2003 - 2006 How to VIN Unlock Salvage Yard GM RDS Radio w/ Tech2 OR Manually Programming its EEPROM

I have a 2003 Silverado Base Radio and needed to replace the radio with a junk yard radio.... I have a GM Tech 2 and it's not giving me the option to Radio Setup...it just gives me "Input" "Output" etc...... how do I "unlock" radio.......??

Ok I have done some research and have come to the conclusion the method in this video does not work on early 2000's cadillacs (except the escalade). This is because cadillacs from this time period do not have a bcm. Instead there is 3 modules that do similar functions to a bcm in most gm vehicles. A byproduct of the different design is that the databus actually goes through the radio and therefore despite having the same eeprom as in normal gm radios the vin is not stored there. I did several test to prove it including: swapping eeproms between locked and unlocked radios and also running the radio with no eeprom (can't store radio presets) and same result so unfortunately a tech 2 is mandatory until someone can figure out where the vin is stored on cadillac radios.

hello what is the best link to download the asprommer software?

what software do you use?

wonderful video. I borrowed a Tech2 and the procedure here doesnt seem to be working for me. the radio set up runs and says complete but nothing happens. still locked. Iam purchasing the
CH341A 24 25 Series EEPROM Flash BIOS USB Programmer on amazon and will try to change the VIN as in the video. Can you tell me the software you use and the best place to find it? thanks

So, if you just erase the vin from the eeprom, wouldnt that be like installing an unlocked radio? Where when you plug it in, the bcm will automatically enter the vin? Also, what program (site) do you use for reading and writing the eeprom?

i just got one of the eeprom programmers (that you recommended) black edition. when i plug it into my usb port, it says driver unavailable. Any suggestions? thanks

unplug and it works!?

I have a 2006 GMC 2500HD classic that didn't come from the factory with a radio. It had a storage compartment where the radio is supposed to be. I bought a factory RDS radio with CD and cassette on it. I installed it, did the temporary unlock procedure to verify that the radio worked. It came on and played music. I took it to the dealership to have it unlocked and programmed to my truck. They brought it back out and said they couldn't get it to link to my truck after unlocking it. They said it must be because the truck didn't come from the factory with a radio and the radio program wasn't in the truck computer. They suggested I guy an aftermarket radio. I do not want an aftermarket radio, especially since I have heard this radio play through factory installed speakers in the truck. I know it will work if I can get someone who knows what they are doing to fix it. That said, if I sent the radio to you with the required information from my truck, could you program it so that all I had to do was install it in my truck once you shipped it back to me? Thanks.

Can you program my 2014 junk yard Explorer radio with XM radio to work on my Explorer? Both radios are of the same year and Mfg. The connectors all plug in. The junk yard radio will not tune and will nit tune stations as it is stuck on one channel. Can you hack this issue?

my chip shows zeros across the whole digits, what can I do? Is it possible that you send this file so I can change only my VIN number? What is the reason the programs shows zeros?

Great video! I managed to do this for my work van that only had the weak AM/FM unit in it. I upgraded with a cheap untested radio (CD and Cassette version) from ebay and it worked out great in the end!

I thought perhaps I needed to modify my programmer as you do in another video because I wasn't able to read my chip. I ended up blowing up the programmer somehow but just ordered another (and technically I had my old Willem still around if I wanted to pull out a computer with a parallel port, hah!).
But then I realized I could try removing the rom from circuit and that was a success.

Things I noticed:
-The chip gets real hot if you plug in the clip backwards! I was afraid I roasted mine for a second there.
-Removing the whole front metal panel after the plastic face is removed makes putting the clip on a lot easier if you're doing it in-circuit, at least on my radio revision/model. Worth taking the time to remove the little hex screws if you have a nut driver that fits.
-Chevy Express vans sure don't want you to remove that radio! Yeesh.

Will the display button functions for like resetting oil change and all the other options that can be done through the radio still be done or does it just play music????

Great video. The dealer wants 200 bucks to reprogram my radio in my Monte Carlo SS. I'd rather buy a tech 2. Do you have a good source where I can buy one online?

didn't work with my Tech 2 -- never asked for the radio option code, just said "operation complete" and radio is still locked.... 6 disc changer radio in an 04 yukon.... option UC6

what is the numbers you changed on the eeprom and how do I find mine?

Thanks

Thank you for this video. I got as far as I could trying to program an eeprom with the information I had available about 4 years ago and gave up. Recently I found your video and was finally able to complete. Appreciate all your videos.

Nice video. Question; what if you just swapped the chip to the replacement radio and be done with it ? If not, why not ?

Dr. Shock, I have a 2004 GMC Yukon XL Denali and would like to replace my existing GM Radio/CD/XM/Cassette Unit with the same model unit (Salvaged - A Condition) which has the EEPROM cleared. What are my options? I don't have a GM Tech 2 nor GM MDI Scan Tool. Would I be able to save the existing EEPROM data from Original and then write that data to the Salvaged unit? Thanks for the help.

Can I ship you my GMT800 to be unlocked ?

Just had need to reprogram a 2005 Bose Envoy XUV radio to install into a 2004 XUV. I purchased the unit for doing so and modified it by disconnecting the 3.3 volt pin and using a jumper to join the 5v to the 3.3v spots as indicated. Anyway I got it to read with AsProgrammer but there was nothing showing so then I also found a posting that said if I disconnect the the Vin on the EEprom it will work but give a calibration error so I did that instead and it seems to work. Disappointed the reprogramming didn't work but what the heck. Now I have to find out why I only have sound on the driver doors tweeter or midrange speaker. Cheers!

hi dr shock, very well done video. i have an 06 silverado stereo that i need to swap over with a replacement. i definitely want to try the eeprom programmer but im not totally sure how to set it up as i just got it in the mail. are you able to explain how to get it going? thanks.

How or where can I get the computer software that you are using?

After buying the adapter EPROM, how do I put all this together and integrate the software that you are using?

Lots of questions about this because I’ve been to three GMC dealerships all three told me they could not reprogram or unlock my salvage radio, even if I paid the $175 labor, they were very staunch about it and it seems that whatever the problem is they just don’t want to fool with it.

I could really use the help in getting my own computer software and EPROM clip set up for use, there are a lot more folks out there who have this very problem and if I can get it set up I can fix mine as well as help out some other people.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
It’s funny that I’m a PhD and know absolutely nothing about electronics I am a clinical psychologist who can’t unlock my salvage radio nor get the dealer to do it.
Please help.
Dr. Jamie Brown

What Software do you use with the eeprom reader?

Can you do a video strictly on the eeprom software? Setup user info

Trying to use my vcx nano and tech2win to replace Bose radio in my 2003 suburban but no matter what code I select for vehicle it only comes up with Chevrolet truck and then I select radio and it keeps saying no communication with radio.

question! what would happen when manually programming the eeprom if you left the vin section blank or removed the existing vin and dont replace it?

Can you just swap the eeprom chips from original radio into the replacement radio?

Hello, I know this is an older video but, will the steps for eeprom programming work for a 2007 gmc yukon xl radio that has the dvd player in addition to the cd player?

Greetings and thanks for the good informative video.

Now then, seems no one on these videos are going into enough detail for those of us who are unfamiliar with the programmer sequencing. Can you refer us to any videos are explain how to set up and navigate the Programmer... how the interface works, etc., in better detail...it just looked like a bunch of Matrix type numbers scrolling up the screen all jumbled up. How exactly would we know to put that other last six digits of another VIN number in? Where did that number come from?? How do we get to that screen you were on? LOL, what's going on? Any additional helpful advise so we can make sense of what we saw you doing in regards to that chip-reading/re-programming part of the video would be great. Thanks.

When you say "standalone" you mean without GM software? I am VERY new to tech 2, got one for working on Saabs but the PCMCIA card is Saab only and doesn't work in a Silverado.

It is a great video! But it’s a bit beyond my capabilities, especially with my rocks, screwdrivers, hammers, and basic multimeter. Very interesting, and one day, possibly when I have more time I’ll be back to try it on my stock stack. aftermarket radio will have to do.

I like the $12 solution of flashing the eeprom best.

How do I verify which chip I have? Trying to unlock a 2012 traverse oem radio

What if you don’t have access to the RPO code such as a radio from eBay? What do you do at that point?

Awesome video! Thanks for the info!!!

Modified the CH341A for +5v output like you described in your other video. The radio I'm trying to unlock (from a 2003 Chevy Suburban) looks the same on the front as in your video, but under the bottom cover I found the 9355093 EEPROM and it is not obstructed by anything. Anyway when I connect the test clip to the chip, I keep getting the message "Connecting Error CH341 (not found)". I have tried multiple times to read the EEPROM (with the old radio so I don't screw something up with the salvage radio), but keep getting the error message. Tried turning the clip around backwards on the chip momentarily, but the red light goes out on the CH341 programmer!
Is it possible the chip is bad or can't be read on the board?? I'm frustrated!

GM really hosed so many with this lock "antitheft" garbage. No one was stealing these basic radios

Do you sell stereo you unlock!!!

The Tech 2 doesn't seem to do a VIN relearn on a 2005 GMC truck

I hav sem setup but no power unit socet power out line sound line help me how conect power line sound line plees help

My chips are on opposite sides of the board and I'm not able to connect to either one; have any suggestions? When I connect the usb interface cable, the red status LED either turns off or goes dim depending on which way it is clipped.

6 disc unit
The two chips are:
1001375 K631W

15532 6T47

thankyou got it figured out, i had orignaly swapped the 2 chip between radios but still got a cal error, i use the same eeprom reader for ps5 repair.

Looking into buying a tech 2 or autel scanner. Any thing to look for when buying a tech 2 or do you know of an autel model that would be able to unlock radios, perform hvac troubleshooting and resets? I have a 2004 silverado 1500. Thank you!

I have a 2003 Tahoe and stock radio died I got a replacement at the junkyard and I have Vxdiag and tech2 win I am not seeing any options to program the radio? I took radio apart from the bottom and did not see the eprom chip. I didn’t completely remove the front cover,cd and tape deck. I am assuming the chip is under the CD player. Anyway any help programming with the tech2?

This is a fantastic video. Kind of makes me want to show it to the two different auto shops that couldn't program my 2009 HHR! They had similar issues to those explained by @chevmaros below!

Do you know if the CH341A can be used to program the Amtel 24C128N chip?

(some additional info: No surprise that many DELCO radios use different eeproms. Mine has the AMTEL 24C128N chip. The CH341A software only has options to select AT24C128, AT24C128A, or AT24C128B. I exhausted myself searching how to decode that part number, and all I could find about the "N" was that it meant "write once." That is ominous but I don't believe it for a couple of reasons: a) the decoding document I found seemed like it was authored by AMTEL but seems a bit suspicious and b) more importantly, I would have assumed the eprom was used to store the preset radio stations and would thus be re-written many times!)