Unlock a Vin-Locked GM Cd Player?

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot) 09/08/2016 at 08:04 • Filed to: Questions

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Hey guys, my brother-in-law gave me this car CD player, but it’s vin locked so I can’t use it currently.

Now, we watched a video on how to unlock it, which required removing a specific chip on the motherboard, but it still won’t operate. Any other ideas that I should try?

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > zeontestpilot 09/08/2016 at 08:38

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Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > zeontestpilot 09/08/2016 at 08:45

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Take it to a dealer and spend $$$.

Or, just spend the $$$ the right way and get a unit that isn’t crap. Often the GM head units (and I’m sure other brands too, but I don’t know) are the weakest link in the system and actually hold the speakers back.

zeontestpilot > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 09/08/2016 at 08:57

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Where’s the fun and learning experience if you take it to the dealer? :p.

The main problem with my current CD player, is that it scratches CDs. That’s it. I only use burnt CDs in the car, but I don't feel like replacing them every few months.

The Stig's former college room mate > zeontestpilot 09/08/2016 at 08:58

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a $40 cd player from walmart is better than that unit. Those old delco radios were the source of many parasitic battery drains back when i was a gm tech

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > zeontestpilot 09/08/2016 at 09:05

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It’s not fun, but the learning experience is that you don’t have the software you need to do code it to your VIN and the dealer does.

404 - User No Longer Available > zeontestpilot 09/08/2016 at 09:10

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You need a Tech 2 to program it. Find a dealer that will charge you half hour, not full hour. I got mine calibrated for $60 years ago. But for that unit pictured I would say go with what smallbear says and get a better DIN unit. Unless you really need that tape deck.

zeontestpilot > The Stig's former college room mate 09/08/2016 at 09:12

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Well, it works currently, so there's no need to replace it. Also, I really like stock, but if the battery is truly parasitic, it looks like I should at least look at aftermarket CD players, just in case.

zeontestpilot > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 09/08/2016 at 09:13

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Well, in that case, I can at least see if I can swap some buttons to make mine look nicer at least.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > zeontestpilot 09/08/2016 at 09:16

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Actually, you just gave me an idea. since you removed the chip from one unit trying to make it work, I assume you could find the same chip in the old one and swap it to the new one? Worth a shot unless you’d rather not take the chance on screwing up both units.

Leadbull > zeontestpilot 09/08/2016 at 09:39

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Locked radios are the worst.

- If someone breaks into my car, a missing radio would be the least of my worries.

- It doesn’t even prevent theft, just annoys the thief later on, which I couldn’t give two shits about.

zeontestpilot > 404 - User No Longer Available 09/08/2016 at 12:05

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Naw, it was free, and hopefully wouldt kill CDs. I use a fm transmitter for my iPod, but that's it.

zeontestpilot > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 09/08/2016 at 12:11

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Rather not take the chance. But I have thought of seeing if I could take parts from the newer One to the old one. Worth a shot honestly.

zeontestpilot > Leadbull 09/08/2016 at 12:12

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To take out the radio here, it would be a headache if you didn't know what you're doing.

JRapp: now as good as new again > zeontestpilot 09/08/2016 at 14:02

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Yea I’ve run across that before. Like others have said, the dealer is your only option. What I did is swap the malfunctioning mechanical internals, and the buttons, and scrap the rest.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > JRapp: now as good as new again 09/08/2016 at 14:12

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+1 - what he said... and that’s only if an el cheapo walmart unit is too expensive for you.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 09/08/2016 at 14:23

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Well, my reason for keeping he stock unit wasn’t price. It’s all the integration that’s built into it, like resetting your oil light and that kind of stuff. With a cheapo Walmart unit you lose all that, unless you wanna relocate the factory deck to the trunk or something only for that.

If he’s not wanting to retain that kind of stuff, a $50 no-name stereo would serve him better, although the double DIN or DIN.5 adapter costs something too.

zeontestpilot > JRapp: now as good as new again 09/09/2016 at 08:01

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Personally, I really like how my car is mostly stock. That’s another reason I’m not jumping on the aftermarket wagon. But if my CD player does die, I will consider it.