Factory HVAC control w/aftermarket stereo

Electronic systems, stereo and Holden iQ, wiring, it all goes here....
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Captain Rice
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2021 4:22 pm

Factory HVAC control w/aftermarket stereo

Post by Captain Rice »

I'm looking for y'all's thoughts on stripping down a silver box to bypass the radio portion leaving the HVAC control intact so that I could add an aftermarket head unit. If I use a '14 or later HVAC control panel it would still show the set temperature in the control knobs so using the touch screen would not be needed. Would removing the speaker outputs and steering wheel controls cause the BCM to freak out or cause any other issues?
mnp
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2021 10:06 pm

Re: Factory HVAC control w/aftermarket stereo

Post by mnp »

Should be fine, 14+ cars use HVAC modules (little black module underneath radio) when you change the temp, the radio is just listening to CAN and displaying the changes on the screen. Only thing is BCM or other modules may store "Communication lost with Radio" but nothing like a check engine light.
Capreeezy
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2022 4:36 pm

Re: Factory HVAC control w/aftermarket stereo

Post by Capreeezy »

New to the forum here. I'm Loving the Caprice... except for the radio.

I understand WAMs is a solution, but I'm also curious to see if anyone has modded their silver box to keep the HVAC intact and muscle in an aftermarket stereo?

Might bypass the silver box altogether and add a car play screen/backup camera mated to a single DIN with aux in stereo in the glove box.

https://carpuride.com/collections/carpu ... kup-camera
https://www.alpine-usa.com/product/ute-73bt

Wouldn't mind losing steering wheel controls for something like this.
s/c'd cav
Posts: 1382
Joined: Mon May 30, 2016 3:12 am
Location: PHOENIX AZ

Re: Factory HVAC control w/aftermarket stereo

Post by s/c'd cav »

Capreeezy wrote: Thu Dec 08, 2022 10:46 pm New to the forum here. I'm Loving the Caprice... except for the radio.

I understand WAMs is a solution, but I'm also curious to see if anyone has modded their silver box to keep the HVAC intact and muscle in an aftermarket stereo?

Might bypass the silver box altogether and add a car play screen/backup camera mated to a single DIN with aux in stereo in the glove box.

https://carpuride.com/collections/carpu ... kup-camera
https://www.alpine-usa.com/product/ute-73bt

Wouldn't mind losing steering wheel controls for something like this.
there isnt much for aftermarket options because of the hvac runs through the silver box

search the facebook groups , there is a radio or 2 that are shared with the SS's , that some have tried , the older units had alot of issues
smwalker
Administration Staff
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Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:44 am
Location: Azusa,CA

Re: Factory HVAC control w/aftermarket stereo

Post by smwalker »

I have seen a few folks leave the silver box in place and put a single din down in the lower cubby area. Many modern radios are so shallow with just a faceplate and a brain box mounted remotely. Something like that maybe an option. Or really if all your music is on your phone anyway just do a bluetooth module up in the dash to an amp.

I got my 68 wagon set up like that with this product:
Audiopipe Marine Wireless Audio Receiver Adapter converts any amplifier or RCAs to stream wirelessly


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K1 ... UTF8&psc=1
Steve Walker
Azusa, CA
'11 PPV 9C3 Huron White
Capreeezy
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2022 4:36 pm

Re: Factory HVAC control w/aftermarket stereo

Post by Capreeezy »

Interesting solution Steve.

That’s the cheapest fix by far.
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