Monsoon stereo system / aftermarket harness necessary? I am guessing yes??

sugar ray · 07-12-2011, 10:05 PM

02 GA Monsoon stereo system is an aftermarket harness absolutely necessary when changing to an aftermarket head unit? I am guessing yes?? My monsoon CD deck has been randomly spitting out discs regardless of condition. Perfect discs, slightly scratched discs, don't matter!! Doesn't do it all the time, just frequently enough to drive one bananas.

It appears GM has us by the nuts on this one. I replace the deck with a factory original then I am forced to spend extra money just to bring my replacement deck to a dealership so they can program my VIN number in. Without it a replacement deck doesn't work!! Fine.....I rather go aftermarket anyways cause then I will have a player with OPTIONS. Mp3 discs etc.......

However with an aftermarket head unit I am again forced to spend extra money on an aftermarket harness. I wouldn't mind so much BUT.......an aftermarket for one of these that will tap into the monsoon amp, and various chimes is almost as much as a brand new aftermarket head unit. Close to $100 for an aftermarket harness!! You gotta be kidding?? Standard GA's that never had the Monsoon system get off easy. A simple harness for them are valued at $5 on ebay. No such luck for me. The OTHER aftermarket re-routing harness is a bit of a joke if you ask me. Having to relocate your original head unit to the trunk running miles of harness through your car just so a new head unit can be installed in your dash seems a little extreme. On the other hand I refuse to hack into the factory harness block. It's so cheezy

Just wondering if anyone has a cheaper solution? Yes I would still like my door chimes, and low gas chime to work. I have this feeling I will have to buck up.
Damn

sugar ray · 07-12-2011, 10:08 PM

Not cheap!!

Rainbow1616 · 07-13-2011, 04:12 AM

Use the GMRC-01. 40 bucks on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/METRA-LC-GMRC-01...item1e64cb6bc5

sugar ray · 07-13-2011, 04:51 PM

Thanks for the suggestion Rainbow!! A little more reasonable in price for sure!! However, having the stock Monsoon system in my car I still think it won't work. As the writing states:

"The LC-GMRC-01 is designed to be used in non-amplified GM vehicles or in vehicles that the OEM amplifier has been bypassed"

So yes it will retain my chimes but won't throw anything out of my speakers because the monsoon systems use an AMP and my amp has not been bypassed.

I appreciate the suggestion none the less

marshmello · 02-17-2012, 10:58 AM

Okay so I need a straight answer. I have a 2000 grand am Se coupe, and I don't believe it has the monsoon system however it does have front/rear speakers plus what looks like tweeters up next to the mirrors. If the head unit does not say monsoon on it, than I am without the separate amplifier in the trunk correct? And therefore I can switch to my aftermarket head unit with the cheaper harness adapter? Thanks in advance!

rocketfast123 · 02-17-2012, 11:34 AM

You just need the basic old school GM wiring kit that you can get anywhere for like $5.99

marshmello · 02-18-2012, 01:33 PM

Thanks a bunch!

07-12-2011, 10:05 PM	#1
sugar ray GAGT - Member AKA: Sean Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 229 Vehicle: 2002 Grand Am	Monsoon stereo system / aftermarket harness necessary? I am guessing yes?? 02 GA Monsoon stereo system is an aftermarket harness absolutely necessary when changing to an aftermarket head unit? I am guessing yes?? My monsoon CD deck has been randomly spitting out discs regardless of condition. Perfect discs, slightly scratched discs, don't matter!! Doesn't do it all the time, just frequently enough to drive one bananas. It appears GM has us by the nuts on this one. I replace the deck with a factory original then I am forced to spend extra money just to bring my replacement deck to a dealership so they can program my VIN number in. Without it a replacement deck doesn't work!! Fine.....I rather go aftermarket anyways cause then I will have a player with OPTIONS. Mp3 discs etc....... However with an aftermarket head unit I am again forced to spend extra money on an aftermarket harness. I wouldn't mind so much BUT.......an aftermarket for one of these that will tap into the monsoon amp, and various chimes is almost as much as a brand new aftermarket head unit. Close to $100 for an aftermarket harness!! You gotta be kidding?? Standard GA's that never had the Monsoon system get off easy. A simple harness for them are valued at $5 on ebay. No such luck for me. The OTHER aftermarket re-routing harness is a bit of a joke if you ask me. Having to relocate your original head unit to the trunk running miles of harness through your car just so a new head unit can be installed in your dash seems a little extreme. On the other hand I refuse to hack into the factory harness block. It's so cheezy Just wondering if anyone has a cheaper solution? Yes I would still like my door chimes, and low gas chime to work. I have this feeling I will have to buck up. Damn Last edited by sugar ray; 07-12-2011 at 10:08 PM.

07-12-2011, 10:08 PM	#2
sugar ray GAGT - Member AKA: Sean Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 229 Vehicle: 2002 Grand Am	Not cheap!! Attached Thumbnails

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07-13-2011, 04:12 AM	#3
Rainbow1616 GAGT - Member AKA: Bob Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 96 Vehicle: 2004 Grand Am GT	Use the GMRC-01. 40 bucks on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/METRA-LC-GMRC-01...item1e64cb6bc5

07-13-2011, 04:51 PM	#4
sugar ray GAGT - Member AKA: Sean Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 229 Vehicle: 2002 Grand Am	Thanks for the suggestion Rainbow!! A little more reasonable in price for sure!! However, having the stock Monsoon system in my car I still think it won't work. As the writing states: "The LC-GMRC-01 is designed to be used in non-amplified GM vehicles or in vehicles that the OEM amplifier has been bypassed" So yes it will retain my chimes but won't throw anything out of my speakers because the monsoon systems use an AMP and my amp has not been bypassed. I appreciate the suggestion none the less

02-17-2012, 10:58 AM	#5
marshmello GAGT - Newbie AKA: Marshall Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Port Clinton, OH Posts: 4 Vehicle: 2000 Grand Am SE Coupe	Okay so I need a straight answer. I have a 2000 grand am Se coupe, and I don't believe it has the monsoon system however it does have front/rear speakers plus what looks like tweeters up next to the mirrors. If the head unit does not say monsoon on it, than I am without the separate amplifier in the trunk correct? And therefore I can switch to my aftermarket head unit with the cheaper harness adapter? Thanks in advance!

02-18-2012, 01:33 PM	#7
marshmello GAGT - Newbie AKA: Marshall Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Port Clinton, OH Posts: 4 Vehicle: 2000 Grand Am SE Coupe	Thanks a bunch!