2000-2005 Wire Harness RAP Door Chimes remote Control

[Bonneureka]

Greetings!

So i just finished an installation of a JVC Media Head(JVC KD-X50BT), Polk Power Amp (PA D4000.4) and Polk speakers (DB 691 & DB 651) in my 2000 Bonneville SE. I used a PAC C2R-GM32R door chime/RAP adapter to retain those functions and a Axxess ASWC to retain the steering wheel control functionality. Both of those were absolute musts in my opinion to retain the safety features and more importantly retain the full functionality of the car. In the Grand scheme of things I absolutely love the sound, features of the all of my selections, with no small tip of my hat to this forum for a wealth of wonderful advice and knowledge. Thanks Pontiac Bonneville Club!

I purchased the head unit, door chime and steering wheel adapters from Sonic Electronix. Their site was very navigable, their staff was both friendly and interested, and their prices and customer support beet Who?field hands down. One perk that Sonic offered was free harness adapter and an installation kit to adapt from double to single DIN. At the time, twenty five dollars of free gear seemed like a great choice. I still have both in anyone if interested in free gear...

When I first started I was ignorant of the RAP/door chimes needs so when sonic sent an adapter without "magic boxes" dangling from it, I thought nothing of it. Well after a day of study, soldering, shrink wraps burned fingertips (iron or heat gun? who knows?) nothing worked except the display would illuminate when i pressed the "Disp" button. That's when I learned of the need for the PAC/RAP adapter. I called Sonic and was assisted promptly after listening to their entire "on hold" catalog. They cheerfully discounted the PAC, apologized, and promised to fix the IT problem (free gear that don't work).

So I receive the PAC! I now have all the knowledge, power, tools and equipment required to rock this ride and blow the windows out...except...there is not guidance. (i say guidance because there is never clear instruction, right?) as to how to interface the PAC with the Axxess ASWC. Both need access to the car's data bus and calls to Axxess and PAC and Sonic unsuccessful at best. I am still waiting for Sonic to call me back 10 days later...

Anyway, I used the knowledge I had gained here, other scores and 25 years experience as an ET and computer tech to proceed without clear instruction. I cut the insulation off the purple wires A1&2(data bus?) on the harness, soldered in the Axxess ASWC connection (pink wire, I think) followed the remaining guidence and behold! Everything works!! Now if I can just make it fit....

Some tears, Dremel tools, and a close call with the ribbon cable later. everything was in, fully functional and away we go, right? Wrong!

First of all, the PAC chime sounds like it came from a 1990 Suzuki Samurai. I hate it but I could live with it. After 3 days of stellar performance and a proud owner showing off his new stuff (that's why we do all this right?). I happened to leave the key in the "Accessory" position of some time while charging a cell phone or something. I turned on the car, no chime, no head functionality, no nothing...good thing I have the dash reassembled! Suspecting a loose connection, I pull everything apart and got a muted chirp out of the PAC! I check the connection at the ribbon cable and everything works! HA! Loose connection! How smart am I? (not very) I wire tie the ribbon/harness junction (more Dremel) and everything is functional again!!! Until....

Yesterday, while doing a lot of start/stop/on/off driving it happened again. I was far smarter this time and smacked the underside of the dash and got a chirp...promising! I drove the car about 5 miles, cycled the ignition at a red light and its been completely functional since. Now my best guess is that the PAC will over heat if forced to chime too long and self protect...That should be easy to fix! Replace the PAC with something from Metra or Scosche or AI or build some a rig-around myself and loose the door chimes all together...

So...after all that, my question is simple: does anyone have experience with the Metra or Scosche models and be will to offer their take on these products? I suspect the production numbers are so low that quality control, field testing and R&D is just laughable.

I may be able to live with it but my Bonneville deserves better!

[ga93sle]

I have a Metra interface in my car, it's not the same PN as the Bonneville, but the same manufacturer, but I've been very happy with it. The chime sounds different from factory, but otherwise it's been pretty straightforward.

[Bonneureka]

Thanks! I was leaning towards a Metra unit.

The darn thing did it again this morning! Only this time it became so confused, it quit completely while I was driving. Then returned to life when I turned the key "off" with the doors closed. I open the door and it shut down as advertised. its working about 80% of the time! Comical!

Thanks again.

[ga93sle]

I've never had any problems like that out of my interface.

[Bonneureka]

I cannot find another manufacturer other than PAC and Metra (Axxess). I was hoping American International made one...Here goes another 60 dollar experiment! Heck that's not even a tank of gas!!!