QuestionI am buying a aftermarket stereo for my Husband in his GMC Canyon 2 door Pickup I have a somewhat limited budget, but found these items I think will work, and still be excellent sound. The "Must Haves" are a UBS port on the front of the stereo/CD player and only the nescessary instalation equipment. I found a harness but some people tell me it is foolist to spend $50. on that. Also I don't know what "intalation kit" to use.... so the unit fits in the large opening in his pickups dash and looks BOSS!!! Please ehlp me with any suggestions!
Forever in your debt..... Lost in Albuquerque!!
PS. OH I used this page on Amazon Car Electronics Fit finder…. To get the speaker size.
http://www.amazon.com/Car-Fit-Finder-Electronics/b/ref=amb_link_7362672_6?ie=UTF...
Plug-N-Play Harness Solutions :: GMC :: GM-2 $49.99
http://www.safewireless.com/hands-free-store/gm2-p-47.html
Polk Audio DB 675 Eurosized 6.75-Inch Vehicle Speakers (Pair, Black) $109.00
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000BWCSIO/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fenc...
Panasonic Car Audio CQRX400U 50Wx4 MP3/WMA/AAC Head Unit $107.90
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Audio-CQRX400U-Bluetooth-Satelite/dp/tech-data/B...
AnswerHi Katrina,
There's certainly nothing wrong with the Panasonic deck or Polk speakers you've chosen. My only concern would be the USB input, and what devices you plan to use with it. The USB plugs on CD decks aren't compatible with all USB devices. For example, if you have an Apple iPod or a Zune and wish to use it with the USB jack, it probably won't work. If you're using flash drives with MP-3 files, or a "mass storage" type MP-3 player, then it will probably work with the USB.
As far as the wire harness is concerned, you've gone little bit down the wrong path there. The harness in your link is designed to adapt a Parrot hands-free phone kit to your vehicle. That's the reason for the relatively high price point. It's not the harness you'd use to replace the factory radio with an after-market deck.
Before you pick a wire harness, there's something you need to know about your factory radio. The stock radio in a GMC Canyon is connected to the vehicle's data bus system, and it performs some of the vehicle functions. It's also controlled by the data bus, instead of using a "switched" accessory power wire.
This affects you in three ways. First of all, the new CD player needs a key-switched power connection to work correctly, but there isn't one available in the factory radio plug. Second, the factory radio is responsible for generating all the vehicle's warning chimes: seat belt chime, door chime, "lights left on". They all play through the driver's door speaker. If you remove the factory radio, you'll lose all the warning chimes. Third, if your Canyon is equipped with Onstar, it also needs to work through the factory radio.
This gives you two options for the wire harness: buy an expensive adapter that will keep your vehicle functions working and provide an accessory power connection; or buy an inexpensive harness, lose the chimes and Onstar, and find an alternate source for the accessory power connection.
Here's the expensive adapter if your truck doesn't have Onstar, or if you don't mind losing it:
http://www.amazon.com/Axxess-GMRC-01-Class-Retention-Interface/dp/B00032AIGG/ref...
If you do have Onstar, and want to keep it working, you'll need this adapter instead:
http://www.amazon.com/Axxess-GMOS-01-Interface-Non-Amplified-Systems/dp/B000K52D...
And here's the inexpensive harness, if you don't mind losing your warning chimes and Onstar, and if you're willing to do a bit of extra wiring:
http://www.amazon.com/METRA-Ltd-70-2003-Tracker-Vehicle/dp/B0002BEQAM/ref=sr_1_1...
In addition to whatever harness you choose, you'll need a few other parts for the installation:
The mounting kit will fit the new CD player into the stock radio location, give you an extra storage pocket, and make it look good:
http://www.amazon.com/AMERICAN-INTERNATIONAL-GMK412-Radio-Install/dp/B00006JP9T/...
An antenna adapter is required, because the factory GM radio antenna plug doesn't match the after-market standard:
http://www.amazon.com/METRA-Ltd-40-GM10-Antenna-Adapter/dp/B0002BEQN4/ref=sr_1_1...
A set of speaker adapter harnesses will make the speaker wiring a bit easier.
http://www.amazon.com/Metra-72-4568-Chrysler-Speaker-Harness/dp/B0002BEUZ8/ref=s...
Hope this helps!
Brian
