DIY: Installing steering wheel audio and phone controls on Camaro !

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by MahoneyII

Wow, just had the worst experience with my dealership. I had called before hand and explained about installing the steering wheel controls as well as a PDIM. I ask if they could update the BCM for me. Well I went in today to get it done. 2 1/2 hours later the service manager comes out and says it is impossible to reprogram the BCM. Then he told me both his tech tried and my car would accept any type of update. I explained to them how it said to do it on the PDIM instructions and what I found here. I even showed them copies where it can be a dealer install. I was then told what I was saying and showing them wasnt possible and isnt authorized by GM... I said fine and said I will go someplace else. In the end they tried to charge me $198 for the two hours they couldnt figure out what they were doing. I laughed at them and needless to say that bill isnt and wont be paid.

Ok..... sorry about the rant but I am extremely frustrated with the dealerships performance and customer relations. Not to mention thier lack of technical knowledge. I do have a question. Does anyone know a dealership near or around Lampasas Texas, where I can go and get this fixed. The closer the better but somewhere, so it all works right. Thank you.

[melody301]

Just got off the phone with my dealer and was informed that they have never installed nor have had to reprogram an after market steering wheel control. I told them I've already installed it but I need it programmed and they said it's $124 for just that. Is that too much to pay?

[y2k king]

Originally Posted by melody301

Just got off the phone with my dealer and was informed that they have never installed nor have had to reprogram an after market steering wheel control. I told them I've already installed it but I need it programmed and they said it's $124 for just that. Is that too much to pay?

yeah, upload should be $50...call around for a new dealer.
mine was local dealer's first one too and it was $50.

[Darth Martel]

$124 is actually spot on. It's $50 for the upload fee PLUS $99/hour for "labor". The whole process takes around 45 minutes so 3/4 of $100 is $75. Add $50 for the upload fee and you've got $125.

[y2k king]

Originally Posted by Darth Martel

$124 is actually spot on. It's $50 for the upload fee PLUS $99/hour for "labor". The whole process takes around 45 minutes so 3/4 of $100 is $75. Add $50 for the upload fee and you've got $125.

yeah, i forgot the labor, but it's $80/hr here.

[melody301]

Originally Posted by Darth Martel

$124 is actually spot on. It's $50 for the upload fee PLUS $99/hour for "labor". The whole process takes around 45 minutes so 3/4 of $100 is $75. Add $50 for the upload fee and you've got $125.

Originally Posted by y2k king

yeah, i forgot the labor, but it's $80/hr here.

Oh okay so I'm good then. Thanks.

[melody301]

Originally Posted by Darth Martel

$124 is actually spot on. It's $50 for the upload fee PLUS $99/hour for "labor". The whole process takes around 45 minutes so 3/4 of $100 is $75. Add $50 for the upload fee and you've got $125.

Wait, 45 minutes just to program it or are you talking about the install too?

[Darth Martel]

that's to program... I'm not sure if the download from GM is what's slow or if reprogramming the BCM is. My guess is the download from GM.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Darth Martel

that's to program... I'm not sure if the download from GM is what's slow or if reprogramming the BCM is. My guess is the download from GM.

The delay is in that the dealer first has to call GM with the vin and then a custom program is written to be downloaded

[y2k king]

Originally Posted by melody301

Wait, 45 minutes just to program it or are you talking about the install too?

mine took 90 mins for install and upload...total time.

[deilegacy3]

The pics at the beginning of this thread really helped. I was able to install the switch in about 10 minutes. Now my biggest problem is trying to find a dealership that wants to do the programming. The two closest to me both told me that they've never done it before and are not sure it'll work. I'm just hoping that they'll just call tech support and get the program without f**king around with it and wasting time.

[melody301]

Originally Posted by deilegacy3

The pics at the beginning of this thread really helped. I was able to install the switch in about 10 minutes. Now my biggest problem is trying to find a dealership that wants to do the programming. The two closest to me both told me that they've never done it before and are not sure it'll work. I'm just hoping that they'll just call tech support and get the program without f**king around with it and wasting time.

Same situation with me. I was able to do the install with no problem but my dealership said they've never programmed one before but you bets believe they were able to quote me a high price to do something they've never done.

[deilegacy3]

Well, that was nice of them...

[chozn4service]

Originally Posted by melody301

Same situation with me. I was able to do the install with no problem but my dealership said they've never programmed one before but you bets believe they were able to quote me a high price to do something they've never done.

My dealership had never done one either. I mean last year, mid-summer, how many Camaro's had come through? My body shop had no clue on removing the bezels on the tail lights since they hadn't had a wrecked C5 but they assured me they'd be able to ge through it.

I went to the dealership armed with the info they needed form TechSupport and I told them another dealership down the road had done it for another member for $50 bucks and any more than that, I would have them do it since the price was right and familiarity. That being said, they said they would contact GM Tech support with the info I provided and got from the thread and would charge me the same price as they didn't want me to go to another dealership. After my wait, the Svc Tech Supervisor came out and said they got the info and I was right and it should about 20min's to complete and they'll call me when I'm ready roll. 30Min's later I was good and my cost was $50. Happy happy happy man I am!