I am in the process of switching my interior to black and wanted a black radio. I have the silver 6 disc changer and want the black six disc changer. I was told that I have to have the cars vin number learned on the radio for it to work. I was quoted at 95 bucks by the dealership. Does this make sense or do you guys know another way to relearn a vin? Maybe hp tuners or another way? Let me know what you guys have
Thanks
Tom

 

If you can find access to a tech2 outside of a dealership that should work

 

Ha ha tommy looks like 95 bucks for me not a clue where to even look unless you have a hook up? Or is your dealership cheaper? Thanks

 

Not sure how much my dealership charges, probably the same

 

or you could swap faceplates...

 

Yeah but I read that switching the faceplates is a lot of work! If you could show me that it just pops off then I will be happy

 

oh ~ there's work involved... but is it worth some of your time/effort to save the cost of getting a BCM/Radio relearn via a TechII at a dealer?

IMHO, it would be.

 

Do you know of any write ups on how to do it?

 

since when do cobalts come with 6 disc cd changers? but it should be fairly easy to swap faces

 

2008

IIRC it was a one year option ~ and it was replaced with the USB radio for 2009

there is no write up...

if you're mechanically/technically "all thumbs" ~ don't bother.

it will be time consuming ~ and a little bit of trial & error.. but if you take your time it shouldn't be too challenging...

 

imo its easier to take off the radio face if u have no idea vs taking off the radio trim pieces with no idea

 

Tommy, I put in the new radio today and everything worked but I have to reset my favorite channels. It did not say locked, so maybe I got lucky! I guess we will find out shortly.

 

I bought a 09 Head unit from a buddy's SS cause I wanted USB, plugged it in and it said Locked. So i took it to a chevy dealership, and they vin relearned it. works perfect.

 

i swapped faceplates on my radio. its like 4 screwes and easy as heck. old radio i had buttons stopped working and got sticky i guess from wife's pop exploding on it.. i put a used radio i bought off here in and said locked. so i was like crap. dealer wanted 115 to unlock it. inspected the old radio and seen the faceplate had a circuit board. so was like hmmm.. seen 4 screws and took them out. pop faceplate slid right off. took faceplate off other radio and put on old radio. put in car and boom. working buttons and all. only difference was the back lights are now low red color kinda like guages. aux works, xm radio started working again some how. saved me 115 bucks with a few minutes of work. faceplate pulled out like a hard drive in a computer. slides in the same way. you'll see the screws.
hope u read this before its to late