OEM Head Unit Problem HELP!

[TylerHagerdorn]

Hey y'all. I have an 04 Suburban with the Bose system with the 6 CD in dash unit. Of course the CD player doesn't work, and I'm probably one of few people who still buy CDs and use cds often. Anyways here is my dilemma.

I pulled a single CD/cassette unit from an 03 Silverado in the junkyard. I made sure it had the "band" button so I could keep my XM and my RSE because I do use both of those. I installed it into my truck and it turned on and everything functioned properly, but there's no sound. From what I read the 03-06 head units would work as long as you either removed the chip from the board or had the dealer program it, even if it was from a non Bose truck.

Does anyone have any idea why I wouldn't have any sound coming out? Any help would be appreciated. I'm not installing an aftermarket radio as I like the look of the factory ones, especially the single CD/cassette unit.

If anyone knows which units are compatible as well let me know. I'm no expert on these trucks and I welcome any knowledge and advice.

Thank you,
Tyler

 

[Tonyrodz]

Did it say "LOCKED" on the display screen? I'm not familiar with the Bose setup. Maybe your amp gave out--somewhat common issue with those amps.

 

[TylerHagerdorn]

Did it say "LOCKED" on the display screen? I'm not familiar with the Bose setup. Maybe your amp gave out--somewhat common issue with those amps.

No it's not locked. The stock 6 disc still outputs sound just fine, but the single CD I pulled out of the 03 Silverado isn't putting sound out. All the functions work and all that just no sound. I'm leaning towards it being defective but I'm not sure. I'm going to head to the junkyard again tomorrow morning I stashed a bunch of head units from other trucks into one truck so I can just go grab from my stash there

 

[Tonyrodz]

No it's not locked. The stock 6 disc still outputs sound just fine, but the single CD I pulled out of the 03 Silverado isn't putting sound out. All the functions work and all that just no sound. I'm leaning towards it being defective but I'm not sure. I'm going to head to the junkyard again tomorrow morning I stashed a bunch of head units from other trucks into one truck so I can just go grab from my stash there

Not positive, but pretty sure you can't use a non Bose radio in a Bose setup.

 

[clandr1]

Not positive, but pretty sure you can't use a non Bose radio in a Bose setup.

I think this is the issue. From my limited understanding, Bose system is completely different than a non-Bose system, so it's possible the Bose amp/speakers aren't recognizing (or getting the right signals from) your single CD head unit.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I think this is the issue. From my limited understanding, Bose system is completely different than a non-Bose system, so it's possible the Bose amp/speakers aren't recognizing (or getting the right signals from) your single CD head unit.

Agreed.

 

[MassHoe04]

I think this is the issue. From my limited understanding, Bose system is completely different than a non-Bose system, so it's possible the Bose amp/speakers aren't recognizing (or getting the right signals from) your single CD head unit.

Makes sense... Bose would design a proprietary system, because everything is unique to their system.
That is what made the Bose the most premium factory upgrade GM offered at the time.
Every component in the system was engineered as a part of the total package for what GM and Bose intended to be the best sounding system possible.

I would guess Bose would not to field complaints about sound quality after someone tried to integrate non-Bose components, so let's make some of the connections and way things are processed juuuust different enough.

Can you wire up amps and after-market head units to drive the Built-in Bose speakers? Sure. I guess. Just not plug and play...

 

[TylerHagerdorn]

Okay here's some info I've found. Bose didn't make the head units, their system runs off a separate amp outside the radio. They put the single CD and the single CD with cassette units in the trucks with Bose as well. I picked up two more from the junkyard and one of them outputted sound just fine. But here's what's strange...I totally get where you guys are coming from on the non Bose unit won't work in the Bose vehicles, but I sold someone a single CD out of my 2005 cavalier(which doesn't have Bose) and he put it into his 2005 Sierra with Bose and he said it works just fine. So that's where it doesn't make sense to me. If a non Bose won't work in a vehicle with the Bose system then how does a cavalier radio work in a truck with Bose?

 

[clandr1]

I'm completely at a loss to explain this. I wish I could help more.

 

[Doubeleive]

Okay here's some info I've found. Bose didn't make the head units, their system runs off a separate amp outside the radio. They put the single CD and the single CD with cassette units in the trucks with Bose as well. I picked up two more from the junkyard and one of them outputted sound just fine. But here's what's strange...I totally get where you guys are coming from on the non Bose unit won't work in the Bose vehicles, but I sold someone a single CD out of my 2005 cavalier(which doesn't have Bose) and he put it into his 2005 Sierra with Bose and he said it works just fine. So that's where it doesn't make sense to me. If a non Bose won't work in a vehicle with the Bose system then how does a cavalier radio work in a truck with Bose?

the "bose" radio's have extra output pins that send the signal to turn on the separate Bose amp, they will use the same harness as a non bose radio.
so when you installed the non bose radio it did not have the output to turn on the amp, even though the plug is the same
next time you go to the junkyard look at the harness on a non bose vehicle and then look at a bose equipped vehicle and you will see the plug is the same but the bose equipped plug will have more wires/pins occupied on the connector.

 

[TylerHagerdorn]

the "bose" radio's have extra output pins that send the signal to turn on the separate Bose amp, they will use the same harness as a non bose radio.
so when you installed the non bose radio it did not have the output to turn on the amp, even though the plug is the same
next time you go to the junkyard look at the harness on a non bose vehicle and then look at a bose equipped vehicle and you will see the plug is the same but the bose equipped plug will have more wires/pins occupied on the connector.

I have a connector from a Bose and a non Bose truck. They have the same wires and colors and number of wires. What I'm saying is how does a cavalier radio work in a truck with Bose? That doesn't make sense to me if two of the radios I bought came from trucks without Bose and they don't work, but a cavalier radio works in a Bose truck. The only thing I could think was the sound chip or something was bad in it, but thats highly unlikely.

 

[Doubeleive]

I have a connector from a Bose and a non Bose truck. They have the same wires and colors and number of wires. What I'm saying is how does a cavalier radio work in a truck with Bose? That doesn't make sense to me if two of the radios I bought came from trucks without Bose and they don't work, but a cavalier radio works in a Bose truck. The only thing I could think was the sound chip or something was bad in it, but thats highly unlikely.

if the wires are the same then the signal to turn on the bose amp is digital from the radio, so in a sense yes it is a chip, that's why if you go to a aftermarket headunit and have bose it requires a adapter module and that module will send the signal to turn on the bose amp and retain rap, without bose you can just use a cheap wire adapter but you loose rap, because rap is provided by another chip in the radio. If you have rse that is another thing provided by the radio and also requires a adapter if you go aftermarket.

 

[TylerHagerdorn]

if the wires are the same then the signal to turn on the bose amp is digital from the radio, so in a sense yes it is a chip, that's why if you go to a aftermarket headunit and have bose it requires a adapter module and that module will send the signal to turn on the bose amp and retain rap, without bose you can just use a cheap wire adapter but you loose rap, because rap is provided by another chip in the radio. If you have rse that is another thing provided by the radio and also requires a adapter if you go aftermarket.

Yes I know all about the aftermarket stuff. It's ridiculous how expensive it costs to put an aftermarket radio in these trucks. You still need an interface module even if it's not Bose to retain OnStar and the chimes and all that. If you have an older truck 99-02 you can use the cheaper harness but 03-06 you need the expensive interface. I prefer stock anyways I have tons of CDs and cassettes I use. My factory 6 disc is broken which is why I went junkyard hunting for a single CD radio because they are more reliable and I think look better. And since the radios need programmed to the vehicle I think that's what makes the sound happen in a Bose vehicle with a non Bose radio. I've taken the eeprom chip out of one and it works but doesn't retain audio settings which is annoying but I'll probably just wait til taxes done back and I'll buy one and have it programmed at my local dealer. If I go aftermarket I want android auto but I'm not about spending 160$ on an interface plus 300 plus on a radio it's ridiculous. My 15$ fm transmitter I bought 7 years ago works just fine.