Put in a Costartech Bluestar, and a Navandtv2go lock pick

[sfarris]

. So far, so good!

The Bluestar is exactly as advertised-= lets you use your phone with the Onstar mic and speaker. Sound is fantastic! I don't know yet if I have any Onstar functions left- the Onstar module had some plug ins that didn't go into the Bluestar, so i plugged it back up and we shall see. I am hoping i can call Onstar from my cell phone if I get locked out, but suspect that taking the phone function away makes the entire unit useless.

The LockPick was also a gem. It scared me at first- GPS didn't work, and the check engine light was on for a while after install. Both issues have resolved.

Here is how it went:

The trim around the radio and HVAC is tight. Took two plastic cards, slid them in and put a small screwdriver in between to pull the trim off. If all specs on GM vehicles were as tight as that trim piece, the cars would last forever!

Here is the trim piece to show where the clips are:

You only need to remove the radio and HVAC components to do the job! I tried to take the entire front out, and that is a two day job! 7mm socket removes all the bolts.
Once they are out, disconnect the radio and splice in the wiring from NavandTV2go. The clips on the wiring harness from Navandtv are TIGHT! Once they are on the radio, forget taking them back out. I ran the wires down the back and to the bottom of the console in the Driver’s footwell. That trim piece comes off, and makes an easy spot to install both the lockpick and the bluestar:



(You can only see the bluestar in this pic, the little lockpick and the auxiliary power wires are there behind it.)

The Onstar is the big silver box on the bottom.

It is difficult to get those clips off- you need an extra hand, and a fourth one if you are trying to use a flashlight! Pop those clips off and it comes out the front. Don’t undo the two bolts holding the Onstar tray- it is difficult to undo the clips if you do.

There are 3 plugs in the back of the Onstar, and two antennae. I reconnected those and slid the Onstar back in place. Again, the harness has plenty of length to run to the console on the Driver’s side footwell.
Button it back up, and all works. Takes a bit for the satellites to find you again, but they eventually do.
Hope that helps!

[TRPLXL2]

This doesn't apply to my truck, but it is a cool little write up. I always hate digging into the dash in a truck, lot's of tight little places to get your hands stuck. Thanks for posting this, I will send it to the top now.

[sfarris]

Tow charge- $76
Three days of rental on crappy Ford Escape- $80
Diagnostic charge from the Dealer to find a plug that I (evidently) didn't plugged in tightly when I did this mod- $571

Getting my Tahoe back from the dealer and hopefully hiding my screw up from my wife- PRICELESS

So, four days after making this set of mods, and after not driving the truck for three days, I hop in and she won't start. Interior electronics all work perfectly. I live atop a 300 foot driveway at a 45 degree angle. I had to back down, without power brakes or steering to the wrecker.

Three hours later, the dealer has my truck up and running. Says I didn't get something plugged in, so all the computers had fouled. He replugged it, and voila! And he charged me $25 for shop supplies on a no supply fix! Oh well, live and learn.

So, little modders, remember- DOUBLE CHECK YOUR CONNECTIONS AND REBUCKLE WHAT YOU UNBUCKLE!!!

May all your modding be happy.

[omegafiler]

Tow charge- $76
Three days of rental on crappy Ford Escape- $80
Diagnostic charge from the Dealer to find a plug that I (evidently) didn't plugged in tightly when I did this mod- $571

Getting my Tahoe back from the dealer and hopefully hiding my screw up from my wife- PRICELESS

So, four days after making this set of mods, and after not driving the truck for three days, I hop in and she won't start. Interior electronics all work perfectly. I live atop a 300 foot driveway at a 45 degree angle. I had to back down, without power brakes or steering to the wrecker.

Three hours later, the dealer has my truck up and running. Says I didn't get something plugged in, so all the computers had fouled. He replugged it, and voila! And he charged me $25 for shop supplies on a no supply fix! Oh well, live and learn.

So, little modders, remember- DOUBLE CHECK YOUR CONNECTIONS AND REBUCKLE WHAT YOU UNBUCKLE!!!

May all your modding be happy.

Wow, that's quite a bill! Either it took 'em a lot of work to track it down or they just weren't happy when they figured out what it was.

And I guess that explains why you had the check engine light on after the mod.

[drumrob]

. So far, so good!

The Bluestar is exactly as advertised-= lets you use your phone with the Onstar mic and speaker. Sound is fantastic! I don't know yet if I have any Onstar functions left- the Onstar module had some plug ins that didn't go into the Bluestar, so i plugged it back up and we shall see. I am hoping i can call Onstar from my cell phone if I get locked out, but suspect that taking the phone function away makes the entire unit useless.

The LockPick was also a gem. It scared me at first- GPS didn't work, and the check engine light was on for a while after install. Both issues have resolved.

Here is how it went:

The trim around the radio and HVAC is tight. Took two plastic cards, slid them in and put a small screwdriver in between to pull the trim off. If all specs on GM vehicles were as tight as that trim piece, the cars would last forever!

Here is the trim piece to show where the clips are: Attachment 2721

You only need to remove the radio and HVAC components to do the job! I tried to take the entire front out, and that is a two day job! 7mm socket removes all the bolts.
Once they are out, disconnect the radio and splice in the wiring from NavandTV2go. The clips on the wiring harness from Navandtv are TIGHT! Once they are on the radio, forget taking them back out. I ran the wires down the back and to the bottom of the console in the Driver’s footwell. That trim piece comes off, and makes an easy spot to install both the lockpick and the bluestar: Attachment 2722



(You can only see the bluestar in this pic, the little lockpick and the auxiliary power wires are there behind it.)

The Onstar is the big silver box on the bottom. Attachment 2723

It is difficult to get those clips off- you need an extra hand, and a fourth one if you are trying to use a flashlight! Pop those clips off and it comes out the front. Don’t undo the two bolts holding the Onstar tray- it is difficult to undo the clips if you do.

There are 3 plugs in the back of the Onstar, and two antennae. I reconnected those and slid the Onstar back in place. Again, the harness has plenty of length to run to the console on the Driver’s side footwell.
Button it back up, and all works. Takes a bit for the satellites to find you again, but they eventually do.
Hope that helps!

Nice!!!I have been looking for something like that but with a caller ID. let me know if everything works out good with all the onstar functions and stuff. Which package did you get?

[TRPLXL2]

I had a similar thing happen with my off-road lights, I hooked everything back up and my Bose radio was dead! I had to take it to the dealer to have it fixed, they said I must have got a static charge from disconnecting the battery. It cost me $200 for one hour of labor and for them to reset it, that was a freak thing but things do happen I guess. I never had it happen again on anything I have done, but boy was I freaking out even though all of my lights worked fine. It basically turned the theftlock on the radio, so it was nothind diagnostic wrong just thought it was getting stolen!

[sfarris]

Nice!!!I have been looking for something like that but with a caller ID. let me know if everything works out good with all the onstar functions and stuff. Which package did you get?

Unlike my Japanese hybrids from Lexus and Toyota, Chevy didn't make it so that caller ID could be hijacked. Wait, those cars let me use bluetooth right from the factory. Never mind.

I got the Costar Bluestar. Easy install, once you get the dash peeled back to find the Onstar box. It was the only one I could find that used the Onstar Mic, but YMMV.

Onstar stuff no longer works, but I wasn't going to pay to use it anyway. I think I lost my voice controls for the radio as well- guess I have to reach down 8 inches! On the plus side, I am going to hijack the antenna for Onstar to use on a Phone amp mod, which is coming.