C4 Corvette | Ditching the Awful BOSE Stereo

[@MrTennisgolf]

I love the phrase “Poor execution of a mediocre idea.” This describes Bose philosophy perfectly. I would add “with lousy components.”

[@minnesotamarine9861]

LOL COLD at 60° Hahahaha Come visit me in Minnesota in February, I'll show you -60°! Thanks for all the information.

[@brybrycrivello]

I just did a swap with my 96. I kept everything and it sounds pretty good. I just used the metra kit and ran it to the back where the cdm is. I also needed the noise canceling adaptors on the RCA cables. I heard the engine noise through the radio. The stock amplified speakers aren’t that bad but then again I have a 96 which may be different then a 91. Also has been garaged w 50k miles.

[@joseahernandez350]

NinjaGamer If you hear engine noise check your spark plug wires I had the same problem with my 1995 and interfere with my sound. I moved up the brackets holding my spark plug wire, turned out one wire was touching the engine block cause ground interfere, my guess is that radio ground must be splice with other grounds coming from the engine block. Once I did that noise when away and sounds crisp and clear

[@JessicaTG2008]

I thought the same thing, GM couldn't have made a bigger mess out of putting an audio system in these cars. For Christs sake, its almost like Bose had free reign to make the most intrusive ridiculous system ever seen. I have a 96 and am getting ready to swap it all out for Pioneer equipment. 4" 3 ways in the rear factory boxes, 6x9 3 ways in the front rocker mounts behind the carpet with plastic enclosure cones, the head unit is 200 watts and I will be running a powered enclosed subwoofer behind the drivers seat. I have the adapter kit to remove the old tuner from behind the passenger seat and run to the head unit with an antenna extension. I'm going to use the factory speaker wires, we'll see how that works out. I don't need amps or more than 200 watts, I just want it to sound good when a favorite comes on, look good and be reliable. Good job on your C4, people don't realize how rare these cars are getting and its great to see others giving them some love and life. Rock on.

[@TheMrmmkkpro]

I just bought a 1990 ZR-1 and am getting no sound from stereo , think I'm going all Pioneer components , nice work.

[@chickenjo23]

I've got an 86 Corvette with the Bose. Sounds amazing and better than my Harmon Kardon system in my Jaguar XF. Nothing wrong with the system. ANY SYSTEM that is electronic that's 30 years old will have issues. Doesn't make it a crap system. Learn the system and fix it yourself. I have no degree or experience in electronics and was able to rebuild the system. Not that hard.

[@cvsahara]

I agree its not hard but i see no reason in maintaining 30 year old tech. In an afternoon you can simplify the system dramatically while adding present day conveniences like bluetooth calling, Audio, streaming applications, etc. To each their own though, i am not trying to keep the car all original, i would have went a different way if that was a goal.

[@johnnyb1776]

I’ve got the Bose in my 95. When I got the car I noticed there was no sound coming from the passenger front. After inspection it was unplugged. I soon realized why.... the amp was blown for that speaker. I got a used one from a guy off Facebook for $50. It sounds great now.

[@kimmaxwell8975]

Amps can be rebuilt for $50 apiece by Bose Central.

[@albertguzman8869]

My speakers have a little static sound. I may get new speakers but I don’t know the size of the speakers in the front. I have a 90 corvette

[@joseahernandez350]

Albert Guzman static sound is cause by a bad ground, I had the same problem with my 95 vette so my guess is check the spark plug wires and make sure they are not touching the engine block and make sure they are all separated and bend the bracket holder up a little to make sure they won’t touch at all. I had the same problem and mine was one spark plug wire touching the engine block

[@gordonbeukema7235]

Thanks, mine also crackle and make noise, it does go away at some point, but does come back a little.

[@Saint696Anger]

Just read the title and an immediate like was applied

[@joseahernandez350]

You could just add the pac OEM-1 factory sound system interfere wire harness to avoid all the computer errors on the dash trip monitor and all that extra wire splicing plus it comes with the pink wire for the antenna and blue remote turn on for the amp for only $40 at Ebay

[@andreavgr]

I could really use your help. I am struggling with my 1990 ZR-1. My car already had an aftermarket alpine stereo with a 4 channel amp and subwoofer etc. I tried replacing the old aftermarket head unit with a Pioneer bluetooth one. I joined the wires and it fired right up. Sadly however, before I taped my connections the wires probably moved and touched one another and suddenly the radio stopped working. The radio itself is fine. I tested it with 12v external power. I checked the fuses on the passenger door and all seemed fine.

[@cvsahara]

Did you check the fuse on the AMP? Also, use a multimeter and make sure you still have power to the switched power wire. You may have a good fuse, but there might be a break in the power wire from fuse block to the radio.

[@andreavgr]

@@cvsahara I went out and got a multimeter. Followed the cables, turns out it was the regular old 10a "radio" fuse. Thankfully!

[@cvsahara]

@@andreavgr nice, glad it was an easy fix

[@rotorblade9508]

I got the car with a sony system installed but now I just bought a front control unit and I don’t even know if it’s working. I checked the wiring in the car and it’s a total mess, at least poor connector choice like for example couplers used for AC building single core wires, quick connectors etc. anyway the sony works ok and has usb port also. I’ve found wires going directly to the speakers so I suppose it has a built in amplifier, much simpler and effective design. anyway I don’t really listen to anything while in the car, since it is a weekend plus track (mild use), I like the music the engine makes :). restoring the audio system seems complicated, if I don’t find at least the receiver unit I’ll just insert the bose interface in its place and leave it plugged out. the interior looks better with the stock radio

[@keithavery8615]

I have a 35th anniversary Vette and hate the stereo. Would love to change it but want to keep it all original. Looks extensive.. nice work man

[@joseahernandez350]

Keith Avery buy the PAC OEM-1 wire harness for a nice clean installation and retain everything else and functions without errors on the car computer

[@oscarmendoza2445]

can you please send me the link on how install the resister for the lcd to work again? THANK YOU

[@SpeedDemonExpress]

Thanks, Needed to know if I can run a new head unit straight to new speakers. yes.

[@moabwheeling]

Good job on getting rid of the Bose Junk .. Very nice install .. Looks really nice .. Keep up the great work . Take care

[@terryblitchington645]

Did you ever sell the c4 seats you took out

[@tinkeringjoeVA]

I replace my front speakers with 5.25s and I have a amp connected to them. And i can barely tell there playing. Put the stock bose in and there load. Guess im gonna look for a speaker with a RMS

[@destruxandexploze2552]

I think it’s fine. It’s the older head unit though.

[@hahnmowermotorsports179]

I got a 93 and the stereo wiring is an insane clusterfuck. It has an alpine deck, an amp behind either seat, two subs, the speakers are run off the amps, a half din eq board underneath the deck, so much shit. It’s got me shaking my head wondering whose idea all that ridiculous crap was.. gonna sell everything but the deck and start from scratch. Probably shave 200 lbs off the car 😂

[@richieseagraves3497]

Question / can I put a head unit in and keep all the factory bose speakers? If not what all need replaced? My radio just dont come on and want some simple music.thanks

[@joseahernandez350]

Yes you can! Buy the PAC OEM-1 radio wire harness from EBay for $40 and installs in the back of the vehicle for a nice clean clear crisp connection without removing anything else or causing errors to the computer.

[@joseahernandez350]

prescott hahn what type of alpine deck is it in now? I might buy it :)

[@sportsmansparadice42]

So that antenna cable is just an extension? I have the Bose gold series and would love to have everything I need to install my single din Alpine CDE-172BT any information will help thanks.

[@carlitot5388]

5 channel would be perfect 🤘🏾

[@rushtk2112]

Was any of the vehicle controls or vehicle information that shows on the top screen lost with the removal of factory radio?

[@cvsahara]

I got the sys light on the dash and had to do the resistor to fool the computer into beliving the radio was still there. No other issues

[@johnj.baranski6553]

800 watt amps are 100 bucks now? When I was into stereo in the 1990s they were over 1000 bucks..geez

[@TheMrmmkkpro]

Hello cvsahara, I am putting a complete system in my 1990 ZR-1, I have a question about the cdm or tuner box, other than the antenna wire do I have to unplug the other wires to the cdm? Thanks

[@joseahernandez350]

Michael Proulx buy the PAC Wire harness it will be easier and easy plug in installation that way u don’t have to remove any other boxes or tuners

[@Dadbod917]

When did the Metra kit come into play???

[@cvsahara]

Metra kit was used to mount the new double din radio into the dash

[@Dadbod917]

Thank you very much! Thought you meant the harness kit. This video helped me a ton on my ‘92. Appreciate it!!

[@fenwayninja4738]

Will the amp work with a Single Din stereo?

[@ditheraith]

That head unit in Australia currently costs $140 fml

[@cvsahara]

Its $99 here in the states. I found it on a website called vipoutlet marked down to $50 or whatever it was. I like it for the simplicity but nice touchscreens are coming down in price everyday. You might find something even nicer with some digging around.

[@superman916ify]

Yu da man!!!!