radio confusion

[rockfangd]

Just to warn everyone this is going to be long.

To start I really wanted the cd changer option in my 96 Deville so I did a bunch of research,(wirind diagrams, compatibility, years, etc...)

So anyway I found a 1996 Cadillac Eldorado with the optional stereo that has the Changer capabilities. (basically the same exact stereo as my current except the CD button and the random button, oh and also the DSP sound feature)according to my wiring diagram the eldorado had the external amp setup but the only difference in the plug on the car with the external amp and my regular setup is that the cd changer wires go into the amp on the eldorado but on my regular setup 4 wires go into the back of the radio. HOpe this makes sense.

Long story short It seemed all I would need to do to add the cd changer to my car is run 4 wires from the cd changer to the 4 available pins at the back of the radio, Find a cd changer(Done) and Get a stereo from the same year that has the changer option(Done) and then All I would have to do is take my car to the dealer to unlock the radio that I got.

So today I installed the radio into my car which was a piece of cake and I turned my key on and the clock came on, Then I turned the stereo on and my antenna went up, So far so good, Then the current station displayed and I tried th cd button which worked, I tried the tape button which worked, But there was no sound at all. So i called my local dealer who explained that the radio would need to be unlocked to function in my cadillac, I brought the car down and paid $50.00 for them to unlock the stereo.

Well heres the fun part, I payed the 50.00 dollars for them to tell me that it is not possible to make the stereo work in my car and that it is not possible to add the changer to my car So by this time I was fuming because I just threw away 50 dollars and it wont work.

Honestly I dont even know if they did anything with the car. It never even got pulled into the shop. Below is what they wrote on my invoice

Customer request to unlock installed radio from a 1996 Eldorado,

Tech states that unable to program radio due to wrong radiop being installed. The radio is incompatible with the car and the only stereo that will work is a stereo with a RPO CCODE U1L.

Am I just going to have to give up on this one?? I have a hard time believing the information that the dealer gave me as I think they are leaving something out. Does anyone know anything about any of this? Does anyone know how to unlock a radio on a 1996? they stated a tech 2 scantool will have to be used to pull up the lock code then it can be reset.

If anyone has anything on this for me I would very very much appreciate it. I must be crazy

[BodybyFisher]

I bought a radio for mine from a scrap yard and had the same problem and gave up. I didnt pursue it much. I have considered tearing out the radio and putting in an aftermarket system

[rockfangd]

Well the problems that I have is that I do not like aftermarket, especially in a cadillac, and also all of the headaches of the SWRC and chime module , ETC...

[rockfangd]

Well still havent had luck yet But I do not give up easily to failure

[winterset]

As long as the radio does not display the text "THEFTLOCK", it is unlocked, and ready to use given it has the correct environment. I have to admit, I have wireing experience with only the cassette radios, and the ones with the AMP. - not the radios that support CD's that don't have an AMP

If your radio has DSP, I would think that is one of the high end radio's that requires an AMP. I guess the easiest way to determine is to look for those massive heat sinks on the back of the radio (I assume these mean an amplifier is built on)

there is a specific AMP that is required to support DSP. - although any one will work, the DSP feature will let you select it on the radio, it just will not change the sound (BASS,TREBBLE,BALANCE will work)

if you got passed the theftlock, you made good progress. don't consider the $50 wasted, but just that you have more of a challenge ahead of you in regard to getting the wires,speakers, and AMP.

BTW, I understand what you are saying about connecting the multi CD Player directly to the radio, it's just that you may not have the radio head that supports this.

[rockfangd]

UPDATE

I purchased A stereo from a 1997 Cadillac Deville That had the Source Button, And was prewired for the CD changer.

I called my local Dealer and they stated that the RPO matched mine and It should Work.

I made an appointment to have the dealer unlock the new stereo tomorrow, But I got excited so I decided to install the radio tonight and take it in in the morning,

But When I plugged the stereo in it came right on without codes or unlocking it!!!!!

So I was really happy And that tells me that 1996-1997 Do not need to be unlocked for theftlock.

The Headunit Works wonderful and now I can proceed to wire in the Cd changer harness.

If my research proves successful I will post everythingh I did to install The Provision.

[BodybyFisher]

That's great,

[winterset]

Hopefully all works out for you. a question that may help others:

Does the radio itself say "Theftlock" on it? it could be that the person/company you purchased the radio from cleared out the VIN from the radio's memory, & as soon as you plugged it in, it got married to your car.

Your method seems to be the easiest for someone who wishes to add an ipod option to the car without using one of those aftermarket RF adapters. This will especially make it easier since the connection will all be up front at the radiohead.

Adding an AMP to the car and all that's associated with it is almost an impossible feat, and it took me quite a while to finish the job with all the 100% correct wires & speakers etc.

Your toughest job will be to run the 8 or so wires from the radiohead to the trunk.

Good luck

[rockfangd]

The stereo had not been cleared, it was still installed in the vehicle I pulled it from at my local U pull it yard. And it did not display any code or theftlock, nor did it set a PZM code in the computer

[rockfangd]

UPDATE: 5/1/10.

I completed the project today and everything went excellent. Iam so happy I now have not just a cd player, but a cd changer in my cadillac.

Everything works wonderful and it is completely stock.

The only feature that it seems doesnt exist without the bose setup is the random disc button.

Did I mention I am so happy. Also (NEVER LISTEN TO THE DEALER WHEN THEY TELL YOU SOMETHING IS NOT POSSIBLE)

I will do a full writeup tonight.

[BodybyFisher]

Thanks for sharing your upgrade experience and letting us know that this can be done

[rockfangd]

Thanks for sharing your upgrade experience and letting us know that this can be done

I am doing a full writeup right now so once it is complete feel free to delete this topic and my other topic labeled cd changer. Thank you. I figure the new writeup should take me about 1 hour