Swapping radios
Asked by Ben Oct 23, 2018 at 02:27 PM about the 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix Base
Question type: Car Customization
I have a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix and of course the
factory stereo is starting to take a crap. My
question us this, will the radio out of a 2012 Chevy
Malibu work in my grand prix?
3 Answers
Fit, function, and features will tell you what can be installed and what functionality it will have. You would be better getting an aftermarket unit that gives you the features your car is wired for and an installation kit designed to be used with it. While you may get the 2012 radio to fit, it may have some features your '06 is not equipped to handle and wiring it in may be problematic.
Ed! Seriously?? C'mon, people post here because they want good advice. Taver is right. It is highly unlikely a radio from another car will fit, particularly if its a different year as well. They often look the same, but connectors change, and features change from year to year. Retrofitting from one to another is nearly impossible and trying will possibly screw up the electrical system so other systems no longer work properly. Ben's best bet is to find a radio from the same year and model of car, and even then he needs to check the connector's carefully because they sometimes changed mid year, and they changed for a reason. Aftermarket equipment is a good idea because it will be new. It needs to be professionally installed though to avoid the aforementioned issues with the rest of the car's electrical system. It's not 1965 anymore though I sometimes wish it was.