Any stereo installers on here? Non-Ranger help! - Ford Ranger Forums

**FULLSCALE** · 03-18-2012

Just wondering if any of you work at Best Buy or a stereo shop... I have a couple questions that I can't seem to find straight answers for.

The CD player in my sister's Cobalt crapped out and I've got an old JVC from a few years back that I was going to put in for her.

The car is a 2006 Cobalt 4 door... base model w/ no steering wheel controls, no onstar, just a basic Cobalt. Some say that I need some special module to keep the drivers info center and some don't. Just want to see if it's going to be too much to adapt this one to fit or if I should just look for an OEM one to go back in it's place.

Help me out if you can!

06RangerXLT · 03-18-2012

is the info system run by controls on the stereo? if so, yes. and i would just grab a new stock radio to keep things simple.

Gotta say, i love electrical work lol.

Kris03 · 03-18-2012

its a chevy thing. its for the door chimes. and last i checked it was 80 bucks. i ended up skipping it. it was for my brothers car and it works fine.

StxDangerRanger · 03-18-2012

Depends on how the info center is controlled.
I think you can put the radio in, but the info center may not work fully.

**FULLSCALE** · 03-18-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by StxDangerRanger

Depends on how the info center is controlled.
I think you can put the radio in, but the info center may not work fully.

That's what I was thinking... I wonder if I can just swap with a radio out of a wrecked Cobalt without any hassles. Hopefully it's just plug and play.

I'm just trying to help her out with it as it quit and she really misses having it... she doesn't have a lot of extra cash at the moment as she is getting 3 wisdom teeth out tomorrow and doesn't have a dental plan!

StxDangerRanger · 03-19-2012

Ouch!
You can swap one in from another Cobalt no problem. Radio's usually aren't tied to the cars.

**FULLSCALE** · 03-19-2012

That's what I thought but I've heard it needs to be programmed because of the driver's information thing in it. Why do they have to make something so simple so complicated?

StxDangerRanger · 03-19-2012

I'll ask my dad, he would know.

**FULLSCALE** · 03-19-2012

Sounds like a plan... thanks! I've done some more reading and now apparently it's 07+ that are a pain and 2006 isn't.

**FULLSCALE** · 03-29-2012

I ended up finding that $100+ module for $30 as well as the $25 dash kit for $5 both on clearance at Walmart on the weekend. A pair of cheap 6.5" speakers for the front doors and 6x9s for the back, along with an antenna adapter and used JVC deck that were in my garage will finish it off.

She is coming to my place with the car next weekend so we'll see how it goes. After all the parts I've only got $104 into it... taxes in!