I have just spent several hours researching the install/removal of the different audio components in a Cobalt. But some of it varies from the years, and models.

My question is this:

for my friend's 2007 Lt coupe, with no OnStar, do I need a harness other than the $20 one i can probably find at Canadian tire(for the HU to the stock harness). I have no idea if his stereo has any driver info stuff(I read that this would be a problem if it did). I have an 05 SS SC, and I know that mine does not have that.

Any special tools for the rear speakers? like a torx bit for the seatbelts(not sure if it's necessary to remove them).
I have a panel removal tool, a T55 torx bit(I used this on my Neon's install for the seat belts), window crank remover(but I think he has pwr windows), wire splice tool, screwdrivers, and heatshrink. Am i missing anything?

 

05 06= cheap harness

07-current= expensive harness.

rear seats just pop out, no drivers needed.

rear deck, remove c pillars and then pull out deck

you are welcome.

 

thanks

 

as for the harness, all depends if you want the turn signal noise or not i believe. They asked me that at the audio store, i said hell no, i hate that sound so i got the 15 buck harness and been using that since day 5 of me owning my cobalt. I replaced every audio component in my balt, and quality is much better and sounds amazing.

as far as the rear deck goes for installing the 6x9's, theres a thread on that here somewhere, its what i used. Front doors are easy as hell, easier with auto locks/windows. If your gunna put the fronts on a amp, you can ither rerun some better wires or tap into the existing ones, i can wal ya thru it if need be. I ran new ones and taped into the existing on a buddys balt, both not hard. Deck is easy, jsut have to remove/break this plastic piece behind radio, other wise audio cables wont fit properly. Only thing is when doing the rears, you have to remove baack headrest(2 botls each) and not remove, but halfway remove the bottom pillar things next to your seats, they fold torwards the door, and dont remove the seatbelt, just pull the deck out and lay it on the back seats which should be folded down. so the seatbelts will still be going thru the deck.

so all in all, im currently not using my harness due to me having my 4 interiors on a amp(outputs on HU, and sub output for subs). so you may not need one reguardless, IF YOUR GOING TO AMP EVERYTHING, if not, cheap harness will do.

I as well have a 2007 so this is the same balt as mine BTW

 

the 2007+ harness is expensive because if you want the chime sound and the alarm and on-star, you need it(want it), if you dont want it, i paid 15 bucks back in 2007 for it. I opted out for the fancy one lol

 

you SHOULD use it.... there are other factory diagnostics that run through that radio that the car needs to run properly. I have seen few get away with it... ive seen many people with a 3k bill replacing the BCM because they killed it going the cheap route.

 

on a LT maybe..i have a LS so that could be true. I know at first they asked if i had on-star and popwer this and that and i said no, so they gave me the option for the expensive one(80bucks??) or the cheapo(15$) and i took that and im fine. But if he has the LT and power this and that and other goodies, he may want to get it for peace of mind. If he has just power windows and locks, the cheap one should be ok.

 

i do this as a job. trust me... ive seen it.

take your chances.

 

what other wires are on the better harness otrher than power, memory, speaker, and rem, im kinda curious now?? All i use on my harness is power and memory. All my speakers are amp'd so i dont use the harness. And the only other wires i see is for the door chime and turn signals which is why i opted out for the better harness.

 

Those rear deck speakers are a PITA to get to.

I ended up running out of patience and having Apple Chevy install my wife's rear Rockford 6 x 9's.

It just felt like the rear deck was going to break getting it out and if it was going to break I'd rather the dealer do it so it'll be taken care of.

 

umm... all the data bus and can bus wires that sends information all over the car roflll

 

maybe in the SS's and LT's but not in my ls. I have only a select number of wires and they were ither for my radio(power,mem,rem,speaker) and the other ones were for my door chime and turn signals, but other than that, I gots nothing. lol.

 

in all cobalts bro.