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Here's a step-by-step guide on accessing as well as removing the OEM stereo from your truck, and then installing an aftermarket one in its place. This is usually desirable so you can frugally get all those bells and whistles the newest vehicles have, including Bluetooth, HD radio, and satellite radio!
By Jeremy Perrod - July 8, 2015
This article applies to the Chevrolet Silverado GMT800, GMT900, and K2XX (1999-Present).
To properly upgrade the sound system in your car, you'll want to start with a quality brain. The brain would be the head unit, otherwise called the OEM radio that came with your car. This will allow you to add many additional features such as Bluetooth or satellite radio. It is also desirable if you are planning on adding additional amplifiers, since it'll have the the necessary RCA pre-outputs to connect them. It'll provide a much cleaner and stronger signal for the louder sound. In some instances, a factory radio upgrade to an aftermarket can actually make your stock speakers and tweets sound even better as well as louder.
Materials Needed
- Ratchet and socket set, or even a hand socket driver with a 7 and 10mm sockets
- Plastic pry tool
- Soldering iron and heat shrink, or electrical pliers and butt connectors
- Dash mounting kit
- Phillips screwdriver
Step 1 – Remove fuse box panel
Starting with the panel on the left of the driver's kick panel, pry off the fuse box panel. This cover is hidden when the door is closed. It is held in with three clips and requires a pull to be removed. Pull it towards you, and you'll hear a loud crackling sound as the clip releases. Don't worry, you didn't break anything.
Step 2 – Remove driver's side kick panel
You'll need to use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws under the steering wheel, and a 10mm socket to remove the small bolt holding it. Once you remove those, the top portion of the panel is held in by clips.
Pro Tip
Be careful of the sharp edges of the plastic panels. Some are rough cuts since they are hidden when installed and can be very sharp. Also, if a clip remains lodged in the dash, don't fret and just pry it loose, then put it back onto the panel for when you re-install it.
Step 3 – Remove ashtray panel
Now, remove the ashtray panel to the right of the driver's side kick panel. Grip from the bottom to pull it towards you, then insert your pry tool or finger, and work your way around the panel to remove this.
Step 4 – Remove radio surrounding
Same as before, grip from the bottom to pull it towards you, then insert your pry tool or finger, and work your way around the panel counterclockwise. You'll need to unplug the two 12v outlets and plug to free the panel. You will now see the six 7mm bolts holding the radio in.
Pro Tip
Since we've touched on electrical connections now, a tip is to unplug the negative (black) terminal on the battery to ensure you do not short anything out. You'll need to reset your clock and more than likely need a theft code for the OEM radio, so make sure you know it. If you need to power it up to remove a CD or something, now would be the time.
Step 5 – Remove radio
You'll unscrew the six bolts and pull the radio towards you. Unplug all plugs and antenna connections to get your radio free. Unscrew the radio itself from the console to free it from the bezel housing and the air conditioning controls. Mount your new radio in its place using the various mounting screw holes on the sides.
Featured Video: How to Remove Factory Radio
Step 6 – Solder wiring harness (unplug it from the radio for this step)
Soldering is a bit tricky at first, but once you get comfortable working the solder with the heat source, it's pretty painless. This step requires that you follow the instructions provided with your stereo kit, as the harnesses can differ from brand to brand. Match the requisite wires up and solder where needed. Once the wires have been soldered and the solder has hardened, protect your handy work with butt connectors. Some wiring connections may be able to operate fine with just the connector and no solder, but where possible, take the extra few minutes to ensure a better connection.
Pro Tip
Do not worry about the blue "remote" wire, "power antenna," or "illumination," unless your vehicle specific harness has those as well. Remote wire should be connected as an easy way to turn on an external amplifier if you plan to add one.
Step 7 – Re-install the radio
Once your wires are properly connected to one another, you can go back into the car and re-install the radio. It's as simple as plugging in the harness. If you are going to be adding additional amplifiers, now is the time to plug the RCA low level wiring to the RCA pre-outputs on the back of the aftermarket radio.
Pro Tip
Pay close attention to multiple RCA pre-outputs, as one will be for a subwoofer amplifer and the other two (some radios have three pre-outputs connections) will be for channel 1/2 (front) and 3/4 (rear).
Step 8 – Test the radio!
Read the manual and follow all instructions for setting the time as well as adjusting the settings. Now would be the time to reconnect the negative battery terminal to put power back to the car. If all is well, go ahead and re-install all of the kick panels in the reverse order of how you removed them.
Admire your hard work!
Pro Tip
As a disclaimer, if you feel unsure of any of the instructions given, feel free to ask in the comments section for clarification. If you're too shaky, there is nothing wrong with paying a professional to install.
Featured Video: How to Install Full Stereo System
Related Discussions
- Sub and Amp Install 2003 Silverado - ChevroletForum.com
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- '09 Silverado Radio Replacement - ChevroletForum.com
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FAQs
How do you take the radio out of a 2000 Chevy Silverado? ›
It's real easy to break off so be careful of it next there's two tabs on the left and right sides of
How do I get my Silverado radio to work? ›...
To do this:
- Turn off the truck.
- Find the radio fuse in the passenger side dash fuse panel.
- Unplug the fuse.
- Wait about 30 seconds.
- Plug it back in.
- Turn the truck back on.
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And you take a seven millimeter socket. Any good unscrew this bolt and he got two on these sides you
What size radio fits in a 2002 Chevy Silverado? ›A vast number of single-DIN (2" tall) and double-DIN (4" tall) stereos will fit right in, with the help of dash kits that are designed specifically for your truck. The single-DIN fits into your existing dash, while the double-DIN kit is actually a replacement dash panel.
How do you take the radio out of a 99 Silverado? ›How To Replace Stereo in 1995-2006 Chevy Silverado - YouTube
What brand speakers does Silverado have? ›For GM's heavy duty trucks, the Silverado Bose audio system supplies seven speakers with a “Rich-bass woofer” mounted somewhere under the center console.
What size speakers are in a Chevy Silverado? ›...
Speakers that fit your. 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500*
| Speaker location | Speaker sizes** |
|---|---|
| Front Door | 6x9" |
And it is located under the center console.
What is a double DIN radio? ›A car stereo is the center of your audio experience. The “double DIN” simply refers to the size of your head unit, which means it is twice as tall as a single DIN. DIN stands for Deutsches Institut für Normung, a German group that sets industry standards and which once set the standard for all car radios.
How do you take the radio out of a 2004 Chevy Silverado? ›
How To Remove Stereo - 2004 GMC Sierra Pick Up - YouTube
How do you take the radio out of a 2014 Chevy Silverado? ›chevy Silverado stereo removal 2014 and up - YouTube
Why is my Chevy Silverado radio not working? ›The radio screen in a Chevy Silverado 1500 vehicle will go out for several reasons – most commonly a blown fuse or maybe if you hit something and knocked a wire loose. It can also be due to a problem with the display itself, or a problem with the circuit board.
How do you unlock the radio on a Chevy truck? ›Press the Hour button on the radio until the first two number of the code appear. Next, press the Minute button until the last two numbers of the code are displayed. Once all four digits appear, press the AM/FM button to unlock your stereo.
Why is my radio on but no sound? ›If your radio is turning on but there is no sound. First check radio functions, be sure you have an audio source selected like Radio. If using AUX, USB or BT AUDIO be sure you have a device connected to the correct input. Be sure the radio is not Muted.
How many speakers are in a 1999 Chevy Silverado? ›Chevy Silverado with 4-Speaker System / with Enhanced Speaker System 1999, GM Original Equipment™ Rear Speaker by ACDelco®.
What size speakers are in a 2002 Chevy Silverado single cab? ›The door speakers in the Silverado and Sierra regular cab are 6-1/2" models, a common size with great aftermarket support.
Is there a din and a half radio? ›Most cars came with either a single or double DIN radio, with "double" meaning twice that of single DIN. But there are thousands of vehicles with head units that fall into a strange in-between category. These head units are typically referred to as 1.5 DIN or Din-and-a-half.
Where is the subwoofer in 2021 Silverado? ›The beauty of this Subwoofer System is what you don't see. Utilizing factory harness connections and a factory mounting location (No Modifications), this Enclosed Sub System mounts discretely under the second-row passenger-side seat.
What size speakers are in a 2014 Silverado? ›The Crew Cab's full-size rear doors house 6-3/4" factory speakers. They're pretty easy to deal with, and they can be replaced by a variety of aftermarket models.
What size speakers are in a 2010 Chevy Silverado? ›
The factory speakers in the front doors are closest in size to an aftermarket 6-3/4" speaker, but you'll need an adapter plate to install any speaker in there. The front doors will accept several very common speaker sizes, including 6-3/4", 6-1/2", 5-1/4", and the adapter plates make for an easy installation.
What are speaker tweeters? ›Tweeters are relatively small speakers that emit the “upper” range of sounds used for reproducing music and speech called “trebles.” Woofers and subwoofers cannot produce the same sounds that tweeters can due to their construction and cone sizes.
How do you know what size speakers fit in your car? ›Unless you can find measurements elsewhere online, your best bet for a good fit is to remove your door panels, remove the factory speakers, and measure your factory speaker openings. Keep an eye on screw hole pattern and room for tweeter protrusion (to ensure nothing touches the factory grille).
What speakers are in a 2009 Chevy Silverado? ›- 4" x 6" Full-Range. Mid-Rear Pillar (C)
- 6.5" Subwoofer. Front Center Console.
- 6.5" Full-Range. Front Door.
- .75" Tweeter. Front Pillar.
- 6.5" Full-Range. Rear Door.
- 5.25" Full-Range. Rear Door.
How To Remove Stereo - 2004 GMC Sierra Pick Up - YouTube
How do you take the radio out of a 2009 Chevy Silverado? ›How to Remove Car Stereo Chevrolet Silverado - YouTube
How do you unlock the radio on a 2008 GMC Sierra? ›Dial 1-800-537-5140 to connect with GM's toll-free radio hotline. Once you're connected, you'll be asked to provide your vehicle's radio identification number, along with a special dealer access code. You'll then be rewarded with a 4-digit retrieval code, which will allow you to unlock your radio.
How do you take the radio out of a 2014 Chevy Silverado? ›chevy Silverado stereo removal 2014 and up - YouTube
How do you take the radio out of a 98 Chevy truck? ›How to Replace Radio 88-98 GMC K1500 - YouTube
What size radio fits in a 2009 Chevy Silverado? ›6.8” Double Din Car Radio Kit for Chevy Silverado (2008-2013) and Non-Classic (2007)
What speakers are in a 2009 Chevy Silverado? ›
- 4" x 6" Full-Range. Mid-Rear Pillar (C)
- 6.5" Subwoofer. Front Center Console.
- 6.5" Full-Range. Front Door.
- .75" Tweeter. Front Pillar.
- 6.5" Full-Range. Rear Door.
- 5.25" Full-Range. Rear Door.
A car stereo is the center of your audio experience. The “double DIN” simply refers to the size of your head unit, which means it is twice as tall as a single DIN. DIN stands for Deutsches Institut für Normung, a German group that sets industry standards and which once set the standard for all car radios.
How do I unlock my radio without the code? ›- Turn on the ignition.
- If the screen says CODE then turn off the radio.
- Press and hold the Power/Volume button for 40-50 seconds.
- It should unlock your radio in under a minute.
Turn on your Chevy Silverado and remain parked. Turn on the audio system. Click and hold the radio power button for 10 seconds, and the vehicle will bypass the dealer code that appears. This action will turn off the stereo system; turning the radio back on will reset your system.
What is my car radio code? ›The best place to locate a radio code is in the owner's manual of your car. In most cases, the owner's manual will be located in your glove box and will include general automotive service and maintenance tips, along with instructions on how to operate each system on the vehicle.
How do you remove the head unit on a 2015 Silverado? ›How to: Remove Radio 2015 Chevrolet Silverado - YouTube
How do you take the radio out of a 2015 Chevy Silverado? ›How to remove a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado Stereo (#3040) - YouTube
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