Doing the install yourself

I'm going to be brutally honest with you here: doing your own head unit install is NOT rocket science, but it's not exactly a walk in the park either. If splicing into wires or removing the entire dash intimidates you, DON'T even attempt this! Go somewhere and have it done for you. And if they're feeding you the rumours above, have them email me and I'll help them out.

You will need to do the following:

* Disable the airbags
* Remove the dashboard
* Find a switched +12V wire
* Get a proper harness, mounting bracket and antenna adapter

Disabling the air bags

You should disable the air bags before you pull the dash apart. Since you will be working in the airbag's vicinity, it's cheap insurance, and the GM service manual recommends it anyways! Here's how you do it (according to the service manual):

Disabling the SIR system
1. Turn steering wheel so that the vehicle's wheels are pointing straight ahead (I don't know why this is in there, but it is!).
2. Turn OFF the ignition.
3. Remove the key from the ignition switch. (this is a GM manual... tech's must be assumed to be stupid?)
4. Remove the SIR Fuse from the fuse block.
Important: With the SIR Fuse removed and the ignition ON, the AIR BAG warning lamp illuminates. This is normal operation, and does not indicate an SIR system malfunction.
5. Remove the IP insulator panel (above pedals - I didn't have one on my Z24)
6. Remove the connector position assurance (CPA) from the driver yellow 2-way connector located at the base of the steering column. (CPA is thelittle blue or green pin that prevents the 2-way connector from vibrating apart)
7. Disconnect the driver yellow 2-way connector.
8. Remove the connector position assurance (CPA) from the passenger yellow 2-way connector located at the base of the steering column.
9. Disconnect the passenger yellow 2-way connector.

Enabling the SIR system
1. Connect the passenger yellow 2-way connector located near the base of the steering column.
2. Install the connector position assurance (CPA) to the passenger yellow 2-way connector.
3. Connect the driver yellow 2-way connector located at the base of the steering column.
4. Install the connector position assurance (CPA) to the driver yellow 2-way connector.
5. Install the IP insulator panel.
6. Install the SIR fuse in the fuse block.
7. Staying well away from both air bags, turn ON the ignition.
7.1. The AIR BAG warning lamp will flash seven times.
7.2. The AIR BAG warning lamp will then turn OFF.

Removing the dashboard

There are some really good instructions for removing the dashboard on the Team Forward Motion website... Go there!

The switched +12V wire

In order to turn your new aftermarket deck on and off with the ignition, you have to tap onto a wire that carries +12V when the car is ON and in ACC. There's a brown wire in the ignition harness that you can tap. It's a heavy wire (12 gauge) compared to most other wires around it. There arealso two red wires, and a yellow, pink and orange there too - if GM changes the wire colours, use a voltmeter to check which wire carries +12V during the ACC and ON key positions. If you are tapping this wire - FUSE IT!

An 'easy' alternative is to use a fuse tap on the windshield wiper fuse. This is a plug which replaces the factory fuse and adds a new fuse (along with the original one) and has a wire for the new circuit. Using the windshield wiper fuse is an old installer trick, and it sure does work! Plus by using the fuse tap, you don't have to cut any of the factory wiring. You also don't need to worry about overloading any existing circuits, because ineffect you are creating a new one.

Harness, bracket and adapter

Harness: I don't recommend cutting the factory wiring. If you're removing the factory deck altogether, get yourself a wiring harness. You can use the Metra wiring harness (Part number 70-2003... but apparently 70-2002 for the Saturn will also work), or the Scosche GM-05 (GM-04 might also work) harness. If you're planning on re-locating the factory deck, get the Scosche GM-06, the Metra 70-2003T or the Bestkits BHT2004T harness.

As for chime speakers, Metra has a SP-2003 chime module which works in conjuction with the 70-2003T harness. I heard from one guy who was installing this setup in his 2000 Impala, and apparently the plugs on the two parts weren't compatible.. Metra? What are you doing? The Scosche GM06 T-harness comes with wiring for a replacement speaker, which you can put above the drivers' feet to reproduce the chimes, but it doesn't come with one.

Bracket: For the mounting bracket, I used the Metra 99-3301 plastic installation kit. It's a flush-mount kit for a single-DIN deck, with a handy-dandy CD-holder underneath it. Scosche makes the GM1583 kit which should work too.

Adapter: GM's factory antenna uses a really small plug. To install an aftermarket deck, you need a GM antenna adapter. They're about $5 at a parts store or your local Radio Shack.