Decided to do a how to before I leave

Discussion in 'Off Topic Discussion' started by tyrant1014, Jun 11, 2008.

  1. tyrant1014

    tyrant1014 Full Member

    How to Install a satellite radio in a Chevy cobalt.

    Things you will need.

    A puller tool (or something to pull panels and not mark them up)
    a 9/32 socket with 1/4" ratchet I do believe
    Your radio
    Your antenna (prefferably an after market one as they generally have longer cords)
    Your power cord

    Step 1: decide where you are going to mount your radio. (remember, california doesn't let you have stuff on the windows)

    Step 2:Remove all the panels by gently pulling them off, if they've never been pulled off they will be rather difficult, but if your gentle then you should be fine.
    it should look like this all the way around.
    [​IMG]

    step 3: remove this side panel, this is a rough one and may require just a tad bit of force, but remember, even when you are forceful you can still be gentle
    [​IMG]

    Step 4: Remove the panel on the other side as well

    Step 5: use the 9/32 ratchet and remove all of the screws up front including the radio. don't worry about the hvac

    Step 6: Unless you want to want to disable the passenger airbag ( I didn't) Gently wiggle the dash, and use your tool and gently pull up in the crack and push down, if you do it too hard then you will break it.

    Step 7: Run your power chord through this crack and down the side where you took off the side from the door in step 3. Leave this panel off as you will need to use it again

    Step 8: Run your power chord where you took off the panels above the dash. Run it behind the bolts as you don't want it to come out when you pull off the panel

    Step 9: screw in all of the bolts that you took off in step 4 including the radio

    step 10: Run the power chord where the panel will go to cover the radio.

    Step 11: Re-install all of the panels Except for the one on the side of the dash starting with the radio panel, making sure that it covers all of the power chord except the plug in to your lighter.

    Step 12: Mount your radio as close as you can to your antenna if you are going to be FM tuning (if you get it away from this spot then you can't hear it due to interference from the stock XM unit) [​IMG]

    13 Remove the seat by first pulling up on the back end gently on the pass side, middle and drivers side. [​IMG]
    Then gently pull up and push back to free it from the front clips

    Step 14: set it where it won't get dirty, and go back and release the seats and fold them down

    Step 15: Loosen up the bottom half of the panel to your right and run it underneath[​IMG]

    Step 16:fold the seat up and run it under the bottom of the rear seat and back under the panel, in a similar fashion to the factory wiring
    [​IMG]

    Step 17: RE install the seat by putting the back in first (making sure the seatbelts and clickers are where the should be, then gently push back and down to get the front back into the clips. Once in, check to make sure rear passengers won't be getting sudden surprises

    Step 18: Remove the lower door panel and lift up the carpet
    [​IMG]
    However, don't put the cord in there just yet.

    step 19: Plug in the antennae to the radio and stuff it in the crack along with the power chord.

    step 20: Run it down the side through the black panel I told you not to put back on yet.

    Step 22: after running the cord Re-install that panel as well

    Step 23: Run your wires down and under the carpet, the reason we did this was to make sure that we were able to easily hide the excess. Under the carpet.

    Step 24: Re install the panel and then make sure that all of your other panels are installed and sug to the car's body.

    Step 25: Tune your radio as per sirius instructions.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2008
  2. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    seems like someone was a bit bored. lol . i put mynew antenna on my roof in the middle of the windshield. didnt have to remove any panels for that.

    i used to have my xm roady ant in the back. that sucked for reception as my roof rack got in the way some times.
     
  3. tyrant1014

    tyrant1014 Full Member

    Yeah, mostly I got bored of packing and needed to take a break. I was just so darn proud of myself though. When I'm down there waiting for school to start I think I might reupholster my interior. The grey silver, black thing is kind of drab. And I decided to wait till tomorrow to pack the comp up. Right now I'm sitting in a very empty room with just the comp and my bed left. haha
     
  4. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    could use that money for stereo stuff. how much would it cost you to redo the inside?
     
  5. tyrant1014

    tyrant1014 Full Member

    I don't know, If I just did the headliner. Probably about 90-120 bucks but that is the carpet which is the most expensive
     
  6. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    i did seat covers in mine. it helped break up the black/grey.

    camo.
     
  7. tyrant1014

    tyrant1014 Full Member

    But to be honest I probably shouldn't do that and save it for a dream a while down the road to do a show car. Cheaper to do a system, I could save money in the long run. So have you looked at that sub that eD has on sale on thier website
     
  8. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    i have and was tempted but i have too many extra subs that i dont use.

    its a nice sub from what i hear. 1 of those in the right sized box with 200-400 watts on it will sound nice in a little car like yours.