2nd Cad Nav in the Av - In & Working! PART 2

[masterp2]

Ben, I guess I should have figured out what you were saying, duh.   I can say mine is 150 lbs heavier with sound deadening and other mods.  Less payload I guess.  You only live once.

[duramaxHD]

I got my Lux amp for 45 dollars!! I dont think a 45 dollar aftermarket amp could sound better if it was paired to the best drivers in the world... Oh well...no more arguing...we're all a happy GM family here
sorry for the confusion...the Silverado 2500HD has a GVWR of 9200 pounds...the curb weight (of my 4x4 crew cab short box) is 5907... So i guess unless my truck was loaded to the gills at the time, I should have said "not bad for a stock sound system in a truck that weighs 5907 pounds"
http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado/specifications/

----Ben

I agree on the wave radio...i think the price is something rediculous like ~200$ (does put out some decent bass for ~3" drivers tho)

EDIT: sorry masterp2--didnt see you responded...how do you like the sound deadening? Sometimes even the quiet(er than LB7) LLY gets to me on long trips

[masterp2]

Ben

Where do you see 5900? I think more like 7200 empty for a CC dmax/allison.  My guess 5900 is base vehicle no options.

The truck has yet to leave the driveway.  The measurements I've taken are idle in the driveway.  Gotta admit, having the front seats in my garage is a great theft deterrent.

Except for the mysterious lack of motor noise, you'd never know that it had been completely dissasembled.  Sitting idle, it is 2 dB quieter than our 97 expedition.  THAT impressed me!   Went from 77 dB to 63 dB on the C scale.  (in acoustic dB log scale, that is about a 75% reduction, each 6dB is a doubling of percieved sound magnitude, or is it 10?)  The A scale does not even register now, must be under 50 dB.  I expect the road reduction will surpass the idle test.

I will say even the bose "bass cube" sounds like it's up 3-6 dB with the deadening, not surprised.  This project is not for the faint of heart.  I literally had no sign of the interior color of the truck for 2 weeks.  I was a little worried I would have all kind of parts left over.  I envisioned being killed by the airbag, till I disconnected it (I think).

Was it worth it?  After about 60 hours and $500 (turned into more than I bargained for), that's a toughy, guess I'll let you know when I get to drive it.  Truth is it's hard to quantify against a pair of earplugs.  I took a ton of photos, could be worth a new thread, and college course credit.

PS Do not attempt this at home if you are OCD predisposed.

[masterp2]

...and yes, for $45, the lux upgrade is a better value than sound deadening, for sure. 

[duramaxHD]

Ive heard stories of people not being able to make an '05 TNR re-learn a new VIN. (on the GM Trucks forum) Then ive also heard horror stories of TNRs randomly locking up for no reason. (dead battery or what not) Now im paranoid that im gonna start my truck one day and it will display "Theftlock engaged" and then not unlock even with a Tech II. I never had to unlock mine in the first place because I bought it new... So i dont know if my platform (05 duramax crew cab LT) supports "unlocking a nav" thru the Tech II because it is not an OE option...is any of this true?

----Ben

[sperry]

3 dB is doubling/ or ½ depending on the direction. 10 dB is tenfold.
If you are speaking in terms of power.

If one doubles only one factor in power, let's say voltage, then that would be 6dB and so-on.

Then there's what's referenced.. dBm, dBmv, dBW, ....

[masterp2]

Acoustics has its own treatment of the def of dB, dB is a measure of sound pressure: what the ear interprets: 

The smallest change a typical person can detect is 3 dB sound pressure, or 1.5 dB sound power. An increase of 6 dB is a doubling of measured sound pressure, although it takes an increase of 10 dB sound pressure to sound twice as loud to a person. An increase of just over 3 dB sound power is a measured doubling, though it takes an increase of 5 dB sound power to sound twice as loud to a person.

[sperry]

Yes, that was an example as is yours. It's the same log scale. `Just what is referenced.

Although I feel you described the acoustical one better.

[holstbnet]

masterp2 you are definitely way above my head with mobile audio - and I totally see your point. Anything that is produced for the masses is ultimately going to be cheap quality. Bose did a good job of making a positive image and brand for itself. (well, at least among the average public) The general consensus amongst the car and even home audio people I know is that Bose is garbage. I don't know enough about it to throw in my opinion of it. My view towards the car audio is:
1) I like stock. Stock looks clean, works as it should, less likely to get ripped off, all of that. Plus, I have some sort of sick obsession with making everything "factory" -- I don't usually do modifications to my vehicles unless it's with a part that GM already uses on my vehicle or another GM vehicle, or it at least LOOKS like something factory. I'm very anal and a perfectionist about stuff like that. I can't help it, we all have our "issues"

2) My particular truck is a daily driver and a work truck. I need to use the extended cab portion for carting stuff around, and my dog. Because I have a third door I have no rear speakers. All I have are dash and door speakers. Due to these limitations I am not going to win any competitions with my audio gear.

3) This is definitely one of those "to each his own" kinda things. I'm amazed at the knowledge the audio guys have about dB, SPL, acoustics and all of the intricate details that involve planning a mobile audio setup. It's probably a really good feeling to put together a really nicely designed system and have it sound just perfect. I, on the other hand - love listening to music like the next guy, but am definitely not picky about perfection with sound quality and all of that. I think its a really good feeling to learn about the inner workings of my vehicles and be able to integrate and add GM options that didn't come on my car. In other words, the Y91 Bose system might suck compared to good aftermarket gear, but just the fact that I could add this crazy "high-end" setup from a Denali into a cheap S-10 pickup and have it all work would thrill me to death.

[masterp2]

The TNR came yesterday, and before date night, I got it stuffed into the dash and it works beautifully.  The one I got looks new, plastic still on the screen, etc.  Except for VSS, plug and play.  Will make replacing the original HU upon resale very easy if I need to.  I have to wonder where they come from.  I searched for one locally to be told, they never get an order to remove them.  They are one of the most demanded options, so much so that local dealers actually install eclipse units to satisfy "need it now" customers. 

Dave, i am with you.  No longer youthful, I like to keep the "look" totally factory, as I prefer not to deal with crime as much as I can avoid it.  Every mod I have done is stealth, no sign of afermarket can be observed without getting into the vehicle.  But I think this TNR just made my truck less secure.  Any factory head that brings over 1 G on ebay, is not safe.  I suspect half of us have stolen units already.   

I was involved in the Gm-trucks thread over a year ago, when you 3-4 pioneers were paving this mod, and I  made the decision then that this would be a bad decision for me.  Guess you wore me down.  When it came time to do my sound project, and hearing that TS was available, i cracked.  It became the obvious choice.

Now if one of you wizards is able to defeat door chimes, I'll be your friend forever.  There is a downside to new amplification:  if you turn up the gain (on the amp, not the HU knob) ding ding ding, is now DING DING DING. but on-star is surprisingly much more audible and loud.  This is with the OEM-1 (pac adapter),   Where is the driver door open sensor?

Now, need to get some jimmi jammers and try to keep people out of the truck.  Going to permanently mount this with a homemade reinforcement and some security screws to slow'em down if he does get in.  I can get this out in less than 30 seconds, it is just not safe.

Insurance question before I call them:  when a theft occurs, how does the agent determine the HU configuration?  I see no reason why I should not have coverage for this (factory unit) w/o a rider. 

[duramaxHD]

masterp2--- Did you have to unlock your unit with a Tech II or was it brand new (no unlocking needed)?? As for the chimes, I think there is a menu option in the TNR for chime volume. I will go out and check in a little bit. I think its in the "config" menu. I dont think you can turn it off, but you can turn it down.

----Ben

[masterp2]

found that, it's already turned "down".  I just did the bypass trick.  I'll get the theftlock fixed monday.

So no, it has been plugged into something before.

[duramaxHD]

Ah i'd be curious how the unlocking goes on the 2500HD (because the nav is not an OE option for the HD)... There is one guy on the GM Trucks forum who cant get the nav to unlock on his 3500 Sierra. But id be willing to bet he has something hooked up wrong and/or the dealer tech using the Tech II doesnt know what hes doing. Mine was new, so I just popped it in, turned the ignition on, and it showed the standard "Delphi" splash screen, cycled the ignition, and it showed the Chevy bowtie

----Ben

[masterp2]

...so your TNR was virgin?

[duramaxHD]

haha yup!! There was a guy on ebay who was telling NEW TNRs (non lux and lux) for a while...mine (lux) was 1300 with the GPS antenna included. I was lucky to stumble upon this deal!!

---Ben

[masterp2]

This TNR seems to be a take-out from a new vehicle, 3.0 disk and new antenna, $1100.  He wanted to send the 2.0, but I insisted on the one 3.0 he had. 

Took the truck for a ride today, weird.  Doesn't feel like the diesel anymore.

I can see where trips are going to be so much more enjoyable.

Having 14 dB less ambient noise is so much more enjoyable than listening to 2000 W to overcome the background noise.  The avalanche guys won't appreciate this till you see what we are up against.  Considering this, i partially retract the "worth it" statement.  Now I have a vehicle that can run high 12's, pull 18K without straining and listen to mozart at low volumes, while never getting lost.  A tough act to follow.

2 weeks ago I had to go to a funeral for my grandfather.  My brother picked me up with a "neverlost" rental.  I quickly dubbed it "directions for dummies".  I didn't like never knowing where I was.  But I love seeing where I am. 

and touchscreen rocks, no doubt

[holstbnet]

You people with your fancy touchscreens make me SICK!   

As far as where these units are all coming from? I think that most of them -are- legitimate take-outs. Keep in mind that Nav radios come stock in mostly high-end vehicles like H2s, Denalis and whatnot. The folks that have money to spend -- what's the first thing they do when they get a new H2 or whatever? Take it to a stereo shop, have the stock head unit ripped out in favor of something fancy with a foldout screen and multicolor backlighting. It doesn't matter that the stock radio is a high end touch screen navigation. It's still stock and you wouldn't want to be like the commoners. 

Are some of them on eBay stolen? Yeah, no doubt. And yes, your truck is more likely to get broken into with a touch screen navigation than your old stock unit. But not AS likely as you would with aftermarket equipment. Average car stereo punks know NOTHING about stock radios, eBay etc from what I've seen. I have a friend with a 90 Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix (ASC/McLaren) - it didn't come with a radio so he puts a cheap Best Buy cd player in it. Gets ripped off RIGHT away. Probably worth $50 bucks on the street, used.

So then he buys a NOS stock Pontiac CD player for it. CD players were a rare option in 1990. This radio cost him about $300 bucks off of eBay. And it'll still fetch that much if he puts it back up on eBay. Does anyone break into his car for it? Nah.

The other thing we have working for us is ignorance. Enough of the street crooks aren't professional enough to know better - and they see Theftlock on a UC6 and blinking lights etc and say the heck with it. That radio isn't worth taking, it'll lock on me and I won't be able to get it unlocked.

[five0_4tluv]

i've almost read through all the threads. i still haven't decided which route to take. is part # 15204335 a lux or non-lux. do i need to buy the upgrade manual to do this or is everything in here. i have glanced a some diagrams and removing the dash isn't complicated.

[masterp2]

How about searching the forum for that part number?  I think you'll find more than you need to know.

Theftlock removed today, timed it, 30 seconds.  Odd thing is, I was expecting problems.  There must be a new tech II download, because he re-id'd the HU using the sierra platform, didn't have to do any tricks "Navigation radio" came right up in the procedure.  Maybe it is just the chevy's having that issue.  Again PN 15229287 (05 model I believe)

The VSS switch works like a champ. a nice feature!  Highly recommend for it's ease of installation.

[smokinfish]

Ok got my fancy pancy terminal extractor tool yesterday. WOW!! What an amazing $16 tool!! You would think for $16 they would give you a print out on how to use it!! So far all I can do with it is clean my finger nails.
Is there a trick to getting the wires out of the terminals? Do I need to take the plastic pieces apart first?? Or do I just stick it in and pull?? Because I tried for 15 minutes and nothing came out. Not to mention the two connectors are different so it will be a diffrent method on both??

Could thing I bought the Y91 harness to practice on!!
I can't imagine having my truck in pieces and going through this!!

[masterp2]

LOL!  There is a plastic piece you pull out first, yellow or red maybe?  Then you can use a fat paperclip to get them out.

[smokinfish]

Plastic piece? It looks like the connectors snap apart. Nothing yellow. One is blue and the other is just white.

Hey I found this on ebay it's a 2000 Denali dash.
Is that a Y91 Sticker?? hmmmm. Interesting.

[duramaxHD]

I saw that exact same item on ebay and thought the Y91 sticker was interesting as well!!

---Ben

[duramaxHD]

Sperry I tried to PM you this question but it says my PM was blocked so ill just ask here...I had a quick question about a strange problem my dads 2003 Tahoe has been having ever since I upgraded it to the lux amp/lux UC6. What happends is (it happend once when I was in the car..but he says it has happend a couple times before as well) when on the highway at cruising speed, completely randomly, the PASSlock/security light comes on, the doors unlock, you hear 3 chimes, and the engine cuts out for about 2 seconds or so. Then after 1 or 2 seconds, the PASSlock/security light goes out and the engine picks back up again. I dont see how it could be something I did with the amp upgrade...I did the install in my truck the exact same way and have had no problems (then again its diesel so there would not really be the same kind of ignition cut-out). Any thoughts?? Thanks again for all the help with the nav/lux amp upgrade...I appreciate it every day i drive my truck!

---Ben

[masterp2]

Ben,

I'm not sperry, but I do know you may have a bunch of DTC's that need to be cleared.  Mine did, after having the harness apart etc.  You should clear them, then wait for the problem and scan again.  Code reader would be helpful, autozone lets you use one for free.

Sounds like a loose connection.