Frequently Asked Questions about the GM Personal Audio Link (PAL)
09-22-2009, 01:03 AM
#1
Emerging Vendor
Thread Starter
Frequently Asked Questions about the GM Personal Audio Link (PAL)
Since there have been quite a few questions about the installation and operation of the GM PAL, I thought it would be helpful to add a dedicated website for interested forum members:
http://www.kawal.net/PALFAQs.htm
If any of you think of some others, please email me and I can add them to the site.
Ray
http://www.kawal.net/PALFAQs.htm
If any of you think of some others, please email me and I can add them to the site.
Ray
09-22-2009, 06:53 AM
#2
Team Owner
Well done Ray! Great work as always. This should find its way to a sticky thread for the forum. Thanks for all you do for the forum and for the Corvette!
Paul
Paul
09-24-2009, 03:12 PM
#3
Team Owner
Sweet, am buying a 2007 w/Nav and have no intention of paying for XM. This sounds like a great solution. Load up an iPOD or NANO and let her rip.
I'll be in touch for the simplified cable after I buy the car.
Tom
I'll be in touch for the simplified cable after I buy the car.
Tom
10-04-2009, 04:28 PM
#5
Team Owner
You can download the files you need here in post 152 of this thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...finally-8.html
10-05-2009, 03:29 AM
#6
Emerging Vendor
Thread Starter
You can either get it from your dealer (tell them you have static on the radio) or you can download it here on the forum, burn your own CD's and do the install at home as most of us have done.
You can download the files you need here in post 152 of this thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...finally-8.html
You can download the files you need here in post 152 of this thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...finally-8.html
Perhaps I should include this question on the FAQ list.
Ray
10-19-2009, 08:17 PM
#8
Emerging Vendor
Thread Starter
I just updated the FAQs page with a few more questions and answers:
http://www.kawal.net/PALFAQs.htm
Ray
http://www.kawal.net/PALFAQs.htm
Ray
10-21-2009, 01:16 AM
#10
Emerging Vendor
Thread Starter
11-01-2009, 12:25 PM
#13
So if I have this PAL can I keep it installed and switch to XM radio channels or my iPod at will? I like XM, but on long trips sometimes I'll switch to ipod. I don't want to lose XM capability.
11-01-2009, 01:25 PM
#14
Safety Car
Member Since: Aug 2005
Location: Eastern NC; Retired x 2 (US Army: 70-90 AD) (US Army: 91-16 DAC); yea, I'm old.
Posts: 4,278
Received 76 Likes
on
42 Posts
Yes, you can do exactly that...you will lose six of your XM stations so choose your XM favs you want to keep.
11-02-2009, 03:37 AM
#15
Emerging Vendor
Thread Starter
but we drive the heck out of them...
12-11-2009, 03:16 PM
#18
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2000
Location: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
Posts: 23,927
Received 2,045 Likes
on
1,358 Posts
St. Jude Donor '13
After a lot of research, I decided to use the GM PAL with Ray's modified GM harness.
Ray sent the harness as soon as he received my check, his work is OE quality all the way and has nice tags attached so you won't try to plug it in incorrectly. Plus, the instructions on his website are excellent.
My particular car gave me two problems:
It was really hard to remove the plastic trim piece around my targa top holder, I was sure it would break because I was pulling so hard. Kneeling in the trunk gave me enough leverage to pull it off.
Reinstalling the XM module and tray was time consuming, my car has several wires that run past the opening and one of them splits right where I had to insert the module/tray. Took a lot of fiddling to get it back in, but it did go in ok.
I mounted the PAL on the the tub behind the sidewall carpet, aft of the wheel well. It's just below the emergency pull tabs for the gas door and driver door. Used the supplied Velcro plus small pieces of mounting tape on the corners so it won't rattle.
The Ipod cable can sneak between the outboard edge of the cubbyhole frame and the carpet so it doesn't interfere with closing the cubby door. I'll just leave the Ipod in the cubby most of the time.
Even with the individual problems I had on the targa clip and XM reinstall, I'd guess the job took about 1/4 of the time that would have been required to use the original GM installation. And I didn't need to tear my dash apart, crawl up under there, and cut any wires.
Unlike the GM installation, you can return the car to stock non-PAL condition by simply unplugging Ray's harness and reconnecting the XM plug.
In summary, I'd give Ray's harness and instructions a "5 star" rating; and recommend it to anyone who wants a PAL installation.
Ray sent the harness as soon as he received my check, his work is OE quality all the way and has nice tags attached so you won't try to plug it in incorrectly. Plus, the instructions on his website are excellent.
My particular car gave me two problems:
It was really hard to remove the plastic trim piece around my targa top holder, I was sure it would break because I was pulling so hard. Kneeling in the trunk gave me enough leverage to pull it off.
Reinstalling the XM module and tray was time consuming, my car has several wires that run past the opening and one of them splits right where I had to insert the module/tray. Took a lot of fiddling to get it back in, but it did go in ok.
I mounted the PAL on the the tub behind the sidewall carpet, aft of the wheel well. It's just below the emergency pull tabs for the gas door and driver door. Used the supplied Velcro plus small pieces of mounting tape on the corners so it won't rattle.
The Ipod cable can sneak between the outboard edge of the cubbyhole frame and the carpet so it doesn't interfere with closing the cubby door. I'll just leave the Ipod in the cubby most of the time.
Even with the individual problems I had on the targa clip and XM reinstall, I'd guess the job took about 1/4 of the time that would have been required to use the original GM installation. And I didn't need to tear my dash apart, crawl up under there, and cut any wires.
Unlike the GM installation, you can return the car to stock non-PAL condition by simply unplugging Ray's harness and reconnecting the XM plug.
In summary, I'd give Ray's harness and instructions a "5 star" rating; and recommend it to anyone who wants a PAL installation.
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; 12-11-2009 at 03:20 PM.
12-16-2009, 07:10 PM
#19
Intermediate
Member Since: Oct 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just want to second Gearhead Jim's comments.
I installed my GM PAL to a 2006 Corvette convertible about a month ago; Ray's adapter cable made the job a very quick and simple one. Definitely worth every penny.
Miguel Mulet
I installed my GM PAL to a 2006 Corvette convertible about a month ago; Ray's adapter cable made the job a very quick and simple one. Definitely worth every penny.
Miguel Mulet
