Factory radio cuts off randomly - Page 5 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

MidMoBob · 09-23-2025, 02:06 PM

I traded cars with my daughter and got her 2013 Camaro LS out of the deal. Her car came with this radio cut-out gremlin. Thanks to information provided in this thread I was able to fix the problem.

The solution was as simple as replacing the radio. I bought a used radio from an online seller after removing the existing radio and confirming the part number. When I installed the radio, it came on and worked but the function buttons did not work properly. (All the functions seemed to be there, but not by the buttons labeled to control each function.)

I took the car to a Chevrolet dealership and they were able to program/match the radio to the car's VIN. I should mention that the dealer's service advisor and tech weren't sure they would be able to successfully program the radio because they worried the radio might be locked. I wasn't too concerned because the online seller presented it as an "unlocked" radio. When I talked to the tech after the job was done he told me they reached a stage in the programming where they had to enter some sort of code for the installed (replacement) radio. Fortunately, I had taken a photo of the label attached to the radio and printed it out. That picture gave them the number they needed to complete the programming.

Based on my sample of one, I recommend anyone who has the Camaro radio cut-out problem do the following:

1.) remove your existing radio (Youtube has instruction videos. It's not hard.) and get the part number
2.) buy a used radio with that same part number from a seller who promises it to be factory unlocked
3.) Take a photo of the label on the replacement radio and be prepared to provide that to a GM dealer (print out the photo)
4.) Reinstall the radio (again, Youtube has videos that show you how)
5.) Take the car to a GM dealer and have them reprogram the radio to link it to your car's VIN. Again, bring the photo of the label on the replacement radio.

It cost me $335 to fix the problem. The replacement radio cost $185 online. The dealer charged $150 for programming.

09-23-2025, 02:06 PM	#57
MidMoBob Drives: 2013 Camaro LS Join Date: Sep 2025 Location: Missouri Posts: 1	I solved the issue on my 2013 LS I traded cars with my daughter and got her 2013 Camaro LS out of the deal. Her car came with this radio cut-out gremlin. Thanks to information provided in this thread I was able to fix the problem. The solution was as simple as replacing the radio. I bought a used radio from an online seller after removing the existing radio and confirming the part number. When I installed the radio, it came on and worked but the function buttons did not work properly. (All the functions seemed to be there, but not by the buttons labeled to control each function.) I took the car to a Chevrolet dealership and they were able to program/match the radio to the car's VIN. I should mention that the dealer's service advisor and tech weren't sure they would be able to successfully program the radio because they worried the radio might be locked. I wasn't too concerned because the online seller presented it as an "unlocked" radio. When I talked to the tech after the job was done he told me they reached a stage in the programming where they had to enter some sort of code for the installed (replacement) radio. Fortunately, I had taken a photo of the label attached to the radio and printed it out. That picture gave them the number they needed to complete the programming. Based on my sample of one, I recommend anyone who has the Camaro radio cut-out problem do the following: 1.) remove your existing radio (Youtube has instruction videos. It's not hard.) and get the part number 2.) buy a used radio with that same part number from a seller who promises it to be factory unlocked 3.) Take a photo of the label on the replacement radio and be prepared to provide that to a GM dealer (print out the photo) 4.) Reinstall the radio (again, Youtube has videos that show you how) 5.) Take the car to a GM dealer and have them reprogram the radio to link it to your car's VIN. Again, bring the photo of the label on the replacement radio. It cost me $335 to fix the problem. The replacement radio cost $185 online. The dealer charged $150 for programming.