and here....

http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/211.jpg

this one is particularly stubborn... the cigarette lighter for the center console... the release clip that you press down on is facing the top, and if you have big fingers, you can forget about getting that release clip pushed in... my advice, use a right angle pick tool, and push down on the release clip as you are pulling the plug out.

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Here is a closeup of the hazard switch plug between the center vents...

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At this point, you should have the center console fully removed... here is the full console area with the center console lid sitting in the back of Gerald's C6.

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Here is the wiring and plugs that we unplugged...

Now, let's remove the radio...:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Here is one last look at the OEM deck, which will be removed and kept in storage to preserve it's originality for when it is time to get rid of the radio to a fellow Corvette owner who needs it, or for the time when it is needed to trade in your C6 for that brand new 2009 Corvette ZR-1...:drool5: Notice the areas as well where the clips go back in that hold the dash bezel in place. If any have stuck in there during removal, go ahead and remove them now... you will be cussing later when you cut the top of your hand for not removing them earlier...:banghead:

http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/215.jpg
http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/216.jpg


In this picture, you will notice I am using my 9.6V drill to remove the 7 mm bolts.
http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/217.jpg

NOTE OF ADVICE: If you have a 18V drill, DON'T USE IT!! It is a good feeling, I know, to have the best of everything... that is why we own Corvettes. But please, don't use the 18V drill when working on interior pieces that will smash to bits when you torque down on them with your powerful drill... always use a rachet and socket set if you can't control yourself around power tools...:D :D

Here are the parts you will need when installing any aftermarket radio into your new C6 ...

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This is the double kit that Metra makes for the C6 Corvettes. It is part number 95-3304. It comes with complete instructions, and pictures, for the do-it-yourselfer...

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This is the antenna adapter that allows you to adapt your cool aftermarket deck to the small motorola style plug that GM refuses to change from... it is part # 40-GM10 from Metra. Here, we used a AI adapter....

http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/220.jpg

...and this is the piece that allows you to retain full useability features of your GM car when pulling out the factory deck. They aren't cheap... but they are a great piece, and the only one I like to use (which works flawlessly). It is made by Peripheral, and is part # GMCO. Yes, as you can see, it gives you an ignition out for your new deck, and also still utilizes RAP (retained acessory power) until you open a door.

http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/221.jpg
http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/222.jpg

Now, it is time to wire up the deck since we have everything pulled apart... first, I looked for a place for the satellite antenna. I found a perfect little spot... on top of the center air vents behind the radio bezel. The Eclipse comes with an adhesive backed magnetic pad that you stick to the vent, and then the antenna mounts to the magnetic base.

http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/223.jpg

As you can see, with the antenna being that close to the radio, we have plenty of length left on the cable. Don't bunch it up. Instead, wind it up in circles, so that the GPS antenna does not lose any of it's effectiveness.

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Then, you can hide it back out of the way, to the left of the area where the radio will sit.

http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/225.jpg

Here, in this picture, we are ready to hook up the harness to the factory wiring. As you can see, I like to twist wires together that are grouped together. This is easily accomplished by sticking the pair of wires into your drill, tightening down the drill chuck tightly around the wires, and then hold the other end of the wires as you depress the switch on the drill... presto... twisted wires... Just a little trick you can impress your friends with... but most of all, it keeps your wires alot neater and more organized...

http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/226.jpg
http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/227.jpg
***Electrical tape works great for a bandaid when you slice your finger open with a razor blade... :banghead: :toetap05: ***

At any rate, you connect the aftermarket radio wires, color for color to the GMCO harness, then plug in the harness. You will hear the door dinger as the unit shows you that it is working correctly.

http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/228.jpg

Now, you can stash the GMCO green box out of the way, just to the right of the area where the radio will go... also, you can see, you can route the Dark green, and Violet wires to the passenger kickpanel area directly to the back of the passenger side of the radio area...

http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/229.jpg
http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/230.jpg

Here, you can see the dk. green and Violet wires exiting from behind the radio dash cavity, ready to be run behind the factory carpeting, into the passenger floorboard. Note: The parking brake wire is lt. green in the Eclipse harness. It is to be conected to the E-brake harness that shows ground when the E-brake is engaged. If you decide to ground this wire for show purposes, you do so at your own risk.

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Now, remove the passenger floorboard area. Can you see the red block connector in the middle of the BCM (body control module)? Look for a light green wire for the reverse signal in this block. It is located in this 41 pin plug, location pin #d9.

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Hook the dark green reverse signal input wire from the Eclipse 6600 to the Light Green wire found in BCM.

http://www.myvettepage.com/file/pic/gallery/233.jpg
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continued in the next post...