2004 Alero radio replacement

I need to replace the factory radio in a 2004 Alero for my sister in law. I told her she has to puschase the metra databus harness (80 bucks) to properly hook up the radio. She refuses to spend that much money. Itold her that things like the door chime wouldnt work without it, she says she doesnt care, she'll be trading in the car soon anyways so she doesnt want to invest a lot of money in it. So my question is... If Iremove the factory radio without using the proper harness, what all will happen? Is it just the door chime I have to worry about, or is something else involved. If its strictly the door chime, cant I just hardwire the radio and no longer have a door chime? Bottom line, is there ANY way I can put in a radio without shelling out 80 bucks?

Yes you can use the normal GM harness adaptor but take note of the pinout of the harness. Some of the pins are different on the GM harness adaptor than the vehicle harness. I did this for a Chevy Cavalier and the customer only lost his chime and nothing else. It was a base model Cavalier with no security or keyless entry and he still has no problems with it to this day. The Alero is a higher end vehicle than the base Cavalier so I'm not sure what else would be affected withthe removal of the stereo. Use a harness adaptor and see if some of the functions of her car stop working and if they do, replace the OEM system back hope it fixes any portential problems and then get her to buy the proper adaptor.Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA

You should be able to get away with the Metra 70-2003 harness. It will plug right in to the OEM harness the only thing you will have to run is the ignition lead. Mike

So if I go with that 70-2003 harness will all I have to deal with is losing the door chime and running an ign wire? Is it that simple? Or with that harness do I still have to check the pinouts like Jeff said?

That is the same harness that I used and I needed to change the pinout's on the Cavalier. It was a new car so I'm not sure about the 2004 Alero, but just make sure that you test all wires and also meter the wires according to the 70-2003  harness. According to the instructions this harness should fit the Alero without any problems aside from the switched ignition wire you will need to run to the fuse box or to the ignition switch harness.Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Do you know the sku for an American International harness equivalent to the Metra 70-2003 ??