Has anyone successfuly swaped a Matrix sound system for a Vibes?

[Pills_53716]

I have the Moon and Tunes package and I do not like the radio. I would like to add a combo CD and Cassette Player (Forgive me, I/m old and do not have the resources to covert my cassettes to CD's)Anyway, I was thinking of getting a combo CD and casette player from another GM vehichle to put in my 2004 Vibe. The service guys at the Dealership said "Don't you Dare!!! Anyway, I am torn about getting a new head unit and adding a 6 disc changer. Has anyone succesfully swapped a matrix system for a Vibes? Did it work? Did you have to go toa Dealer to turm your radio back on?

[ragingfish]

Vibe radios have no theft deterrent built in, despite what dealers may tell you.You can swap a matrix cd/cassette for a vibe with NO PROBLEM.

[joatmon]

I swapped my vibe 1 CD for a Matrix CD/tape. Bought it off ebay. Very easy, no wiring changes, 100% satisfaction. Doesn't really support a CD changer though.Vibe/Matrix readios don't have the theft deterrent system, and do not need to be reprogrammed by a dealer if they are removed/installed. Other GM radios probably do have that requirement though. Also not sure if other GM units will be electrically interchangeable with the Vibe/Matrix radiosI don't know what aftermarket options are available, but maybe there's an aftermarket tape w/ CD changer unit out there that will be just what your looking for.

[drunkenmaxx]

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »Vibe radios have no theft deterrent built in, despite what dealers may tell you.the theft deterrent is that blinking light!

[Mavrik]

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »Vibe radios have no theft deterrent built in, despite what dealers may tell you.Not to argue Mike but they do. All ACDelco GM stock units have an anti theft which if the radio loses power for a certain amount of time requires a code to unlock. Vibe radios are the same as the Montana's Sierra trucks and such and they also lock out. Now maybe this is different in US built Vibes for US sale but I have unlocked countless radios here with Tech 2 devices and calling in codes to the GM 1800 number.

[Mavrik]

Quote, originally posted by Pills_53716 »I have the Moon and Tunes package and I do not like the radio. I would like to add a combo CD and Cassette Player (Forgive me, I/m old and do not have the resources to covert my cassettes to CD's)Anyway, I was thinking of getting a combo CD and casette player from another GM vehichle to put in my 2004 Vibe. The service guys at the Dealership said "Don't you Dare!!! Anyway, I am torn about getting a new head unit and adding a 6 disc changer. Has anyone succesfully swapped a matrix system for a Vibes? Did it work? Did you have to go toa Dealer to turm your radio back on?You can swap it and if it locks out, let me know and I'll try and help you unlock it. I have access... heh. but as long as the size of the radio is the same and the plug into the back is, you can swamp them. I have had people install different radios into different vehicles they were not original stock in.

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »Not to argue Mike but they do. All ACDelco GM stock units have an anti theft which if the radio loses power for a certain amount of time requires a code to unlock. Vibe radios are the same as the Montana's Sierra trucks and such and they also lock out. Now maybe this is different in US built Vibes for US sale but I have unlocked countless radios here with Tech 2 devices and calling in codes to the GM 1800 number.Do the owners manuals for those other vehicles include some statement about radio theftlock system? Why doesn't my Vibe owners manual include anything about that? I had my stock 1 CD unit out of the car for three months and it still worked fine. Are you sure that the Montana and Sierra truck radios are the same part number as the Vibe radio? Why has no vibe or matrix owner across all the forums ever reported needing to get the radio reprogrammed?

[Mavrik]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »Do the owners manuals for those other vehicles include some statement about radio theftlock system? Why doesn't my Vibe owners manual include anything about that? I had my stock 1 CD unit out of the car for three months and it still worked fine. Are you sure that the Montana and Sierra truck radios are the same part number as the Vibe radio? Why has no vibe or matrix owner across all the forums ever reported needing to get the radio reprogrammed?Well if the info on how to unlock your radio was in your car that anyone taking your radio could take that also, then what would be the point? As for part numbers, would never know cause we never remove them, we have an outside company do that. But my 6disc system in my Vibe is the same system in my brother's 2004 Sierra, identical in every way. If the part number is different. doesn't matter but it has anti theft.

[joatmon]

the 2004 montana owners manual mentions the fheftlock system for the 6 CD HUQuote, originally posted by "p.3-92" »LOCKED: This message is displayed when theTHEFTLOCK® system has locked up. You must returnto the dealer for service.If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot becorrected, contact your dealer.The owners manual does not tell the criminal how to overcome the theftlock feature, but it does tell the owner what the message means when the theftlock keeps the radio from operating, so they know what to do.The 2004 Vibe owners manual makes no mention whatsoever of the theftlock system for any of the radio options. my belief/opinion is that although the units look identical, the Montana version has theftlock and the Vibe unit does not.Theftlock,/reprogram will be an issue for Pills_53716 putting in some other GM unit into a vibe, but dropping in a unit from Matrix or another vibe should be no problem.

[SGT]

I am not trying to be argumentative here, but the radio in the Vibe is not exactly the same as the radio in the Montana or Sunfire. I traded in a Sunfire on the Vibe and my wife drives the Montana. On first glance the radios look exactly the same (aside from the Vibe having black buttons and knobs and the other pontiac's having grey ones) So when I got in the Vibe after I bought it I figured it was the same radio. However after living with it a couple of days I did notice a couple differences. The Montana/Sunfire have speed compensated volume control. The Vibe doesn't, at least on mine. Where the SCV button would be on the Vibe it is a recall button. Also on the Montana/Sunfire the words "Theftlock" were printed on the radio next to the flashing light. That is not on the Vibe radio. The last thing I noticed is the doorchimes ring through the radio on the Montana/Sunfire but not on the Vibe. So while the radios look almost identical, they are not exactly the same radio. Now, as to whether the Vibe has theftlock or not, I don't know. But I can tell you that in the owners manual on the Montana I have it tells you about the theftlock and what do if you switch radios or if it gets locked out. I couldn't find any such information in the Vibe owner's manual.

[johnsoax]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »But my 6disc system in my Vibe is the same system in my brother's 2004 Sierra, identical in every way. They may be identical on the outside, but they aren't on the inside. My best friend works for Delphi in Kokomo, IN where they designed the radios. The vibe radios are actually built on a completely different platform than all the other GM radios (An older one).

[Jahntassa]

All the GM radios from at least the last two years (minus the Vibe) use the GM Databus system, and will thus not work in the Vibe...

[NovaResource2]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »Not to argue Mike but they do. All ACDelco GM stock units have an anti theft which if the radio loses power for a certain amount of time requires a code to unlock. Vibe radios are the same as the Montana's Sierra trucks and such and they also lock out. Now maybe this is different in US built Vibes for US sale but I have unlocked countless radios here with Tech 2 devices and calling in codes to the GM 1800 number.Not to argue Mavrik but you're incorrect. See the past thread about this subject:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... 5711Notice how it says:Quote »The Radio has an LED that blinks whenever the ignition is OFF and acts as a pseudo theft deterrent.