Car Stereos: Stereo Mod for 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier?, 2002 chevy cavalier, chevy cavalier

Question
Hi,

Today I went to buy a stereo deck for my 2002 Chevy Cavalier.  I decided on model and asked the salesman if it would work in my car.  After asking if I had OnStar (no) or a brand name speaker set (no), he told me that I would need to buy a $120 module (which he said would be cheaper at other places) just so that the car would recognize the deck once I put it in.  I didn't buy the deck, but I feel like he could have just been trying to get more money out of me or something.  Any help?

Thanks

Answer
Hi Tim,

Unfortunately, he's right.

Although it's not so that the car recognises your deck, it's so that other functionality that GM in their infinite wisdom decided to route through your deck will continue to work.

Without it, you'd lose your door chimes, your interior light wouldn't work right anymore, and various safety features wouldn't work.

That said, he was also right that it's cheaper elsewhere.

This is the part he speaks of:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_120GMRC01/GM-Factory-Integration-Adapter.html

Justin