has anyone ran into this problem
 

I drive a 2001 Pontiac bonneville SE and i went to go have a head unit installed ( Alpine CDA-9851) and i paid for the installation and wiring harness and everything else then the installer calls me back an hour later stating i need to buy another peice of hardware thatll cost about 150 bucks was just wondering if anyone has had to do the same ?

What exactly did he tell you you needed?

i didnt think that the 01 had the ribbon cable, mabye the module to keep the door chimes and all the other crap active....you dont need that

Even the 2000 has the Ribbon Cable. Atleast my brother's 2000 SLE has it. (no onstar either)

it is possible to install the radio without the $150 part. You'll lose some functionality (such as the 10 minute delay after car is shut off, door chimes, etc.) The $150 module just retains those functions.

yea it has sumthing to do with the door chimes and such and other noticeable changes like oil lights or whatever door chimes i wouldnt care much about but other lights not working i would like tire press and service engine and such ... anyone know if theres a cheaper place to buy this part or ways around it?

What you are talking about is any GM product 99 or newer, has Airbag controls, door chimes, seat belt chimes etc. built into the radio.
There is a special harness that is around $200 that is needed to relocate the factory radio to keep those circuits functional.
I know this from experience, I work as an aftermarket electronic Installer.
I won't install a deck in a GM unless the customer buys this harness not worth someone dying over because the Airbags didn't go off...........all so the customer can have a new radio.

Dutch
MECP & 310k Licensed
Electronic Accessory Tech

good info....

reason #5678 that i own an older car

That's ridiculous that anything to do with the airbags would be ran through the stock stereo.

I agree and this isn't the first time I've heard this, But, I've removed the factory radio on my 2001 aurora and drove it around and the only thing that did not work were the door chimes and onstar. THe airbag light did not come on. If it effected the airbag system then why would the airbag light not come on?

ya there is some misinfo here, the only thind that is effected is the Door chimes, the gague chimes, and the Onstar

Agreed, no airbag functionality is run through the radios. GM used this as a scare tactic. If there was ANY problem with the airbag system at all, the light has to come on. Thats what its there for....

I admit it is a stupid idea, but I have seen the auto industry change alot over the years. The auto manufacturer's don't give a sh*t what is practical and what isn't, all they care about is there bottom line cost. I've worked on well over 5000 vehicles and seen some of the most stupid designs first hand and GM is one of the worst (excluding older models & Bonnevilles).
I have even heard other installers tell me that there is nothing wired through the radio, just to have their customers come back complaining that things aren't functioning in their car.
Also consider this, if the SRS System isn't connected to the factory radio, why do the manufactuers of the $200 harness' (Metra etc.) include instructions on how to disconnect the SRS System before disconnecting power to the factory radio, as well as the fact that you have to count the airbag light flashes to tell if it is still functioning.

It might be a design that GM has changed since, but to my knowledge it is still the same practice that is used. At my current job I install Breath-Anaylizers, Tracking devices & Starters/Alarms (More profit).

I will post what is wired through the radio once I check Mitchell On Demand.

Dutch
MECP Certified & 310k Licensed
Electronic Tech

Those bonnevilles arent even the worst out there, there are quite a few cars out there that you cant even put a radio in without it being 100 percent custom, faceplate and all.