Aftermarket Radio and stereo harness

[kevo420]

While skimming through the boards looking for info on replacing the stock headunit i've been reading things about the newer Vue's needing a $150 wiring harness... I did find this one post that says the 05 doesn't need this special harness because the radio wasn't used for anyhting special (i don't have XM or onstar)

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112586&highlight=radio+harness

Before i go and buy anything i just want to confirm that i should be ok to by a $20 harness from the store and swap in a new deck.

[DavidBo]

I'd recommend going to crutchfield.com and enter your vehicle info. Whether or not you get the equipment from them you'll at least find out what you need. I got new head units for my wife's 2002 Vue and my Mazda, both came with the exact hardware and wiring harnesses that I needed. Hope this helps.

[chillin05VUE]

I also use Crutchfield. Never had any problems in the 15 years I've been using them. Best Buy tried to get me to buy some expensive harness because according to them, I had a "special" set up in my '05 VUE. I told the guy to go to hell because I knew I didn't need that stuff. No OnStar and no XM (now I have have Sirius XM). I knew this before taking my radio out because of the 100s of Lo-Jacks I've installed in the VUEs. So, stick with Crutchfield and you shouldn't have any problems. And in most cases, they send you everything you need to install the radio for FREE!!!:D. And in some states, there's no sales tax.:yes:

[Thundercat]

I had the same issue at Best Buy, guy swore that I needed a $150 harness. I left. Came back another day, bought the right harness, and was told that the $150 harness "required" wasn't even applicable to my Vue. some people.

[YourMainParadox]

Alot of the GM vehicles run all your chimes and sometimes other things through the factory radio and speakers so most installers just hear GM newer than 98 and they think that you need that box. I have not done the install on alot of vues but I have never needed one. I did however have 2 of them laying around that came out of my isuzu and out of my blazer ;) It figures that of all of the GM harnesses I had in my tool box the 04 vue was different and had to be special ordered.