Pioneer DEH-X8700BS installation

[doute9]

So after getting fed up with listening to the radio for a while I finally decided to buy an aftermarket stereo for my 04 with the monsoon system. I bought a[h=1]Pioneer DEH-X8700BS off of crutchfield.com and when checking out was prompted with two options to add to my purchase: the PAC RP5-GM11 Wiring Interface or the Metra VT-GMOS-04 Wiring Interface. The PAC was another $92 and retained the OnStar ability, the factory amp, and the steering wheels controls. The metra was another $50 and claimed to retain onStar, the audible safety warnings and chimes, and the Bose audio system. Figuring I could just buy the necessary harness that allows just the actual radio to work without all that extra stuff for more money, i bought one for 5 bucks off of ebay instead of choosing one of the options from crutchfield. I got it hooked everything up and put in in my car and turned it on and nothing happened, the stereo didnt even turn on. Looking back at the stuff that I was prompted to buy and what i ended up buying, Im thinking that the harness i bought for $5 off ebay doesnt work with the monsoon system, only the regular audio system? any thoughts? If so, is there anything I can get for around 5-10 bucks that would allow it to work or am i stuck buying the 50$ metra harness? I installed an aftermarket stereo in a different car using one of these cheap harnesses and it worked fine.[/h]

 

[industrialfish]

The $5 harness doesn't have the RAP (Retained Accessory Power) module. Which you need if you use the factory amp and power wires.

You can use the cheap harness, but need to find a switched power wire from the fuse box, and won't have OnStar or Door Chimes or Steering wheel controls.