This video demonstrates a Saturn MP3-capable factory/OEM radio from a 2004-2005 Saturn Ion & Vue installed into a 2000-2002 Saturn S-Series. This radio requi…
This video demonstrates a Saturn MP3-capable factory/OEM radio from a 2004-2005 Saturn Ion & Vue installed into a 2000-2002 Saturn S-Series. This radio requi…
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Please Help! The radio on my 2005 Saturn Vue has stopped displaying the
song and artist. How do I reset? Thank You
Hi Mike, I bought this radio on Ebay but did not get a pigtail. Can you
give me the radio pinout so I can match it to my wiring harness.
@DracoAzule The first car radios that could play MP3 files didn’t come out
until 2000. Your ’98 SC2 factory CD player was playing regular CDs. The MP3
files were converted to regular CD tracks during the burning process. With
this method you are limited to 80 minutes of music; usually around 20-30
songs. MP3 CDs have the actual MP3 files burned on to them, and the files
are decoded with the device they are played in. I can usually fit about 130
MP3s encoded at 192kbps on one disc.
@DracoAzule By the time I buy a radio that is decent quality and has what I
would want (a good built-in EQ, USB, aux input), the wiring harness (which
Wal-Mart doesn’t sell for my car) and the mounting kit; I’m already well
over $100 and probably closer to the $150-$175 range – far more than
$42.50. Also, the radio I used actually puts more power than yours 14w
RMS/ch (yours) vs 20w RMS/ch (mine); both ratings at 1% THD.
Can you put a 2004 estereo on a saturn 2001?
What does the aux button do? I want to plug an iPod to my stereo.
How do you put a new stereo with a cd player in a 200 saturn because i got
a tape player
@ruley73 He had another aftermarket radio in it but it belonged to his
brother so he had to take it out, and gave me the wire harness he had
attached to it. I’ve had two aftermarket radios in my car and both of them
have worked with that harness with almost the same wiring config. But I’m
not really an expert on the matter. It’s something that interests me though.
Your point??? I took a radio from a newer, completely different Saturn
(2004 ION) and installed it into this older one (2000 SC2). It is a Saturn
factory radio, but not a simple plug & play swap. Anybody can install an
aftermarket radio, but this one retains that factory-installed look that
deters thieves. This radio cost me $42.50 – a fraction of what yours
probably did. My intent was only to show people how to use the radio and
not to gloat about the obviously limited features it does have.
@DracoAzule My intent was just to make 2000-2002 Saturn S-Series owners
aware of a cheaper option which gives them the ability to play MP3 files
burned onto CDs and keeps the factory look; as well as show them how to use
this radio. Many people like myself don’t like the flashy look or
complexity of aftermarket radios, and don’t want to worry about it getting
stolen. If you are happy with your feature-packed radio that’s fine, but it
is a moot point with regard to my video.
@ruley73 I actually thought they could play MP3 discs. I used to have an
old 98 SC2 and used the stock deck the whole time I had it, and it played
all my MP3 discs just fine. They must have changed it in the newer models.
Oh well. And I’m sure you know this but a lot of aftermarket decks have
anti theft features. You can usually pop the face plate off them. On mine I
have a password set if the power becomes disconnected and the controll
panel pops off.
I thought my Saturn had the MP3 CD built in because the manual said it did.
but it doesnt, I like this radio, the only issue is it takes up two spaces
on the dash, as my currant one takes up one, there is a little cubby space
where I keep some CDs for easy access. Is this easier to install than the
JVC radios? I heard from someone that installed a JVC and it was much
harder than they thought, but since this is designed for saturn does that
make it easier?
Gave a like for originality and for ZZ Top. -SL2 owner.
@MrKellzSwagg It’s not that hard you just have to pull off the front part
of the dash to get to the bolts, and most of that part of the dash just
snaps on and off.. The more complicated part will be actually hooking in
the new radio. But most of the time the wires are standard colors so it’s
just a matter of matching the colors on the wires.
@ruley73 Also my radio wasn’t exactly plug and play either lol…I had to
get a mounting adapter for my car. I could have gotten a proper wiring
harness adapter for it but I just decided to use the stock harness and
splice the wires. Then I had to install the mic for the bluetooth, the GPS
antenna, and the hardest part of all was ripping up all the trim on the
passenger side of the car so I could cleanly run all the lines for the
camera I mounted on my license plate.
@ruley73 Not really sure actually. I bought the car wrecked off Craigslist
and fixed it up. It came with a stock radio but it was in the floorboard.
It was broken anyways so I tossed it, and used the wiring the guy gave me
with it.
@ruley73 You can go to Walmart and get a cheap yet still decent aftermarket
deck with more features for about that same price range. Yes, mine was
about $600. But I deliver pizzas – in my line of work when you’re on the
road a lot you come to appreciate features like bluetooth, GPS, and backup
camera. Sure, you had to shave off some plastic. But I still wouldn’t have
paid that much and put so much effort into a sorely outdated system.
thank god for the bit about changing the time! It’s gonna be weird seeing
the right time in my vie from now on. Hahaha
Man your car is pimped out! I wish I had your ride. You da bomb.
The Aux button activates the CD player when you have the radio on AM/FM
radio. It also selects XM satellite radio (if equipped) in the car that
this radio comes in. If you want iPod controls or an aux-input, this radio
is not for you. The required adapter to add these features to this radio
costs over $150, and doesn’t support full iPod controls with this radio.
You can buy a pretty good aftermarket radio for $150.
You think your radio is impressive, I have a Pioneer X930BT in my 04 ION.
Built in bluetooth, DVD, SD card slot, GPS, touch screen, and USB.
@ruley73 Well I eventually started putting my MP3’s on my PSP and using a
car charger/fm adapter I got for it to listen to my music through my FM
radio. Really amazing devices when you think about it. Now I just play my
music over bluetooth when I’m not listening to regular FM
@ruley73 Well I don’t actually have a system hooked to mine. I’m just using
the stock speakers. They sound good enough for me already and I don’t feel
like dropping even more cash just so I can ruin my ears even worse lol And
you don’t actually NEED wiring harnesses. They make it easier, sure, but on
most cars, especially Saturns (mine is an 04 ION) the wire colors are
industry standard so all you gonna do is cut and splice, matching up the
colors as you go along.
@DracoAzule Car makers don’t use the EIA standard color codes that the
aftermarket radios use. They use whatever they want. You must’ve removed a
base AM/FM radio or single disc CD player that had the pocket. Both of
these use an intermediate harness that connects between the car’s harness
and the back of the radio. That harness does use the EIA standard. Most
factory radios don’t use a harness like this. Sounds like this is the
harness you hacked – not the car’s harness.