Decided finally today that I would pull the new head unit out of the closet that I have never installed, and that had been put away for almost 2 years... Bought it at the time for my old car, but it died. Today I attempted to hook it up to my 01 Cavalier. I followed the guides... How to remove the dash... But ya see, I ran into some pretty rediculous problems. Problems that made this project start at 10:30 AM, and finally end at 7:30 PM, and only quit because it got dark.

It all started with me on my way to Wal-mArt to pick up an antenna adapter, Dash install kit, and a wiring harness. I wrote down all the available parts, and their item numbers for Metra, and Scosche. I had a list on a paper of parts that would fit, made for my car. But when I got there, I found a different Dash install kit. Marked for 2000-2005 Cavaliers. And of course a bunch of other cars it would fit. I grabbed it.

Mission 1 accomplised... Received Scosche item GMT2049

Next, I started sifting through the wiring harnesses... Couldn't find any of the ones I needed. Not even close, but luck was on my side yet again... Not did I only find the harness, but it had the data module for the door chimes, and to send the right codes to computer. Factory stereo replacement interface. Again, on the back, it cleary said it would fit my car. Not only that, but for only 39 bucks! I stuffed it in my arms.

Mission 2 accomplised... Received Scosche item GM2000

Last, but not least, the antenna adapter. BAM! Already in front of my face. It was a special universal adapter too. Had 2 octopus looking things. One with a bunch of males, and the other with a bunch of females. Both included in the package, and for only like 5 bucks. It could fit any make, model, and year, and the reason for the 2 set of connectors was so you could hook it up to what ever head unit you wanted to... HU to harness, or harness to HU. Quite lucky I thought. I pinched it with my fingers, and slipped that sexy little piece of merchandise off the shelf for myself.

Mission 3 accomplished... Received Scosche item UAA

!!! On to the battle of the Dash !!!

I get home excitedly, and started opening everything in a hurricane of joy. Almost as a cartoon ripping presents up in the morning on x-mas. I start making a layout, and reading everything to make sure I got the right stuff, and it all looked so good, I nearly creamed myself. "Perfect! Lets get hot, red hot! Now time to make it happen!", I said. With print out in hand, and screw driver in the other, I was prepared for the task at hand... The removal of the dash. First, I removed the wire from the negative terminal on the battery. I decided to pop off the the side panels on the inside of the doors to remove the first bolts. I instantly, switched to philips head, and shoved the head of it in the bolt, and started to turn... Um... It's not turning, I thought to myself... A closer look, revealed it was a star socket bolt. What a pain in the %&$. Not only that, but it was a 1/4 inch to boot, and not 7/32. There were 3 on each side... Funny, thought there was only supposed to be one on each side. Next, I tackled the glove compartment... 8 more of the same. And so far, EVERY bolt has been a different length. Easy to mix up I thought. Next, the vent. 3 bolts there, right? One philips head holding the vent down, and another 2 bolts underneath... Wrong. 1 more freakin star, and another 4 underneath. And then it all starts going down hill from there. I pulled 32 of those little bastards out. The only bolts that were right, were the 2 brass ones on the inside of the glove compartment in that cubby hole. I sat there looking at the bolts, then looked at the car, then the bolts again... Shook my head in frustration, and started to wonder, dare I go further? YES! I was determined now. I turned around, and started throwing the screws at random objects like the guy from beerfest, and was hitting everything in sight. Ran in my basment, and grabbed, normal philips head screws that I happen to have left over from my last project, when I attempted to put rockets on my car... (Don't ask). They were 1/4 inch, and they fit, and also a moderate length to fit since they just go into hollow areas anyways. Anyways, I finally got the dash off... Next was the second layer to expose the HU. Simple enough. 3 more stars holding it down. Popped it up, and swung it to the side enough to get at the HU. From here on out, it was pretty much straight forward. Removed the head unit, and then ran up stairs to grab the wires. I plugged it all in, and where you have the wires to be spliced together, I did the extra effort to make all quick disconnects. It made for a very clean, professional look, and feel. No tape, or wires hanging everywhere. Once I got it all together and thought I connected it correctly... I went, and put the negative back on the battery to get some power back in the car. The chime sounded very different, and not so annoying like the stock one... It worked. Next, I fiddled with the radio. Worked perfect. CD, was also functioning. Have to keep in mind, I never started the car yet, just had the key turned. The HU sounded fantastic. I was VERY satisfied. I closed all the doors, and then took the key out of the ignition, and the radio was still on, until I opened the door all the way, just like the stock HU did. Everything seemed fine. Now to put it all back. Didn't realize it at first, but all those things I used, was a lot of wire to stuff behind the HU. I had to cut a little on the inside of the HU compartment, so I could make room for all the wires, and the module. I only cut out the things that didn't need to be there, and things that didn't show from the outside. Nothing fancy. Just to fit everything in. I could have not have used so much slack in the wires. Anyways, got it all in. Took a little time to arrange the face plate around my HU where I wanted it, and then started putting everything back together. WOO! Done... Now to go for a nice long test run, and mess around with the new toy to set it up. Plus, I needed some fresh air. Whoops... Girlfriend calls, and wants me to go to the store before she comes home to make her dinner... Well, I was going to leave anyways...

I get in my car, turn the key half way... Everything comes on. Sounds great, I think to myself. I start the car up, and start to pull away, and then it hit me... Where did the music go? The HU isn't on. And my lighting in the car seems completely dim. Whats going on? I needed to get gas also, so I went to the gas station, and stopped. I turned the key to shut the engine off. I turn the key only enough to get power, and the HU comes back on, and fully functional. I start the car, and it goes off for a second like it should, then comes back on, then goes right off. Soon as I start the car, and it's running, the HU shuts off, and won't turn on. But I can see there is power to it, cause when I flip up display to show the CD reader, the red light where you insert the CD is blinking. I turn the car off, and the HU comes back on until I open the door. Whats this non-sense!? I start the car, and then it shuts off!? You have any idea how much of a tease that is!? I can only listen to it when I am sitting in my car, not moving? What the hell did I do wrong!? All that work, for a motionless bass, and no air in my face while lip-singing? This is &^%*%$& bull#$*%!

Ok... Found the dimness problem just now, it hit me... I probably rolled the knob down when I put the dash pieces back on... I just checked, and it was. But the HU problem is still the same...

Cut that stupid chime module out, forget about the chimes and go straight to the fuse box for switched ignition power and be done with it