Printer Friendly Forum Posts - how do i add an amp to a 2004 cavalier?

I've been searching the forums for the last hour looking for this trying to avoid asking a dumb newb question, but I couldn't find anything :)

Anyway, I have a 2004 Chevy Cavalier. I'm putting a set of components in my doors that are going to be powered by an amp, and I want to use the stock head unit. I've never installed an amp before, but from the research I've done I know I need a switched 12V source for the remote turn on. I've gathered that there is not one of these in the factory radio harness, so where would I find this? Also, where would I splice in the remote ground?

Finally, since GM doesn't use a post style battery, what is the best way to attach the power wire to the battery?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I also forgot to mention that I'll be using a LOC - what wires would be best to tap into for this?

I own a 2002 cavalier so I should be able to help you out alittle. Since the battery is side mount terminal, you will need to buy a side mount bolt (not sure of the correct name though). The consists of 2 bolts. The bigger one will thread into the battery thus holding the factory power wire fast. The smaller bolt then screws inside the biger one. That is where you fasten your other terminals to. Now dealing with the factory radio, I honestly cant help you out that much since I put in an aftermarket one. But I will give you some very needed advice. Anytime you are working with the factory radio, you MUST make sure that your battery is disconnected, or you need to pull the fuse for your airbags plus the 2 plugs that run to the airbags. The reason for this is because the airbag wiring runs through the factory radio and works along with it. If you were to disconnect the plugs that run to the back of the radio without first disconnecting the battery or pulling the airbag fuse and connectors, then your airbags wont deploy when needed. It has something to do with the radio keeping memory. when you turn your car on, your airbag light on your instrument cluster will flash 7 times and then turn off. You can always tell when your air bags arent working, when that light doesnt flash 7 times. Anyways, your radio does has a switched battery. The airbag wiring color is yellow with red stripe. if you need anymore info dealing with the airbags, please let me know. Now dealing with the headunit, there is a switched battery. It is the yellow wire (same on every vehicle).

I have to inform you Audioman2007 that you are way off. You need to do alot more research on vehicles and airbags. Dlapasky, you do need to disconnect the car's negative battery terminal before working on the car. You factory radio does have a remote turn on wire which can trigger your amp, but the wire/pin may not be in the harness unless your car has the Monsoon system. If there is an amp in the trunk above the driver's rear wheel well you already have an amp that runs all the speakers. The location of the remote wire in the radio plug is B3 (they are lablelled on the plug). If the wire is not there you can insert a wire and pin from another GM plug to wire the remote turn on output to your amp. The proper way to hook the amp up to the battery is to use a side post battery tap. As Audioman2007 mentioned it is comprised of one large bolt that replaces the one currently in the postive cable. It also has a smaller bolt that threads into the end of it to add additional cables. You must install a fuse inline within 18 inches of your battery on your amps power line. Use the correct gauge of power cable for your amps current demands. Use the same gauge cable to ground the amp. Keep the amp's ground wire short and attach it to the body of the car. Scrape the paint and make a good connection to a thick piece of metal. Do not use any existing bolts for the ground. You can tap your line level converter into the front speaker wires at the radio plug. Unplugging the radio will do nothing except reset the clock. The front speaker wires are LF+ tan, LF- gray, RF+ light green, RF- is dark green.

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sparky

I need to do alot more research on my vehicle and its airbags? So you are trying to tell me that the airbags dont run with the factory radio? I know for a fact that the airbags run through the factory radio. That is why when you want to install an aftermarket headunit in a newer cavalier/sunfire, you need to purchase the relocation harness so that you can relocate the factory radio. If you discarded the radio completly, your airbags defentantly wont work. It is as single as that. But I can say this now, I dont know a thing about the pins on a factory radio. I too have a monsoon radio which is relocated to my trunk, so there was no need to figure out which wire is which. I just thought I would give my advice on what I already know. I installed 3 headunits in cavalier's '01, '02, '04 all of which needed that harness. I am not on here to start a conflict with you or anyone else. I am on here to try and help people. If dlapasky doesnt agree with my post, then he can simply ignore it. But please tell me what I am way off on. Maybe I said something wrong

You can get the side-mount battery extender bolts from your local Napa Auto Parts store. Part number: 730-4768. They currently go for $4.99 apiece. They are gold plated.

You can also get the non-gold plated version for $5.29, part # 728-221. Doesn't make sense to buy the non-gold plated version for $0.29 more, though.

You would have to order the gold-plated ones, though. They'll have the non-gold plated ones in stock.

As for the relocation kit, it is true. The aftermarket radio will not work without it as well as the airbags.

Oh, guys, won't the remote turn-on wire from the factory radio only show 12v when the radio is on, except CD? If so, you'll need a fused, switched wire from battery to remote turn-on terminal on amp.

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2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001

I am 110% positive that you need to first disconnect the battery or airbag fuse and connectors before working on the radio. it is better to pull the fuse and connectors since the computer keeps its memory for the airbags for 10 minutes after you disconnect the battery (time it takes to change the battery). Anyways, i have a Haynes manual and it even says that you must disable the air bags before working around the sensors, steering wheel, passenger air bag, and radio. If you decide to disconnect the battery, wait atleast 10 minutes before disconnecting anything for the radio. If you decide to pull the fuse and connectors first, DO NOT for any reason turn the ignition on without first connecting the plugs and inserting the fuse or else your airbags wont work. Trust me on this.

I never meant to upset you audioman. To clarify the issue, the airbags are on a dedicated circuit and it makes absolutely no difference if the factroy radio is in the vehicle or not. The airbags will work as long as the sensors and control module still work. Manufacturers cannot afford the liability of having such a vital safety component like airbags be reliant on another system. The factory radio does handle a number of other functions such as chimes and dash lamp dimming as well as other unnoticed functions. Removing the radio will cause some systems in the vehicle to no longer function and create problems with others. It can cause dealers to void the warranty on systems adversely affected with having the radio removed, but not the whole car. The proper procedure to disable the airbags on that car is to disconnect the battery's negative battery terminal and then pull the fuse out of the fuse box. You then wait one minute and unplug the yellow connector under the driver's side dash that is inline on the yellow harness for the driver's side airbag. There is a separate yellow connector for the passenger's side airbag. You can then safely remove the airbag.
Disconnecting the battery's negative cable is a precaution that should be taken anytime any electrical work is to be done on any vehicle. Disconnecting the airbags is also a precaution taken anytime any work is done around them or any part of their circuits/sensors. If these procedures aren't followed, you can have problems with your airbag system. If the airbag light remains on after the vehicle is reconnected it means there is a problem in the system. I only suggested that you could do more research on these systems because you mentioned that you own one of these cars. Unfortunately, many people have not been formally trained on these systems and there is more misinformation usually posted that factual info. I am a trained tech with 30 years experience and I too, like yourself am trying to help people on this site.

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sparky

I think anyone that has been installing for years knows all the myths that have been around about the new GM vehicles. Truth is, there isn't one car out there that has the air bag systems running through the radios. I also own a 2004 cavalier. In the cavaliers at least in the base model the only thing that runs through the factory radio is the door chime. In the LS it might have oil temp and other sensor information that is running through the factory radio because it displays it on there. But no airbag. I have done extensive research on this about a year ago because I wanted to dispell the myth about there cars and radios.

seriously... Audioman, you yourself said you replaced your radio with a aftermarket one... If what you said is true, you deleted your own airbags... which clearly you did not... I did a LOC on my girlfriends cavalier off the two rear speakers, and tapped the 12+remote right behind the stereo as well.

Also... for the side post terminal. You can either get that extended side post, which is the cleanest way, or you can just rip off that big red boot, and probably fit your terminal ring tight between the main positive connection and the battery using your stock battery bolt.

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99 Blazer LT. Yellow Top. Big 3. Infinity Kappa Speakers All Around. Jensen CD/DVD flip out. 2 Infinity Kappa Perfect 12DVQs powered by a Alpine PDX600.1 (in one custom box, building a FG box)

When I bought the harness for my aftermarket headunit, the instructions inside stated that the airbags run through the radio. I dont know what the radio has to do with them, but this is what the instructions said. I also have one of those Haynes manuals and it even states in there to always disconnect the airbag fuse and connecters before working on the steering wheel, passenger airbag, radio, or sensors. It also shows you where the connectors are located. If the radio doesnt have a thing to do with the airbags, then why are their warnings about it in the manual and in those instructions? I know the wire for the airbags runs through the radio because the wire is a yellow/red wire.

I did not delete my airbags. You need to have the car off before you pull the fuse and unplug the connectors. You can then remove the factory radio. If you were to turn the car on with the fuse and connectors inplace, when your car does the airbag check, it senses that they deployed because the radio is yanked out. Your airbag indicated on your instrument cluster will flash 7 times and then go out if the system is clear.

I just look at it this way. The only way you can say I am wrong is to remove your factory radio without disconnecting anything else. Then start your car and tell me if the airbag light flashes 7 times.

The side post extenter bolts are a good idea if you plan on adding more accesories in the future. You can only really fit one more lug under the factory bolt. They're not that long, so even with one other lug under it you have to be careful not to strip out the lead.

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2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001

The factory radios do not send a deploy signal. When I was doing my studing about the cavalier radios and newer gm radios, i called every aftermarket harness company. Everyone pretty much said, It could but were not sure so we put the warnings in there to cover our asses. In the cavaliers the only thing is door chime. that is it. I don't know how many radios I've done in cavaliers(+50) and have never disconnected a airbag and have never seen the airbag light flash 7 times. Its a load of croc.

Wait so you are saying that when you start the car, the airbag light indicater doesnt flash 7 times and then turn off? I really think you need glasses. You obviously dont know much about Cavaliers with the statement you just posted. Yea I only worked on 3 cavalier's, but I know them inside and out. The Haynes manual even talks about the light indicater. So you want to test your knowledge against them? I am just telling you what I know. The indicater flashes 7 times when the airbags are fault free. Anything other than that means they have a problem with me. If the radio has nothing to do with the airbags, then do please explane why the airbag wire runs in and out of the radio?

Yes that is exactly what I'm saying. I've never seen it happen. And I have looked at the instrament cluster while pulling out the radios. If I want I'll even tape the next cavalier I do to proveit. So far your the only one that has been on here claming this happens. I've been installing radios professionaly for over 3 years and have done countless radios and have never seen an airbag light flash7 times. And I'm sure that everyelse who has been doing this can say the same thing.

Ok then do this. Turn the ignition on or start the car (whichever you want). Some of the indication lights will turn on for a few seconds and turn off. The airbag indicater will flash 7 times and then turn off. If your airbag light doesnt come on, doesnt flash 7 times, or just stays on, then your airbags arent working. If you think I am bullcrapping you, go right ahead and tape the next cavalier you work on. I would love to see it. Just make sure its a 2000+ cavalier

Where do you punch through the firewall in a 93 Cavalier to run the actual powerwire through? I took a quick look and didn't see any breaks without taking the dash off.

Try looking up behind the driverside where the steering column runs through the firewall. There should be some wire loom running through in that general area.

You may want to think twice about believing everything you read Audioman. You are correct that when the ignition is turned on, the airbag light flashes 7 times and will then go out as long as there are no problems with the SIR system. If there is a problem the light will stay on. All this is controlled by a module under the passenger seat. It is the restraint sensing and diagnostic module. The only thing that it has in common with the radio is that it is in the same car and runs off the same electrical system. Years ago vehicle manufacturers decided that airbag systems must be independant of all other systems, so that if another system has a problem, in won't affect the airbags. There isn't a yellow/red wire in the radio harness. The reason that service manuals state that you must disable the airbags when working aorund them is simply for your safety. Even though you disconnect the battery and pull the fuse, the airbag still has a capacitance charge in it. This charge can effectively last many weeks unless it is discahrged correctly. When you unplug the yellow connector to complete the airbag disable process, a shorting clip inside the connector actually shorts the two wires going to the airbag. This discharges the caps in the airbag and makes it safe to handle. You may have learned alot while working on a few Cavaliers. I have learned alot too after working on a few thousand of them and have taken many training courses from GM. I tend to believe them over Haynes. Remember that there are many people who will try and take shortcuts and for liability reasons any company that tells you how to work on a car will always follow strict safety rules for fear of liability lawsuits. I commend you for using the radio delete module, as I will not replace any radio in a vehicle that requires one without using one or relocating the radio. Another key feature that people forget about is that the chimes also are designed to alert people about critical vehicle problems and that they may not be wearing their seatbelts. If seatbelts aren't used the airbags can cause personal injury. This fact is usually listed on a sticker on the sunvisor. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Continue to properly disable the airbags when working around them and always encourage others to.

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sparky

Hey. I am not trying to say that I know everything about Cavaliers. Ive always been taught "better be safe than sorry". That is the reason why I always pull the fuse and connectors before working on the factory radio. I was told that from a car audio store at which I have been dealing with for over 8 years. Now I trust them in what they tell me, and then I pass it on to others. I have only installed aftermarket headunits in 3 cavalier's and in doing so, I have pulled the fuse and connectors all 3 times. I have no had any problems with anything happening with the airbags. So I will continue to do so. I honestly dont know if that is a myth or not. But I am also not going to give it a try and "possibly" have something go wrong. There is nothing wrong with me giving that information as a safety tip. It might not matter but atleast I know for a fact that nothing will go wrong.

You are correct and have a good rule. It is always better to proceed with caution and follow all safety rules. It may take a few moments longer, but it will save a lot of nightmares and things going wrong. That advice is sometimes learned the hard way be too many installers.

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sparky

As an experianced installer and a previous owner of a 2003 Chev Cavalier, the airbag nonsense is just that, nonsense, the relocate kit for the factory stereo or the aftermarket bypass (GMCO) all it does it give a doorchime, and retained accesory power (deck shuts off when door is opened) thats it.

Now, most installation shops wont do decks in these GM's unless either a relocate or the GMCO is used, i however did not beleive the airbag nonsense when i went to put a deck in, and simply hardwired the aftermarket deck to my factory harness, and guess what? NOTHING, other than no doorchime - really who cares?

the airbags, abs, all safety features still functioning properly, how do i know these are all still functioning properly?

well:

1. no warning lights on dash, everything should be working ok

2. ABS works, had to slam on brakes a few times in the winter... ok cool

3. airbags still deployed when i got rear ended and pushed into a cement barrier.

so other than that. beleive what you want.

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Matthew Robertson
Senior Installer
Best Buy Deerfoot Meadows
Calgary, AB, Canada

Ok, this whole discussion has sort of got me sitting on the fence here. I just bought a 97 Sunfire SE. I am going to install an aftermarket head unit into the car. If I simply disconnect the neg. term. on the battery and disconnect the SIR system; then replace the head unit...will I lose any functionability. Does the lack of a door chime apply to the earlier years? If it does disable the door chime or anything else, what must I buy/do to avoid this happening? (I am assuming that the Cavalier and Sunfire are wired the same way.)

You don't have to worry with your 97. Just buy a normal wiring harness hook up your radio like normal. If you want to be safe you can unhook your negative battery terminal but there really isn't a need for that.

oh, i always disconnect the negative terminal of the battery. Especially because I will be installing a capacitor and 2 amplifiers. But one question....i've hooked up my aftermarket head unit into 3 other cars already...by a "normal wiring harness" do you mean the one that comes with the head unit when you buy the thing? Like the plastic connector (with wires) that plugs into the back of the unit? Thanks btw.

I was refering to the plastic connector you buy seperatly for like $18. It makes it a lot easier and cleaner.

Oh, ok...thank you! Im glad I dont have anything to worry about! Newer cars seem like more of a pain than anything

One note especially to 410440. If your door chimes and such no longer work, your car may not pass a safety inspection if you need one. Just because you can't see any problems doesn't mean there aren't any. This point is especially true if a vehicle is still under factory warranty. Ignorance is not bliss.

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sparky

sparky3489?

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2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001

yea i agree with you, although the cav i had would never pass an inspection now as its written off...

lol

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Matthew Robertson
Senior Installer
Best Buy Deerfoot Meadows
Calgary, AB, Canada

I am not sure if you lose your doorchime though (with the factory relocation kit). Now in my situation, I did lose it. I lost it because I am running all of my speakers off an amp. And since my turns off when the car turns off, I have no door chime. It sucks because now I cant tell when I leave my headlights on. I was thinking of mounting a tweeter up under my dash and running it to the speaker wires that would run the door chime, but I dont want the tweeter to play "music" (if that would be possible). Does anyone have any ideas on how I can do this?