Hello everyone,

I'm new on the board and I have a 2003 SLE. I want to install a single din aftermarket radio in it, I'm tired of only being able to listen to cds lol. Anyways, I'm trying to understand how it all works before I get into it. I know that I have to have an adapter for the door chimes and onstar and all that bs but what i cant figure out is how the aftermarket install kits actually hold the radio in place in the dash opening. I cant imagine it just sits in there so it can bounce around? I was looking at using the Metra 99-3301 kit. Help is appreciated. Thank you

The two side brackets are what hold it in, the large piece is a cosmetic cover to fill the gaps. I would also suggest that you decide now wether or not you will do more upgrades in the future such as better speakers and an amp. If you end up changing the amp you will loose chimes regardless of what adapter you bought.

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-Austin-
1988 LE, Intercooled L67 loading......

2000 SSEi R.I.P. Dead now :( INTENSE FWI, polished LIM, P&P supercharger, custom radiator, standalone trans cooler, trans-go shift kit (donating to the 88)

2002 2500HD Silverado with the 8.1 Vortec and Alison tranny. Likes to eat GT Mustangs and lots of tires, and all while stock!

I dont have the bose system, so I believe that my car doesnt have a stock amplifier. I do plan to add an amp and some subs though

Hmmmm well your 2003 would have monsoon not bose. I believe most SLE came with the premium sound, you can easily check by pulling the piece of carpeting in the trunk that is behind the seats out. If it has an amp it will be mounded behind the rear seat on the drivers side.

If you can confirm whether or not your car is amped or not and decide what your end goal for audio would be it would be a bit easier to help you out.

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-Austin-
1988 LE, Intercooled L67 loading......

2000 SSEi R.I.P. Dead now :( INTENSE FWI, polished LIM, P&P supercharger, custom radiator, standalone trans cooler, trans-go shift kit (donating to the 88)

2002 2500HD Silverado with the 8.1 Vortec and Alison tranny. Likes to eat GT Mustangs and lots of tires, and all while stock!

If you have the Monsoon system, get a GMOS-09 adaptor and you keep the chimes, whether you use an aftermarket amp or keep the factory one. If you do not have an amplified, use the Metra GMOS-05 adaptor. You will get much improved sound by upgrading the factory paper cone speakers. The fronts are components, a tweeter and a mid range. The rear shelf has 2 subs and the rear door is full range. (for the Monsoon System). I recommend ditching the subs, disconnecting the ones to the rear doors, and putting triaxials on the rear shelf. If you keep the factory amp, wire the rear shelf speakers to the wires originally going to the rear doors, and if you want a sub, use the wires that originally went to the rear shelf, connected to the sub amp. The factory speakers are 2 ohm impedence but you can replace htem with 4 ohms ones. All the crossovers and filters are in the monsoon amp.

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bobgto65

2004 Bonneville GXP 62,000 miles purchased 04/13
2009 G8 GXP PBM, M6 9580 miles, no mods, sold 08/15
2009 G8 GT SBM 36,000 miles, modded 430 whp
2002 Bonneville SSEi 203,200 miles (sold 3/2014)

the SSEi and the GXP only got the Prem. sound with amp.

Only SSEi got up level sound, in any year.

The 2000+ non premium sound system used woofers in the front doors and tweeters by the A pillar. No speakers in rear doors, and full range speakers in the rear deck.

You do not have a factory amplifier in the 2003 SLE.

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-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles