GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I was kind of upset after taking delivery of my new 2005 Vibe and not being able to locate/find the CD Changer, in the 'Premium' Sound System with built in speakers and subwoofer, then to hear from the dealer that it's not offered as an option and that it can't be added, because of the XM tuner option. I do have the AUX and BAND buttons and the other six buttons on the radio.I saw that Pioneer is offering the XM Tuner and CD-Changer Daisy Kits for certain GM Radios, but have no idea what type of radio I have, what type of XM Tuner I have, where it is installed or how it is connected to the radio. The Dealer was of no help and said most of it was controlled via a computer which isn't associated with the Radio, really confusing me.Has anyone been able to add a CD Changer on the system described?

actually, the Moons&Tunes amp is under the passenger seat, where the CD Changer would go. Under the drivers seat is the Airbag Diagnostic Module, and passenger presence sensor (one under the pass seat too) so there really isn't any room to put a changer.

I think the airbag module is under the shifter console, ( http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=6468 ) and that the generic looking box under the driver's seat is the 115VAC power inverter

We've yet to determine if the 05 uses GM's proprietary "DataBus" technology. If it does, then yes, the car controls the radio and XM tuner via the central computer...That being said, your dealer is correct. You cannot have an outboard changer with M&T, and you cannot have the outboard changer with XM...The outboard changer has always been only with Nav. You can however (at least in the past) get XM on an in-dash changer.Didn't you check the specs of the car before you bought it?

The dealer couldn't really answer any questions or explain, just referred to his own GM vehicle, which isn't a vibe. I don't think that it uses the data bus. The radio is identical, in looks, to many used 2003 or 2004 radios being sold on EBay. It's just a shame if I have to throw the whole system out, if I want to add a cd-changer and/or ipod and/or dvd and/or navigation system, things/specs that GM/ACDelco should be taking into consideration when putting together the sound systems.

If I were to exchange the single disc in-dash with a 6 disc in-dash, I can also have the XM radio function? and still be able to use the installed moon & tunes amplifier/speakers?

Quote, originally posted by stevo2000 »If I were to exchange the single disc in-dash with a 6 disc in-dash, I can also have the XM radio function? and still be able to use the installed moon & tunes amplifier/speakers?First off, the 05 doesn't use the databus system; the radio system is stand-alone. Secondly, the changer upgrade for the Moon & Tunes is the 6-disc in-dash changer, which will work just fine with your M&T amplifier/speakers,HOWEVER, it appears that the 6-disc in-dash for the 2004/2005 are not XM-compatable, in others words - they don't have the BAND button instead of the AM/FM button.The owner's manual shows the BAND button, though, so this has been kind of confusing. I've been trying to resolve it, but there doesn't appear to be many 04/05 owners with the 6-disc in-dash.

Probably your only recourse is an aftermarket changer. Also, do you have OnStar? If so, then yes, you probably can't add a changer. Because Onstar takes up one of the inputs on the radio, and XM takes the other. No, there aren't inputs on the radio like traditional radios, but the way the GM radios work, they have two 'spaces' in the software for external devices.

If I would have noticed how limited the options are I would have never had the XM installed. I would have preferred On-Star and a CD-Changer, then figure out how to add XM afterwards, instead of the other way around....I seem to have found one of the only solutions available. Its a Pioneer setup. I would have to tear out the GM XM tuner, install a modified harness, a new XM tuner and a CD Changer. The CD Changer would be connected to the XM Tuner and be selected via XM2 on the head unit. The CD controls on the factory head unit are also supposed to function with this set up.I'll just have to wait a while and leave it be.

I personally have the CD changer (as I have the navigation system), and I can honestly say i've used it for a total of five minutes in the last five months. You really should give XM a shot. Most (95% or so) people who start listening to XM will generally swear off CDs for a good long time.Also, looking at the spec sheet for the 05' Vibe, it lists that the 6-disc changer is available when you don't have XM. The four basic packages are M&T with XM, standard radio, DVD Navigation, and 6-disc changer. They should've made this clear when you were looking at the options.Did you specifically ask if there was a changer in the car before you took delivery?

XM is a nice feature and I do listen to it. But, my wife and I have a massive CD collection, an IPOD and plenty of other audio toyz.If XM would allow one to pick and choose which song one can listen to at any given time, then there would be no need for any of the extras...

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »First off, the 05 doesn't use the databus system; the radio system is stand-alone. Secondly, the changer upgrade for the Moon & Tunes is the 6-disc in-dash changer, which will work just fine with your M&T amplifier/speakers,HOWEVER, it appears that the 6-disc in-dash for the 2004/2005 are not XM-compatable, in others words - they don't have the BAND button instead of the AM/FM button.The owner's manual shows the BAND button, though, so this has been kind of confusing. I've been trying to resolve it, but there doesn't appear to be many 04/05 owners with the 6-disc in-dash.Would this radio work? http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=15977

It would probably work, but it's hard to say without trying. I don't know if you'd be able to use the factory sub with that radio, because I'm not sure if the factory sub is controlled by the M&T amp, or the radio. On some GMs, it's done by the radio, and if you put any other radio in there, it doesn't work.. So, without trying, it's really hard to say..

Quote, originally posted by Jahntassa »It would probably work, but it's hard to say without trying. I don't know if you'd be able to use the factory sub with that radio, because I'm not sure if the factory sub is controlled by the M&T amp, or the radio. On some GMs, it's done by the radio, and if you put any other radio in there, it doesn't work.. So, without trying, it's really hard to say..The sub runs off the M&T amp, so it wouldn't be a problem. The problem might be getting it to work in the Vibe, since the theftlock checks with the main car computer to get the VIN, and the Vibe doesn't connect to the radio at all, since it's really a Toyota. Been trying to figure that one out for myself....

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »The problem might be getting it to work in the Vibe, since the theftlock checks with the main car computer to get the VIN, and the Vibe doesn't connect to the radio at all, since it's really a Toyota. Been trying to figure that one out for myself....This radio is being offered by Mavrik, which came out of his Vibe, so it should not have any TheftLock.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=15977

If you read the thread, I've been talking to Mavrik about the radio. It's never been in his Vibe. (It's from a Montana van)

TheftLOC has nothing to do with the car's computer. It operates on a code that's programmed into the radio (as an option, it might not even be turned on), dealerships have a way to retrieve this code.Radios that use the DataBus system (many GM vehicles 2001+ years) check the car's computer. This radio could be either/or. If it is DataBus dependant, then you'll have to find a dealership willing to reprogram it for you.

Quote, originally posted by Jahntassa »TheftLOC has nothing to do with the car's computer. It operates on a code that's programmed into the radio (as an option, it might not even be turned on), dealerships have a way to retrieve this code.Radios that use the DataBus system (many GM vehicles 2001+ years) check the car's computer. This radio could be either/or. If it is DataBus dependant, then you'll have to find a dealership willing to reprogram it for you.Actually, that information is only partially correct. The first generation TheftLOC didn't have anything to do with the cars computer. However, the second generation checks with the cars computer to verify that both have the same VIN #. Thus, if this Montana radio has such a TheftLOC system, then it may not work at all in the Vibe, since it cannot talk with the Vibe's non-GM computer. The question is whether this databus oriented theftloc can be completely disabled, as opposed to just reprogrammed with a new VIN.The following page has a decent discussion on radio anti-theft features, including TheftLOChttp://www.i-car.com/html_page....html