Reprogram stock stereo?

[joatmon]

I replaced the stock single CD/radio (that came with M&T) with a similar unit from a Matrix that also has a tape player. it was pretty easy to swap out, except for having to undo it to put the old back in so I could eject the CD that I left in there ( ) and then putting the new unit back in. It works great. Looks so close to the original unit, it's hard to notice. Anyway, the guy I got the radio from said I'd need to get the new one "reprogrammed" by a dealer. I didn't do this, and as far as I can tell I don't need to, because it works fine. I also remember when I bought the Vibe the dealer telling me something about radio reprogramming if replaced, but can't remember exactly what they said. The only reprogramming I had to do was to change the radio station presets and set the clock. Glad I didn't need to go to a dealer for that. Has anyone run into the "reprogram" requirement on the stock radio? Is it maybe something that applies to the CD/NAV unit and not the basic model? Is it yet another evil plot to get me to spend money at the GM service department? Is it part of the misdirection associated with the simulated security feature of the blinking LED?As long as it's working fine, I'm not going to take it to a dealer to pay for some magic wand treatment, but just curious about the rumor.

[ragingfish]

My guess would be it has to do with the TheftLock...they reprogram it so that your radio recognizes your car, so if you disconnect the battery, it doesn't lock up and become inoperable. You should have it done, but I wouldn't make a special trip just for that. Have the dealer do it when you go in for your next maintenance visit -- just don't disconnect the battery in the interim, and you should be ok...

[NovaResource]

You only need to reprogram it if it had the Theftlock system. The Vibe radios don't so you're OK.

[joatmon]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping to hear. I still lean toward the evil conspiracy theory.So, how do you know so much about this stuff?

[johnsoax]

I find it interesting that the matrix and vibe come with different radio options considering that they were all designed by Delphi.

[NovaResource]

The only difference is that Pontiac does not offer a tape deck. From what I've been told, it's because GM is getting out of offering tape decks and only offering CD players with their radios.

[ragingfish]

quote:You only need to reprogram it if it had the Theftlock system. The Vibe radios don't so you're OK.So is that flashing red light just a decoy?

[ragingfish]

That's lame.

[Sputnik]

quote:Yes, it is a dummy light..Really? On Pontiac.com it says its TheftLock.

[msmyer]

They fed me the same crap when i bought my car! If you "switched" out the factory unit for a aftermarket, you would probably have to do something to it also! (but you just leave it unplugged)

[NovaResource]

quote:Really? On Pontiac.com it says its TheftLock.Nope, the Vibe radios do not have the Theftlock. Read the below GM document. It says:quote:The Radio has an LED that blinks whenever the ignition is OFF and acts as a pseudo theft deterrent.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... 5711#45711

[Sputnik]

Wow... so Pontiac lies on their website to potential consumers. Nice. If its not TheftLock then it shouldn't say TheftLock.

[MA-VIBE-FAN]

quote:Wow... so Pontiac lies on their website to potential consumers. Nice. If its not TheftLock then it shouldn't say TheftLock.Pontiac has corrected the mistake in the 2003 brochure in the 2004 brochure (after a quick review of th eone I picked up), the radio lineup dosen't refer to "theftlock". I would guess when the web site is updated for 2004 it will also contain the corrected infomation. The Delphi radios that include "theftlock" are only compatible with the serial data electronic systems used in most "GM" vehicles and not the NUMMI/Toyota electronic system used in the Vibe. That is also why the Vibe radios do not include "SCV-Speed Compansated Volume" feature. This is just another case of GM/Pontiac/Dealers assuming what was correct in the past would be correct in the future.

[ragingfish]

Dammit...I WANT SCV!!!!

[johnsoax]

I hated SVC when I had it on an aftermarket stereo. I have had stick shifts for a while and the volume would go up and down, up and down as I shifted through the gears. It was very annoying. It may be different if it is stock and gets a readout of the speed from the computer, but most aftermarket radios read the voltage coming off the alternator to determine "speed".

[wildvibe]

Thank goodness. Trust me you don't want theftlock. Its a pain to install aftermarket with theftlock. I had a 2002 cavi that had theftlock. I had to take the factory radio and put it in the trunk lol. The wire harness went from the dash back to the factory radio than back to the new unit i installed. Took forever and it was weird having to hide the stock radio. Also in the cavi to get the new radio in I had to take almost the whole dash off and I had to unbolt the passenger side airbag mount which was inside the glove box haha. It was a pain so its good to here. Who wants to steal a factory radio anyways? haha