So the truck I picked up the screen of the radio was smashed, so I decided to buy a cheap used one and that one says its locked.

Is there a cheap after market radio that is compatible with the bose speakers in my truck I should use instead of trying to unlock this one?

Whatever aftermarket unit is purchased will require a harness/adapter to make it work anyway. So at that point you can choose to interface with the Bose system or to wire in around it.

FYI, dealers can code the radio and normally charge half an hour for it. Talk to them, it might be better than trying to get everything aftermarket working. I know when I swapped out my head unit in my 04 to a 6 disc changer, the dealer charged me $65 to code it. For the newer trucks, not sure about since you don't have a signature filled out or any information on what truck you have.

Sorry i have a 2009 silverado CCLB duramax LTZ

Thats the think, is it worth even putting $65 into this old radio, or should I just buy a cheap double din with the harnesses to make it work?

Depending on what radio and how much the harness will be...You will be into it for well more than $65. Even a cheap head unit will cost around $100.

Just quickly looking on crutchfield for just a radio with bluetooth streaming capabilities, that is $80, $9 for the trim install piece, and another $65 just for the wiring harness to keep all the bose and bluetooth working. You most definitely can get the stuff cheaper, but you won't be plug and play like that. Or if you know a shop that has either a TechII or some other scanner/programmer (saw that snap-on tool works, but you have to pay for the software from GM).

If you like to do wiring and tinkering with your truck and you have the time, you can get an aftermarket radio to work...but you already have a stock unit that you probably might break even if you try to sell it. I would call the dealer and see how much they charge to unlock the radio.

Is it worth getting the PAC module/harness or whatever its called to keep the BOSE, or would by passing that be better off?

If I by passed it would the new radio work with the stock bose speakers and sound anywhere near as good?



I'm worried replacement radio I got won't work when I go to a dealer to have it unlocked. Then it would be a waste of money.

the harness alone is about 150$ so cheap is a relative term for that truck.