How do I replace OEM radio

Discussion Forum
1

I purchased a secondhand factory radio to swap out mine that died.

How can I find the epprom chip that I need to reprogram the vin to my cruze?

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2

Replacing the OEM Radio

  1. Disconnect the battery: Always start by disconnecting the negative terminal of your car battery to avoid any electrical issues.
  2. Remove the trim: Use a trim removal tool to carefully remove the dashboard trim surrounding the radio.
  3. Unscrew the radio: Locate and remove the screws holding the radio in place. These are usually found on the sides or bottom of the unit.
  4. Disconnect wiring: Carefully disconnect the wiring harness and antenna cable from the back of the radio.
  5. Install the new radio: Connect the wiring harness and antenna cable to the new radio. Secure it in place with the screws you removed earlier.
  6. Reattach the trim: Snap the dashboard trim back into place.
  7. Reconnect the battery: Reconnect the negative terminal of the battery and test the new radio to ensure it’s working properly.

Reprogramming the VIN in the EEPROM Chip

  1. Locate the EEPROM chip: The EEPROM chip is usually located on the main circuit board of the radio. You may need to disassemble the radio to access it.
  2. Disassemble the radio: Follow the steps to carefully disassemble the radio. This often involves removing screws and carefully prying open the casing.
  3. Identify the EEPROM chip: Look for a small chip labeled with a part number like 24C16, 24C32, or similar. This is the EEPROM chip that stores the VIN.
  4. Use an EEPROM programmer: You’ll need an EEPROM programmer to read and write data to the chip. Connect the programmer to the chip according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  5. Read the current data: Use the programmer software to read the current data from the EEPROM chip. Save a backup of this data in case something goes wrong.
  6. Modify the VIN: Locate the section of the data that contains the VIN and modify it to match your vehicle’s VIN.
  7. Write the new data: Write the modified data back to the EEPROM chip using the programmer.
  8. Reassemble the radio: Carefully reassemble the radio and reinstall it in your vehicle.
3

Go to Alpine’s website; they offer VW-specific sat nav head units with all of the same capabilities, as well as real-time maps like Google or Waze.

4

Plug and play should be the norm, but double-check the part numbers. Sorry, but newer Kenworths aren’t plug and play. Ask me how I know.

5

I recently bought a secondhand factory radio to replace the one in my Cruze that died. To reprogram the VIN, you’ll need to locate the EEPROM chip on the new radio. It’s usually a small 8-pin chip, often labeled with numbers like 24C16 or similar. You’ll need to carefully open the radio casing to find it. Once located, you can use a programmer tool to reprogram the VIN. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, a professional with the right equipment can handle it. Anyone else have tips or similar experiences?