, but it says specifically in the instructions that it must be wired around the factory amplifier. That is not something that I'm willing to do at this point in time. So for now I'm just going to stick with the factory deck and maybe in the near future someone will come out with a product that better supports the amplifier in these vehicles.
I have a 2015 LT Tahoe. And I really do not like the functionality of the current system. Like others, I have found that it does not support car play, and I can't do a video in motion. Also i am not aware of any software update for the system. Any recommendations?
GTPprix
Senior Member
You can do video in motion (and Car Play if you choose to go that far) with the HMI upgrade from MVI.
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JohnC12
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You pretty much have four options:
1) Live with what you have
2) Wait to see if Chevrolet comes out with an update/upgrade (not likely)
3) Purchase an upgrade kit from MVI or OEM (Like GTPprix said)
4) Upgrade your radio to an aftermarket radio (read this entire thread before doing so - there are pros and cons to doing this)
Kpwweb
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That is one of the best step-by-step guides I've ever seen! Great work!
Denada
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John, amazing write-up (and love your vehicle!), very well done! Quick question if you don't mind: During your install did you ever come across an easy way to pick up the speaker wires for the two front speakers (on the dash)? I poked around but without a solid wiring diagram for a '16 Yukon Denali it's pretty useless. I'm just not that comfortable removing the dash trim. I saw a bunch of wires in the kick panel leading up to that general area but again, not sure which pairs I'm looking for. I added two tweeters to the sail panels and originally tied in to the door speakers, but they just don't drive the tweeters very well and I'm thinking the front speakers would be a better option. I'm not the best trim remover but kick panels and the dash ends were easy enough. Thanks in advance!
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JohnC12
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Thanks Denada... I appreciate that!
I didn't touch my speakers when upgrading my head unit. A lot of people will think I'm crazy, but I'm not one who can really tell the difference between a factory speaker and a good quality speaker. <don't shot me for that comment> I'm more concerned with the functionality of the controls and integration with my needs - i.e. Apple CarPlay, Pandora, etc.
I also have the LS model with the iO3 radio system so my setup is very different from yours. For example, my HMI unit is located in an entirely different spot. This all being said, I can point you to two references that may be helpful for you.
The first is a wiring diagram PDF that I found on GMUPFITTER.com. It's an amazing document that covers every wiring diagram in our vehicles. Here's the wiring diagrams for your 2016 Yukon. Do a search for the speakers you're looking for and you should be able to find the wiring diagrams and harnesses for your setup. (I believe your HMI, where the speaker wiring harness is, is located behind the glovebox.
The second place is iDatalinks website. Specifically, take a look at their iDatalink Maestro RR instruction manual. Scroll down to the Suburban/Tahoe sections and take a look at the vehicle wire reference chart - for example, page 36 within the manual. This guide will also tell you the what and where for each speaker wire. While this manual is for a 2015, I'm pretty sure the 15's and 16's are the same.
Oh... and removing the trim pieces on our trucks is super easy - just use the right trim removal tools and take your time. I hope this information helps.
Denada
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Wow you rock, thanks! Beer on me if you are ever in the socal area.
Hey john. I recently came up on your forum about the aftermarket Radio install. I just finished mine. I came across the same issue with the back up camera but Crutchfield told me how to do it. I Will soon tackle That issue. Another issue I have is the loudness of the turn signal. Are you getting the same issue? I tried turning it completely down and it's still loud.I completed the Scosche GM5214SB dash kit install yesterday evening. I am much happier with this look over the Metra dash kit with the blank pocket.
The Scosche kit is very nice! It's made of heavier duty plastic than the Metra - and the clips that hold the top dash trim are metal rather than plastic like on the Metra. When removing the top dash trim last night to upgrade to the Scosche, I broke all three of the plastic clips from the Metra kit - very low quality!
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JohnC12
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Hey Jose - Congrats on your new radio... I hope the install went well.
I can't wait to hear more about the back-up camera integration... that issue still has me stumped. Out of curiosity, what model truck do you have? (LS, LT, LTZ?)
With regards to the loud turn signal, what interface did you use to retrain your vehicles settings? Are you using the Metra GMOS-LAN-09? If you used the Metra interface, the blinker sound you hear is coming from an actual relay - there's no way to control the volume. The volume adjustment on the device only controls the vehicles warning chimes. However, I buried my relay within dash in the center console, so my volume is fairly quite. If this doesn't work, you could always try wrapping the relay in high density foam (or something similar) and try burying it deep in the dash area. I hope this helps.
Again, I can't wait to hear what Crutchfield had to say about the back-up camera. As you may have read in previous threads, they weren't willing to provide me with any information about this issue.
I can't wait to hear more about the back-up camera integration... that issue still has me stumped. Out of curiosity, what model truck do you have? (LS, LT, LTZ?)
With regards to the loud turn signal, what interface did you use to retrain your vehicles settings? Are you using the Metra GMOS-LAN-09? If you used the Metra interface, the blinker sound you hear is coming from an actual relay - there's no way to control the volume. The volume adjustment on the device only controls the vehicles warning chimes. However, I buried my relay within dash in the center console, so my volume is fairly quite. If this doesn't work, you could always try wrapping the relay in high density foam (or something similar) and try burying it deep in the dash area. I hope this helps.
Again, I can't wait to hear what Crutchfield had to say about the back-up camera. As you may have read in previous threads, they weren't willing to provide me with any information about this issue.
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JohnC12
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wreedps... I did a write up... is this what you're looking for? How-To Guide
No, I didn't break any plastic pieces, and no, there are no rattles or weird noises. It's a fairly easy and straight forward install, though I took my time and was careful during disassembly and reassembly.
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JohnC12
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Josacal6 - any update on the back-up camera integration?
joaquin ortega
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@JohnC12 Hi, I also have the same problem as you the only thing is that I try to change the radio using the OEM parts of a LTZ, I got the big display, Radio, HMI, dashboard harness, Amplifier and the amplifier harness, I life in Dominican Republic and after trowing away +7,500 USD in parts, S&H and customs, I'm at the same point that were I start, installing again the small radio, and removing all the parts I already purchase.
As I just read this forum less than a week ago, I order all the parts that I found useful in all your post, but before start all over again I just want to confirm if you could integrated the image of the back-up camera.
Thanks,
As I just read this forum less than a week ago, I order all the parts that I found useful in all your post, but before start all over again I just want to confirm if you could integrated the image of the back-up camera.
Thanks,
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JohnC12
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Hello Joaquin! Man oh man... I'm really sorry to hear about all your troubles!
No, I never could establish a connection with the OEM back up camera. I finally installed an aftermarket right next to the OEM camera.
As you probably saw from a post by Josacal6, he indicates that he was able to accomplish the connection with the OEM - though he never responded to my subsequent posts with exactly how this was done. I ordered all of my equipment from Crutchfield, and as of my install date, they had no clue how to tap into the OEM, so I'm still a little skeptical.
joaquin ortega
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Thanks, @JohnC12, as Im going to start the change to the aftermarket radio, I saw in some of the past post that you attach some pictures, wheel controler cables, etc, etc., however I cant see the pictures will it be to much to ask If you can post it again or send it by email ([email protected]), so I can do it with out a trouble, because I had a lot of them in this process. Scosche recommend this adapter http://www.scosche.com/crtgm01 for the back-up camera, When I begin Ill try to see if I can pull it trough.
thanks,
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