Audio Systems: VCP Player Remote and Wireless Headphones, oldsmobile silhouette, wireless headphone

Question
We just purchased a 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette Premiere.  This vehicle is equipped with the VCP Player. We do not have the remote for it, since this is a used vehicle.  We have read where the remote can be replaced with a universal remote, but it must be programmed accordingly.  How do we know what brand the VCP player is?  There is no "brand name".  We would also like to find out more about the wireless headphones that are available for use in this vehicle.  We have tried to find out more online about these ideas, and have found nothing, until this site.  I hope you can help!  Thanks, Mark Novy

Answer
ONE: An olds dealer can help you with a remote but it will be very expensive.

TWO:  Their are many universal remotes that have a stepping function.   They are no more expensive than the others - around $5 to $10.  These have the option, when you don't know the make or model, to step through each code one by one until you find the one that turns the unit ON or OFF.  The remote will come with instructions on how to set up the stepping-through function.

THREE:  Most likely the GM dealer near you can look these up and tell you where additional units can be purchased.  But, you must make sure the car you have purchased has this feature. I think the wireless headphone was an option.  You can purchase wireless headphones at any good audio or parts shop that will work with 12 v systems. I saw one the other day at Walmart, actually, that will work in any car that has audio out on the player to feed the transmitter box.

FOUR:  I do know that Panasonic made vcp units for GM cars; whether they made the one for your Oldsmobile Silhouette I cannot say, but that might be a good place to start when you try the next universal remote. If it does not work it, you will have to step through all the codes until you get the right one.  (PS: By the way, I purchased a remote at Dollar Tree, yes, for $1.00, and it works for any tv or vcr or dvd player that I have tried it on.  It will step through the codes as explained above, too.)

FINALLY: There are several makers of car tv/dvd players. They can be custom mounted or just hang on the back of the front seats.  They range from $99 and up.  So, if your is defective, you might want to just replace it with a new system.

See:  http://parenting.parenthood.com/articles.html?article_id=3225
even though this article is a little old, it gives you the idea.