[StLouisCPhT]

For 2011-2015 Cruzes and 2016 Cruze Limiteds made in the United States and Australia only.

These directions are for updating from the basic 4" radio to a NON-Navigational Mylink radio ONLY.

1) Buy a Mylink silver box specifically from a Chevrolet Cruze. I recommend part number 84026635 or 84062126, but the following part numbers have also been tested: 23184129 & 23476256.

Tip #1: Ask the seller to verify the radio comes from a Cruze with the same speaker setup as yours. Basic 6 speaker system is RPO code UZ6. Premium 7 speaker system with amplifier is RPO code UQA.

Tip #2: If you want/need the backup camera feature, ask the seller to verify the radio comes from a Cruze with RPO code UVC.

Tip #2a: If the seller is able to provide you with the VIN of the vehicle the parts are coming from, Vindecoderz.com can tell you what the RPO codes are.

Tip #3: The backup camera is a standard feature on the LTZ model.

​

2) Buy a center console control panel. Option code UYE. Also buy a 7" Mylink touchscreen and plastic display bezel. Option code UDY.

Tip: Shop smart and you could get all 4 parts for between $75 & $100 total, shipping included.

3) Dhpnet has posted a diagram of their own wiring harness. Link
You will need to purchase the Twinax cable and USB cable separately.

​

4) Reprogram the VIN in the silverbox yourself. It's fairly simple to do and all it takes is about an hour and $15 for an usb EEPROM programmer and clip. If you don't feel comfortable taking apart the radio, ask a younger family member (preferably between 2 and 5 years old) to do it for you. You might have to bribe them to put it all back together when done however. Directions on how to disassemble are in post #3.

4a) The recommended method of VIN change is to just zero out the vin on the new radio. That will put it into relearn mode when your vehicle is started for the first time after installation.

Tip #1: A Chevrolet dealer will not change the VIN as this isn't an official upgrade.

Tip #2: Do not send the radio to anyone advertising reprogramming services. As long as the upgrade came from a Cruze with the desired/appropriate RPO codes, it does not need anything changed besides the VIN. (A Cruze will run quite happily without a radio installed, you however will not be very happy without one installed)

​

5) Installation directions are here. If you made your own harness using dhpnet's diagram, refer to that for installation.

Thanks go to @modalita for their original work on this upgrade so many years ago, @dhpnet for their work on a wiring harness and @ChevyGuy for help with figuring out the best way to change the VIN.

 

[StLouisCPhT]

For 2011-2015 Cruzes and 2016 Cruze Limiteds made in the United States and Australia only.

To upgrade from the basic 4" radio to a Navigation Mylink radio, the directions are a little different.

1) Purchase a navigation silver box. I recommend 84027468 or 84027468. You could also use 23477341 or 23497398.

2) Purchase a navigation control panel. Option Code UYS

3) You will need to purchase a GPS antenna separately in addition to the twinax cable and usb cable. Or find the official GM navigation signal splitter (P/N 20960972) and 2 cables with the appropriate fakra connectors.

Rest is the same

 

[StLouisCPhT]

For 2011-2015 Cruzes and 2016 Cruze Limiteds made in the United States and Australia only.

Directions on how to reprogram the VIN chip

First, locate the VIN chip. This requires completely disassembling the new radio.

The chip you are looking for is on the bottom side of the 2nd circuit board (not the one on the riser):

Then, you need a CH341A EEPROM reader/writer, like this:

USB BIOS EEPROM SPI FLASH Programmer CH341A 24 25 series

You can remove the chip from the board to program it, or you can purchase a SOIC8 EEPROM test clip, like this. The test clip allows you to program the chip without removing it from the PC board.
Soic8 Sop8 Flash Chip Ic Test Clips Socket Adpter Bios/24/25/93

You need to connect the reader to your computer and install the drivers and software. Download

You need to connect the chip to the reader so that pin 1 is nearest to the lever that holds/releases the chip from the reader.

First make a backup of the chip's data in case anything goes wrong. Then you can view the contents of the chip. In the software, the left side of the screen shows the actual programming, displayed in hexadecimal. The right side shows a translation in plain text.

Thanks go to @dhpnet for their original post expanding on my original directions and information about the chip.

 

[carbon02]

Wow!

I'm always intrigued with people who dissect electronics to this point! I commend all the time you have into this mod. I need to read it again to fully understand everything going on.

The only thing that scares me is getting access to the chip and removing it to program. I guess if you were comfortable with electronics this isn't that bad.

 

[ChevyGuy]

The only thing that scares me is getting access to the chip and removing it to program. I guess if you were comfortable with electronics this isn't that bad.

For access, you need a #2 Phillips screwdriver. You're going to take things apart. If you use the clip, you really only need to be handy with tools. No soldering required.

 

[dhpnet]

[FONT=.SF UI Text][FONT=.SFUIText]he following part numbers have been tested: 23184129 (2014 model year), 23476256 (2015 model year), and 23284452 (2016 model year & the one I currently recommend). [/FONT][/FONT]

I have also tested 23206821 from a 2014 LTZ. But, I think any MyLink that came out of a Cruze should work. I agree with recommending the 2016 radio. Why not get one with the most current hardware and software available?

 

[ChevyGuy]

Why not get one with the most current hardware and software available?

You mean the one that might be the most incompatible with the rest of the car? We don't know what changes were made in the BCM to radio communication over the years. I think the feature set improvements between the 2015 and the 2016 is pretty minor compared to 2015 against the prior years.

The 2016 clearly went though some kind of redesign since it only has one Bluetooth antenna. I'm still looking for the hardware differences between the 2013 and the 2015. I haven't found any yet. There's clearly feature differences, but I haven't found any hardware changes.

 

[StLouisCPhT]

You mean the one that might be the most incompatible with the rest of the car? We don't know what changes were made in the BCM to radio communication over the years. I think the feature set improvements between the 2015 and the 2016 is pretty minor compared to 2015 against the prior years.

The 2016 clearly went though some kind of redesign since it only has one Bluetooth antenna. I'm still looking for the hardware differences between the 2013 and the 2015. I haven't found any yet. There's clearly feature differences, but I haven't found any hardware changes.

I think I've pretty much determined that the BCM doesn't care about communication with the radio. It quite happily tossed all the radios I tested into backup camera mode when I shifted into reverse, even the Verano radio and has never caused any kind of issue with them. (Actually, it doesn't really seem to care about much since I added fog lights without needing a reprogram)

The Bluetooth change started in late 2013. They kept the original case, but dropped 1 antenna. Then in late 2014 they switched the design to the new centrally positioned single antenna case. After that, later p/n had newer software build dates, but still had the 20nov2014 hardware build date. They also continued to use the older 2 Bluetooth antenna design during the same period. Guess they had a lot of them in stock.

 

[ChevyGuy]

Actually, the Bluetooth change started in 2015. They kept the original case, but dropped 1 antenna.

I'm pretty sure the one I have has two antennas with connections to the PCB. You mean they introduced the 2016 P/N in 2015?

 

[Merc6]

I think I've pretty much determined that the BCM doesn't care about communication with the radio. It quite happily tossed all the radios I tested into backup camera mode when I shifted into reverse, even the Verano radio and has never caused any kind of issue with them. (Actually, it doesn't really seem to care about much since I added fog lights without needing a reprogram)

The Bluetooth change started in late 2013. They kept the original case, but dropped 1 antenna. Then in late 2014 they switched the design to the new centrally positioned single antenna case. After that, later p/n had newer software build dates, but still had the 20nov2014 hardware build date. They also continued to use the older 2 Bluetooth antenna design during the same period. Guess they had a lot of them in stock.

23495273

This is only an issue for 2013 cars built in 2012 up to about 25 March of 2013.

http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/?p=1965

 

[cmarkwart]

Ok all I'm not a person that is in to this programing kick. but I figured it out I'm using both items
CH341A EEPROM reader/writer along with SOIC8 EEPROM test clip
I watched the youtube video got the right software in stalled with the drivers but could not read the chip untill I did some net searches
the chip I had to select in the software is
24EEprom
ISSI
IS24c128
then I was able to find all the information yay.
going to read the old unit out of my cruze 2012 eco and the new one from a 2014 rs I'm going to see what is different
wish me luck

 

[Blasirl]

First, locate the VIN chip. This requires completely disassembling the new radio.

The chip you are looking for is on the bottom side of the 2nd circuit board (not the one on the riser):

View attachment 224450


Then, you need a CH341A EEPROM reader/writer, like this:

USB BIOS EEPROM SPI FLASH Programmer CH341A 24 25 series

You can remove the chip from the board to program it, or you can purchase a SOIC8 EEPROM test clip, like this. The test clip allows you to program the chip without removing it from the PC board.

Soic8 Sop8 Flash Chip Ic Test Clips Socket Adpter Bios/24/25/93

You need to connect the reader to your computer and install the drivers and software. Here is a video that explains this. The video also has links to the software and instructions on how to read and program the chip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NYe21nFSDI

You need to connect the chip to the reader so that pin 1 is nearest to the lever that holds/releases the chip from the reader.

It would probably be best to first make a backup of the chip in case anything goes wrong. Then you can view the contents of the chip. In the software, the left side of the screen shows the actual program, which is displayed in Hexadecimal numbers. The right side shows a translation in plain text.

The chip is write protected, so you need to either desolder pin 7 or remove the small resistor to reprogram the chip.

Navigation Mylinks appear to not have the write protection enabled. So you will not need to desolder the pin or remove the resistor on that type.



Thanks go to dphnet for their original post expanding on my original directions and information about the chip.

I tried the driver / software links that were in the YouTube link discussion area and they did not seem to be available anymore. Do you have them to post or send or a better link to them?

 

[cmarkwart]

Ok I hooked everything up using the new harness adaptor . It turned on and had sound all buttons worked . I had everything appart . so I turned off the car and then put everything in bolted down and snapped all panels in place.

then I started up the car and was going to link my cell bluetooth . it turned on all buttons work but now no sound.
I went in to test mode and still nothing. I used stock reset still no sound.

what could be wrong?
I then put in my old unit and everything works even the sound.

 

[ChevyGuy]

I tried the driver / software links that were in the YouTube link discussion area and they did not seem to be available anymore. Do you have them to post or send or a better link to them?

I just tried the first link in the YouTube description area (not comments). It seems to be working. Note that you have to "show more" to see the links.

 

[Spark]

if only there were pictures/videos explaining this

 

[Blasirl]

I just tried the first link in the YouTube description area (not comments). It seems to be working. Note that you have to "show more" to see the links.

These are the links I am referring to and below is a screenshot of what I get every time I click on the first link:

Published on Feb 7, 2016
Hi & Welcome to my Channel ! CHECK DESCRIPTION !

Here i Show you how to use a USB Bios Chip Programmer and a lot more...

All the Files you can Download here:
https://mega.nz/#!uJtTgAxC!r0ys8c-DlS...

And Drivers for COM-LPT-Serial here:
https://mega.nz/#!rdV1iDaJ!2dJvncifnj...

You can buy it from here:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/like/381206013...

How to easy Remove a Bios Chip from any Motherboard´s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEcvV...

And how to prepare the USB BIOS Programmer to flash a lot more Chips you can see here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycE_Z...

Hope you fixed all, and have a Nice time

! THUMBS UP & SUBSCRIBE !

PEACE
NSC

 

[cmarkwart]

ok all I have a Radio that is RPO:UZ6
I'm looking to trade one for RPO:UQA
I will trade and also reprogram it for you free of charge as long as you can mail me yours and I will mail you mine

 

[dhpnet]

The chip is write protected, so you need to either desolder pin 7 or remove the small resistor to reprogram the chip.

I have programmed 3 MyLink boxes now without removing pin 7 or the resistor. I would recommend to everyone that you first try writing to the chip without making any changes and only desolder pin 7 or the resistor if this doesn't work.

 

[dhpnet]

Also, just for reference in this thread. Here is the thread I created that shows how I created the wiring harness.

http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/36-gen1-audio-electronics/196994-how-i-did-mylink-wire-harness.html

 

[FastCruze]

I am having a bit of an issue trying to program the chip on the radio. I have installed the software, and when I go to say detect I get nothing. That video on youtube is very basic. Anyone have a better video showing exactly what needs to be done?