Monster iCruze in a Vibe 2006 possible?

[meall]

Hi,I wrote to Monster cable and ask if the iCruze is compatible with the Vibe 2006 standard CD/Radio (no XM, no 6CD installed, etc) as their site report compatibility up to 2005. They answer me that it may, but cannot guarantee it will bnecause it is not on their support list yet.Anyone can help define which parameters will determine if it is compatible or not?Thanks

[meall]

Hi reading the online manual for the iCruze, I saw that the module need to be connected to a 12V source via a yellow cable. Does that mean one have to cut one cable and make a "Y" connection to get it working?Here is the instructions:

Attached files

[northvibe]

yes the monster icruze will work with any year vibe with a single cd headunit. As for the wire there should be a 12v from the HU to use and yellow is 12v but im not sure if its yellow on the vibe harness.

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by meall »Hi reading the online manual for the iCruze, I saw that the module need to be connected to a 12V source via a yellow cable. Does that mean one have to cut one cable and make a "Y" connection to get it working?Here is the instructions:You can get constant +12V from a wire colored blue with white stripe (sometimes yellow stripe) at one corner of the larger 24-pin connector at the back of the radio.You will need to do a Y-splice.

[meall]

Hi,Thanks for the reply.Is there a better way to make the Y connection? Does soldering is the only solution, or there is some special gadget or tools that can help make this connection?Also, to pass the cable for the iPod under the shifter, what's the best way?I found many iCruze modules and adaptor for the GM at a cheap price, even the LCD display, much more cheaper than the new one. Strange, but I hope those are in good conditions.I removed the HU yesterday, and I saw that there is more than enought room there to put the iCruze and its adaptor module over, or even under, the HU. That should be very nice not to have those in a visible place.Thanks

[GMJAP]

The following thread has instructions on removing the trim below the shifter (note that it's not necessary to remove the 115V faceplate and cables from the HVAC trim, though).http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=5940Drop the cable down behind the radio, and you'll see it dangling behind the shifter once the trim is removed. Just route it forward - either under the carpet (use a coathanger) to get to the center console or run it through the square hole in the undeshifter trim at the top of the pull-out compartment. As for splicing, I always use T-Taps, which clip around the wire you want to splice into, then just put a quick-disconnect lug on the end of the yellow wire - it will plug into the T-Tap.I've seen them at Fry's, but I usually get them online. I don't have the info to post a link with me right now, though.

[meall]

Hi,I'm not familiar with the T-Taps things, but I made a few research on Google. As far as I understand it ts a way to tap into a wire (without cutting it) and you insert the other cable on top of the T-Taps with a special end (if not present already) so it fit into the T-Taps. I also understood that there is a color code, for the kind of wire in the card, it should be the red one (22-18 cables), if I understand correctly the cables size.I suppose this could be found easily in electronic shop, and maybe even at Radio Shack or something like that.Thanks for your help.

[meall]

Hi,I did received the interface module for GM for teh iCruze. Reading the manual carefully, I found 2 disturbing information:- They suggest not to use the 12V power from the radio harness neither from the cigarette lighter. So where do I get it? They suggest to get it directly from the fusebox if possible. The fusebox is not too far away from the HU, so should not be too difficult, but they do not mention the fuse capacity to use.- For the ground cable, they tell that the metal behind the HU is not suitable, as behind isolated from the chassis. So, they suggest to run a cable all to the driver's foot at left of the pedals. Is there a simpler way?Thanks (again) for helping!

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by meall »Hi,I did received the interface module for GM for teh iCruze. Reading the manual carefully, I found 2 disturbing information:- They suggest not to use the 12V power from the radio harness neither from the cigarette lighter. So where do I get it? They suggest to get it directly from the fusebox if possible. The fusebox is not too far away from the HU, so should not be too difficult, but they do not mention the fuse capacity to use.- For the ground cable, they tell that the metal behind the HU is not suitable, as behind isolated from the chassis. So, they suggest to run a cable all to the driver's foot at left of the pedals. Is there a simpler way?Thanks (again) for helping!Hmmmm.I'm guessing here, but I think the reason they don't want power from the radio or cig lighter but the fusebox is that they want direct battery power, not ignition/switched.You can get direct battery power from the 24-pin radio connector, the BLUE/WH (sometimes BLUE/YE) at pin B1.They also want a good ground, but the farther from the radio you ground it, the more likely to get noise from ground currents in my mind. It's likely that some radios metal chassis don't have good ground connections, but I would wire it instead anyway. I would suggest grounding it to the 24-pin ground wire, a brown wire on pin A12 on the opposite side of the power wire.I have a 10 disc CD changer running off those two wires, and haven't had any power problems or noise.I would also say that I don't recall any person having a problem getting power through those 2 wires for any AUX apater.My suggestion to you would be to use those wires first and see how it sounds. If you've got some t-taps, it's pretty low-risk anyways if you wind up having to move them.Good luck.

[meall]

Hi,The GM module is a black box with a T-like cable. One end of the T plug into the interface, the other end plugs in between the radio cable. I mean, you have to remnove the HU harness then plug the male end of the cable to the HU, and on the other end you replug the HU harness.So, my guest, is it possible that they do not want to plug into the radio harness since the cable is in between the harness and this COULD cause electricity "feedback" in between the HU and the GM module?Just my guest, but...Thanks

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by meall »Hi,The GM module is a black box with a T-like cable. One end of the T plug into the interface, the other end plugs in between the radio cable. I mean, you have to remnove the HU harness then plug the male end of the cable to the HU, and on the other end you replug the HU harness.So, my guest, is it possible that they do not want to plug into the radio harness since the cable is in between the harness and this COULD cause electricity "feedback" in between the HU and the GM module?Just my guest, but...ThanksNo, I don't think so. Does the GM module plug in to the 24-pin connector? All the AUX or other audio adapters I'm aware of plug into the 12-pin.Double-check. I think you'll find the GM module plugs into the 12-pin. You want to get power off the 24-pin.

[meall]

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »No, I don't think so. Does the GM module plug in to the 24-pin connector? All the AUX or other audio adapters I'm aware of plug into the 12-pin.Double-check. I think you'll find the GM module plugs into the 12-pin. You want to get power off the 24-pin.You're right, the connector have a 12 pins on it. So it connect on the second adaptor that is empty at the moment.I'm wandering why they say I have to replug the cable that was there before, since there is none, and normally, that should be the CD changer, but teh CD changer is suppose to be disabled when using the iCruze... So there'S no advantage to replug it back if any were there...Thanks

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by meall »You're right, the connector have a 12 pins on it. So it connect on the second adaptor that is empty at the moment.I'm wandering why they say I have to replug the cable that was there before, since there is none, and normally, that should be the CD changer, but teh CD changer is suppose to be disabled when using the iCruze... So there'S no advantage to replug it back if any were there...ThanksXM radio also plugs there. I believe OnStar has its connection through there, and M&T have a plug there for the amp MUTE signal.With the base radio, you're right, there isn't anything, but on other Vibe configurations and I'm sure other GM vehicle configurations there is a connector there that needs pass-through for other than CD changer.

[meall]

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »XM radio also plugs there. I believe OnStar has its connection through there, and M&T have a plug there for the amp MUTE signal.With the base radio, you're right, there isn't anything, but on other Vibe configurations and I'm sure other GM vehicle configurations there is a connector there that needs pass-through for other than CD changer.You're right. Reading the manual again, they say that plugging the interface module MAY interferre of even bloc the function of the connected system there. So it MAY also be possible it works, then that explain that double cable. I won't need that other end then.Thanks

[meall]

Hi,I finaly received my final modules for the iCruze and mt Vibe, and I installed it this morning. As suggested by GMAP, I used T-TAPs directly on the HU cables (B1 and A12). The unit is working perfectly so far. Meaning, as a first car mod (a small one, that is) I came across a few problems, but I got it working.The iCruze module as a fuse in the middle of its yellow (12V) cable. So, I did installed the 12V power for the GM interface module tapped into the iCruze yellow cable after the fuse so the interface unit is not connected behind the fuse. Then I tapped into the BLUE/WH cable of the HU harness for the 12V and the brown cable for the ground of the interface module. The iCruze itself look like to be able to get ground from the interface cable itself.All the modules got places on top of the HU, so they were not really difficult to put back in place. The iCruze display has a flat cable, so it was also easy to get it from inside the dash to the top behind the gray plastic of the HU front. As for the cable of the iPod, I put it in the compartement in front of the shiftter. But instead of removing the shifter plactic surounding, I run the cable left from the climate controls, on the side of the driver's feet. Then I removed the shifter's compartement and ran the cable on the bottom of the plastic until I was able to output the cable in the middle of the compartment in the hole there. Then reinstalled the compartment and place the cable there, a good place for the iPod as well!The iCruze is working well, and I saw that it supports up to 9 CDs/Playlists on the iPod, not 6. The controls are a little bit slow, pressing a button can take a few seconds for the respond. So far, what I do not understand, is the controls on the HU. To activate the iCruze, I do not press CD/AUX, but BAND until it gets to the iCruze, like if it were an XM radio maybe? Also, changing tracks and CD/playlist is done from button 1-6, but it is difficult to understand which button do what. I'll study that more in the next few days...Thanks for all of those who reply and helped me in this adventure

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by meall »Hi,I finaly received my final modules for the iCruze and mt Vibe, and I installed it this morning. As suggested by GMAP, I used T-TAPs directly on the HU cables (B1 and A12). The unit is working perfectly so far. Meaning, as a first car mod (a small one, that is) I came across a few problems, but I got it working.The iCruze module as a fuse in the middle of its yellow (12V) cable. So, I did installed the 12V power for the GM interface module tapped into the iCruze yellow cable after the fuse so the interface unit is not connected behind the fuse. Then I tapped into the BLUE/WH cable of the HU harness for the 12V and the brown cable for the ground of the interface module. The iCruze itself look like to be able to get ground from the interface cable itself.All the modules got places on top of the HU, so they were not really difficult to put back in place. The iCruze display has a flat cable, so it was also easy to get it from inside the dash to the top behind the gray plastic of the HU front. As for the cable of the iPod, I put it in the compartement in front of the shiftter. But instead of removing the shifter plactic surounding, I run the cable left from the climate controls, on the side of the driver's feet. Then I removed the shifter's compartement and ran the cable on the bottom of the plastic until I was able to output the cable in the middle of the compartment in the hole there. Then reinstalled the compartment and place the cable there, a good place for the iPod as well!The iCruze is working well, and I saw that it supports up to 9 CDs/Playlists on the iPod, not 6. The controls are a little bit slow, pressing a button can take a few seconds for the respond. So far, what I do not understand, is the controls on the HU. To activate the iCruze, I do not press CD/AUX, but BAND until it gets to the iCruze, like if it were an XM radio maybe? Also, changing tracks and CD/playlist is done from button 1-6, but it is difficult to understand which button do what. I'll study that more in the next few days...Thanks for all of those who reply and helped me in this adventure Glad to hear you got it working! Thanks for the update.Some AUX adapters allow the user to select (usually via a DIP switch somewhere) whether it connects via the XM connection (selected using BAND) or via the CD Changer connection (selected via CD/AUX)

[meall]

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »Glad to hear you got it working! Thanks for the update.Some AUX adapters allow the user to select (usually via a DIP switch somewhere) whether it connects via the XM connection (selected using BAND) or via the CD Changer connection (selected via CD/AUX)I did not saw (either in the manual or on the iCruze itself) any switches that may do what you suggest. I'd like to know if it is possible to download the HU/Vibe manual somewhere on GM's site? I've taken a look, but got nothing so far.Thanks

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by meall »I did not saw (either in the manual or on the iCruze itself) any switches that may do what you suggest. I'd like to know if it is possible to download the HU/Vibe manual somewhere on GM's site? I've taken a look, but got nothing so far.ThanksThe iCruize may not be able to be changed.The only "manual" for the radio I'm aware is in the Vibe Owner's Manual. That can be downloaded from here on Genvibe - just serach the forums for "owner's manual"

[meall]

I found the online PDF manual on the site MYGMLINK.COM. Just too bad that I had to subscribe to the site just to get this file downloaded!!As for the iCruze, I made some more tests, and I think it works finer than what I had in mind in the first test I made with the HU dismantle.The main problem is that the controls are slow, so when testing you have to be patient, which I was not at first! The final result is the following:- the seek up and down button change tracks, as well as button 1-2, useless, but no choice!- the button 3-4 are 10 tracks up or down. - the button 5 is to switch from playlist forward in round (I mean, pressing it will change to the next playlist until it get 9, then back to 1). There is no way to go back a playlist.- the button 6 is for random on or off. As I looked at the manual, the 6 CD changer have the 6 buttons in one row splited in group of 2 (while the standard HU have 2 times 3 buttons rows). Then it makes sence that the button 1-2, 3-4 were group strangelly on the standard HU. A prefered way, on this HU, would have been to joined the button in colunms (1-4, 2-5, and 3-6), but I have no control on that.

[skygazer]

Quote, originally posted by northvibe »yes the monster icruze will work with any year vibe with a single cd headunit. I just installed iCruze on a 2003 M&T (single cd HU). I used the appropriate adapter (MPC FX IM-GM1), but the performance is very erratic! The two times I got it to work, I got the HU to select the iCruze by pressing the AM/FM button; the iCruze was the band after AM and before FM1 (AM, iCruze, FM1, FM2, AM, etc). It worked when I first set the system up, but the second time I tried I couldn't select the iCruze... AM, FM1, FM2, AM, etc. The CD/AUX button has never selected the iCruze.I've heard that other iPod interfaces require a switch to be set, to allow selecting the "CD changer mode" instead of the "sattelite radio mode". There is nothing in iCruze literature about this, nor is there anything obvious on the iCruze or the adaper.Has anyone else had this problem? Any ideas?

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by skygazer »I just installed iCruze on a 2003 M&T (single cd HU). I used the appropriate adapter (MPC FX IM-GM1), but the performance is very erratic! The two times I got it to work, I got the HU to select the iCruze by pressing the AM/FM button; the iCruze was the band after AM and before FM1 (AM, iCruze, FM1, FM2, AM, etc). It worked when I first set the system up, but the second time I tried I couldn't select the iCruze... AM, FM1, FM2, AM, etc. The CD/AUX button has never selected the iCruze.I've heard that other iPod interfaces require a switch to be set, to allow selecting the "CD changer mode" instead of the "sattelite radio mode". There is nothing in iCruze literature about this, nor is there anything obvious on the iCruze or the adaper.Has anyone else had this problem? Any ideas?iCruize is not recommended on Vibes without the "BAND" button, i.e. 2003 HUs.

[skygazer]

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »iCruize is not recommended on Vibes without the "BAND" button, i.e. 2003 HUs.Now I know why! Too bad comments earlier in this thread led be to believe otherwise - Caveat Emptor!I'll try to pick up a 2004 single CD HU off ebay - it looks like it's a simple bolt-in.