newbie looking for help with Bluetooth and iPod integration (2008 Tahoe Hybrid)

[Fish1]

Hey guys,

Brand new member. Brand new 2008 Tahoe Hybrid owner. Great forum!

Just got my 2008 Tahoe Hybrid and was surprised to learn it does not have Bluetooth standard. I've seen some information on products that will allow you to have Bluetooth functions as well as iPod functions through the steering wheel and radio controls on your Tahoe. These products also add Navigation functions while you ar still driving.

I was looking at this: http://www.coastaletech.com/GMX550.htm

Has anyone tried this or something similar?

 

[soulsea]

Hi Fish ...

Yup the Bluetooth feature didn't become standard till the 2010 models ... many folks have that lockpick on this forum and I haven't heard a negative thing yet. I actually called coastaletech to find out if their lockpick would work with the hybrid nav system, given that it is different than the standard GM one with the hybrid drive display, and their answer was yes. Although it did take them 3 days to come back to me because they had to check with their tech support.

I ended up not getting it ... so if you get one let me know how it turns out.

 

[Fish1]

Ah' cool, another Hybrid owner (and one with the hybrid stickers gone)

Good to hear it works with the hybrid nav system.

Any reason why after looking into it, you decided to not get it? Did you decide to get something different to accomplish similar functions, or did you decide not to get anything at all?


Thanks soulsea!

 

[thirsty1258]

Bg if I may how much did you pay for your ride. How many miles?

sent from my thunderbolt

 

[soulsea]

Ah' cool, another Hybrid owner (and one with the hybrid stickers gone)

Good to hear it works with the hybrid nav system.

Any reason why after looking into it, you decided to not get it? Did you decide to get something different to accomplish similar functions, or did you decide not to get anything at all?


Thanks soulsea!

I wouldn't drive it out of the dealer lot with those gigantic decals on ... so I had the dealer take them off pronto.

I didn't buy the lockpick after looking into it because at the time I was in the middle of many mods (many that have since been undone), and it wasn't a priority. Since then I have had a difficult time finding locally a reputable audio shop to have it installed if I bought it. It seems that many shops had issues with older lockpick models and brands that fried the nav system and they were stuck replacing it for their customer. Given this fact, the fact that I had other things going with the truck, and deciding not to be the guinea pig for every hybrid mod, I kicked the decision down the road.

 

[Fish1]

Bg if I may how much did you pay for your ride. How many miles?

sent from my thunderbolt

If this was directed at me. I paid 31K and it had 35K miles (wanted less than 36K so I could get the GM Protection Plan).

I wouldn't drive it out of the dealer lot with those gigantic decals on ... so I had the dealer take them off pronto.

I didn't buy the lockpick after looking into it because at the time I was in the middle of many mods (many that have since been undone), and it wasn't a priority. Since then I have had a difficult time finding locally a reputable audio shop to have it installed if I bought it. It seems that many shops had issues with older lockpick models and brands that fried the nav system and they were stuck replacing it for their customer. Given this fact, the fact that I had other things going with the truck, and deciding not to be the guinea pig for every hybrid mod, I kicked the decision down the road.

Same here. I only bought the Hybrid with the condition they remove the stickers and buff it out so you can't tell they were ever there.

Do you think it's safe for a hybrid to get the GX550? I really want the functionality, but the chance it could fry my Nav system obviously scares me.

 

[soulsea]

Do you think it's safe for a hybrid to get the GX550? I really want the functionality, but the chance it could fry my Nav system obviously scares me.

I haven't heard of the GX550 frying anyone's nav tbh ...everyone that has it seems to love it. And the folks over at coastaletech assured me there's no issues. But all this is anecdotal information, and it does point that it should work without issues ... but until someone actually does it, we'll never know for sure.

 

[thirsty1258]

Thx fish I must have been looking at something else when I wrote Bg

sent from my thunderbolt

 

[Fish1]

Has anyone heard of Pac Audio for Bluetooth integration.

I went to my local car stereo place (heard lots of good things about them) and they use Pac Audio. They said they've not had great experience with CoastalTech due to the lack of support.

For Bluetooth connection through the car speakers and Nav Screen and iPhone/iPod integration (that streams...without needing a dock connection), they are quoting me a total of $383 (tax, parts & labor). The parts they will be using for this are:
ISBT21: http://www.pac-audio.com/productDetails.aspx?ProductId=917&CategoryID=55
ISGM571: http://www.pac-audio.com/productDetails.aspx?ProductId=903&CategoryID=36

Has anyone had any expeirience with Pac Audio? Since my local stereo place uses them and will support the product I'm leaning towards going with this. Just wanted to check here with the experts before making the final decision.

Thanks guys!

 

[Karnut442]

What sux about PAC bluetooth is it only works when in satelite radio mode. Otherwise it will disconnect.

 

[InTruckDesign]

Not sure if the coastaltech unit will work with a Hybrid, but I would be very cautious in getting one. I have the GMX550 and am on my second nav head unit..first one locked up and was useless after about 6 months...got a new head unit from GM and re-installed the GMX550 after about 8 months or so my DVD/CD player quit working, so now I have a portable dvd player plugged into my aux inputs in order for my lids to watch movies. It's a good thing I don't listen to CD's anymore so I really do not miss it, GMX550 is still installed since I use other functions of it.

 

[bryanfeelsgood]

Can't comment on PAC audio in use with lockpick, but I have both the PAC OS-4 and SWI-PS and haven't had a single problem.

 

[Green Machine]

I'm a new 2008 Hybrid owner, too!

I pretty much finished installing the GMX550 on my tahoe this morning. I took my time so it took about 2 hours. A lot of the time was spent removing the center console trim without damaging it. I think the hardest parts of the install are the removal of the trim and the routing of the Lockpick harness.

Testing for me is in the early stages. I haven't Lockpicked the factory rear view camera yet. I have tested the ipod connection and it seems to work fine. I'll be driving to L.A. later today so I will try the DVD and Nav override features then.

One tip. The Gen6 setup (not sure how it compares to older versions) takes up quite a bit of space. I couldn't fit it behind the factory stereo so I put it all in the glove compartment, which now has very little space left over. If you choose to do this, you need to push the entire Lockpick harness back through the hole that the factory connectors come through. From there you can then route the part of the harness that goes to the Lockpick box to the glove compartment. I figured this arrangement will also make future additions or USB upgrades easier (I won't have to remove the factory stereo unit again).

Hope that helps.

I'll give another update once I've tested out the other features.

---------- Post added at 09:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:02 AM ----------

By the way, my next project is to add Bluetooth capability. I'm leaning towards Scosche's BlueFusion.

 

[soulsea]

Thanks GM, that's very helpful.

Quick q ... is the hybrid drive display working without issue?

 

[Green Machine]

Thanks GM, that's very helpful.

Quick q ... is the hybrid drive display working without issue?

Good question. After you asked this, I decided it would be better to find out now than during my drive to L.A.

I took the tahoe for a quick spin around the block. The hybrid screen appears to be working just fine. I also tested the Nav really quickly. I was able to get to the enter address screen while crawling down the street at idle speed. Didn't try more than that. When I drive to L.A., I'll have my wife test the Nav while we're on the highway.

 

[Green Machine]

Back from my trip to L.A.

DVD unlock worked fine.
Ipod interface worked fine. Playlists showed on the screen. Looked a little hazy but otherwise it worked just fine.
NAV unlock worked but I found it kind of glitchy. Might be related to having a movie playing and the DVD unlock feature on. I think I remember reading about this. Will have to research it.

Next thing is to splice in the rearview camera.

 

[jebt2921]

2008 Hybrid Tahoe

I've noticed it has been some time before anything posted here so I wanted to see if I could get an update as to how the lockpick unit is working in the Hybrid Tahoe.

I really want to add iphone integration to display music and charge my phone as the same time and the other features would be nice to have as well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Of course the last thing I want to do is ruin my factory unit and NAV.

Thanks

 

[Fish1]

When I talked with the folks that made the lockpick back when this thread was active, they said it would work fine with the Hybrid. I never pulled the trigger until recently deciding I wanted to get it installed. I call the company up again and this time they said the lockpick will definitely NOT work with the Hybrid. It's a different system and the lockpick is not compatible.

You could call them and check again, but I'm under the impression it will not work with Hybrids.