1.  What do I need for the PAL to work?  Besides an Ipod, all you need is the PAL kit.  The GM part number for the original PAL is 17800593.  The PAL kit includes the PAL module, the wiring harness to connect the module to the back of the Nav unit, the Ipod cable to connect your iPod to the PAL module, the Owners Manual, and a few miscellaneous items.  However, the installation is quite involved, so there are alternative ways to install the PAL module that make it easier.  This website will show photos and details of the various ways to install the PAL: 
http://www.kawal.net/PAL%20install.htm

Update as of 11/30/12:  For the new Version 2 PALs, please see this forum link:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-corvette-general-discussion/2535958-finally-new-revisions-for-the-gm-pal-personal-audio-link-for-all-c6-vette-owners.html

 

2.  Will the PAL work in any C6 Corvette?  If you have Nav and XM, it will work.  There are some early ‘05s an ‘06s that might require a Nav unit firmware update to access all of the PAL features.  If your Nav will play .mp3 files, you have the latest firmware already.

If you need to update your firmware, Click Here and see Post #5.  Note that the new Version 2 PALs do not require XM and they will work with both Nav and non-Nav radios.

 

3.   What if I have Nav, but no XM?  Without XM, the original GM PAL will not work.  However, the new Version 2 PALs do not require XM.

 

4.  Where can I order a PAL kit?  The GM part number for the original Corvette PAL kit is 17800593.  You can order it from any GM dealer, but a couple of good Corvette Forum dealers are Tom or Bob at Fichtner Chevrolet (phone 800-234-5284 or 406-628-4121) or Gene Culley at GM Parts House (phone 610-862-0550).  They offer both good service and good prices.  But the Version 2 PAL kits are not available from any dealer.  See questions below for availability of the Version 2 PAL kits.

 

5.  If I don’t have Nav, what are my options for an Ipod interface?  Besides the Version 2 PAL, the Peripheral (iSimple) PXAMG and the USA Spec PA11-Vette are two recommended iPod adapters that will work in Corvettes with the Bose 6 CD changer non-Nav radios, as long as they are XM ready.  A complete review of these two adapters is available at:
http://www.kawal.net/ipod.htm

The PXAMG requires connection at the back of the radio, while the PA11-Vette can be connected at the easier XM receiver location.  The Version 2 PAL is by far the best iPod interface for the C6 Corvette, and it is the easiest to install.

 

6.  Do I have to remove the center console and Nav unit to install the PAL?  For the original GM PAL, the standard GM instructions require a lengthy and relatively complex installation requiring removal of the center console, the Nav unit, the glove box, the instrument cluster bezel, the knee bolster, and an underdash panel.  A custom wiring harness is available to instead install the PAL module at the XM receiver location which is readily accessible.  This installation can be done in as little a 5-10 minutes.  Details are on this website:
http://www.kawal.net/PAL%20install.htm#Alternative%205
Compare this to the GM installation instructions you can download here:
http://www.kawal.net/pal%20inst.pdf

There are no lost functions or changes in operation if the custom harness is used.  The custom harness picks up the PAL connecting points at the XM receiver location rather than at the back of the Nav unit and the Splice Pack, so electrically it is exactly the same as the original PAL harness included in the PAL kit.

Version 2 PAL kits include the easy to install harness, the updated software, and the new longer iPod cables that will charge the latest iPods and iPhones.

 

7.  How do I operate the PAL?  You can download the instructions in .pdf format here:
       http://www.kawal.net/corvette%20pal%20instructions.pdf

For the Version 2 PAL, you can download instructions here:

http://www.kawal.net/PAL%20Rev%202.htm#Downloads

 

8.  If I install the PAL using the custom harness at the XM receiver location, where can I keep the iPod?  If you install the PAL module at the XM receiver location, the PAL iPod connecting cable is not long enough to reach the glove box, as in the standard installation procedure.  If you have a convertible, the iPod cable will reach anywhere near the center console area.  If you have a coupe or Z06, the standard white iPod cable included with the original GM PAL will only reach the left rear storage compartment.  Version 2 PAL kits include 8' iPod cables that will reach the center console area.  These cables are also available separately.

 

9.  Will the PAL charge my iPod or iPhone?  The original GM PAL will not charge the latest generation of iPods and iPhones which have switched to a 5 volt charging system from the older 12 volt charging system.  The various models that will and won’t be charged by the PAL are on Post #27 of the following website:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-corvette-general-discussion/2376298-a-detailed-pal-installation-in-an-07-z06-with-comparisons-to-other-ipod-adapters.html

For the later iPods and iPhones, the new 8' iPod cables included in the Version 2 PAL kits have a 12 volt/5 volt converter built in.  These cables are available separately.

 

10.  Do I need a subscription to XM for the PAL to work?  No.  The PAL will function perfectly as long as the XM module is plugged into the  harness.  The Version 2 PAL kits do not require XM.

 

11.  I hear clicking after my PAL was installed.  Is something wrong?  There is a relay in the PAL module that opens and closes as it attempts to communicate with the XM receiver.  You should hear the click whenever you change from XM1 to XM2 and back.  You will also hear it for about a minute after you shut your car off.

 

12.  After operating the PAL, I lost the XM1/2 soft key on the Nav unit.  What happened?  The PAL software can be overloaded if you push buttons too fast to give the PAL commands.  This can result in the PAL being locked up and you lose the XM1/2 buttons.  Usually, restarting the car will reset the PAL.  But if you cannot get the XM1/2 buttons back, unplug the 16 pin connector at the PAL module to disconnect the power to it.  This will reset and reboot the PAL and get the XM1/2 buttons back.

 

13.  The sound from my iPod played through the PAL is not as loud as from other sources like the CD, FM, etc.  Is this normal?  The PAL is connected through the XM receiver wiring and into a separate input in the Nav unit.  For some reason, it appears that the inputs are not balanced equally in the Nav unit, so XM and the PAL may not sound as loud.  As a consequence, you may have to turn up the volume about 3 clicks when switching over to the PAL input.

But here's a hint from forum member Keith Thomas:  "In iTunes, right click a song or all songs, go to Get Info/Options - then set volume adjustment to +100%.  It makes a BIG difference."  This will increase the loudness a lot!

 

14.  Can I use the external factory 6 CD changer with the PAL?  Yes.  The external 6 CD changer connects through the XM receiver wiring and is compatible with the PAL.  When the 6 CD changer is installed, the CD button on the Nav unit changes to a CD/CDX button to give you a choice of either the built in single CD player or the CD changer.  If you are listening to the PAL, you will notice that there is no CDX button – it changes back to a CD button only.  To listen to the CD changer, you must exit XM2 (the PAL mode) and switch to XM1.  The CD/CDX button will then return to the Nav screen.

 

15.  Do I lose XM2 when I install the PAL?  Although the PAL takes over the XM2 band, you can still access the XM2 presets if you have steering wheel controls.  When listening to XM through the XM1 mode, press the Disc 1-6 button on the steering wheel and it will cycle through the six XM1 stations then it will go through the six XM2 preset stations.

     If you haven't set your XM2 Preset stations before you installed your PAL, you can do so with the following procedure:
    A.  Remove the iPod from the PAL iPod cable.
    B.  Press the XM1/2 button until XM1 is displayed.
    C.  Press the "1-6" button on the steering wheel to cycle through the XM1 stations until XM2 is displayed.
    D.  Use the Up/Down SEEK button to select an XM channel.
    E.  Press and Hold one of the 6 Preset Buttons to "set" the XM station.
    F.  Repeat up to 6 times for each Preset Button.

16.  If I don’t have an iPod connected to the PAL, do I still lose the XM2 display?  Yes, the XM2 band is used for the PAL and the PAL menu will be displayed.  If an iPod is not connected, it will display No iPod.  However, you can still access the XM2 stations as described in Question 15.

 

17.  Is the PAL compatible with the HUD?  Yes, when in street mode, song titles on the PAL will also be displayed on the HUD when they are started.

 

18.  What are the two RCA jacks on the PAL module used for?  In the original version of the PAL, these jacks are inactive.  Version 2 PAL kits have software that activate the two RCA jacks as a user selectable auxiliary input.

 

19.  Will the PAL work with a Sirius module in place of the XM receiver?  Although I have not personally tried it, it seems that some other owners have installed the PAL with the Sirius module.  Most recent Sirius modules seem to have no problem with the PAL, but there is also the possibility that there are different software versions of the Sirius module and the earlier ones may not work with the PAL.   Please keep in mind that the PAL was not designed to work with the Sirius module, so compatibility is not a sure thing.

 

    20.  What is different about the Version 2 PAL kits?  The Version 2 PAL kits were developed to rectify some operational problems with the original PAL as well as add features that owners expressed a desire for.  Large format hard drive iPods like the Classic with large music libraries would sometimes cause operational slowdowns and other issues.  PAL lockup could occur if buttons were pushed too quickly and overload the XM communication path.  These problems were addressed in the new Version 2 software.  New features like Direct Mode allows the user to control his iPod device at the device itself rather than at the radio, which is sometimes desired.  The RCA jacks on the PAL module are now enabled through software that allows the user to choose "AUX" as a source in addition to "PAL" mode and "DIRECT" mode.  A "PAUSE" button has been added for operational convenience.  A Timeout feature now allows the user to enable or disable the feature that automatically reverts back to the PLAYING menu after 10 seconds of inactivity.  Some users want full control over which menu they want, so the Timeout feature can be turned on or off.  The iPod cables in the Version 1 PALs were only 4' long and required a glove box installation of your iPod.  The Version 2 PAL kits include a 6' iPod cable as well as a 6' extension for coupe/Z06 users who want lots of options for placing their iPod.  The original iPod cables will not charge the latest 5 volt USB iPod devices - the new Version 2 PAL kits include a 5 volt iPod cable that will charge all of the latest iPod devices.  Finally, the original PAL kits included an installation harness that required the owner to pull the radio, center console, and many dash panels near the driver seating area and splice into the car's electrical harness.  It is a relatively grueling operation that many owners do not want to tackle.  The new Version 2 PAL kits include a short and simple installation harness that is connected at the XM receiver location that is very simple to access.  You can have your PAL operating in about 5 minutes instead of 5 hours.

Click here for a comparison between the original PAL kits sold by GM and the new Version 2 PAL kits

    

21.  Will the Version 2 PALs work in all C6 Corvettes?  The latest release of software (version 2.2.F132) will work in all C6 Nav and non-Nav radios, with or without XM (with the exception of European frequency option UL2).  Early ('05 -'06) non-Nav radios without XM require a special software version 2.2.F089.

 

    22.  How can I reset the PAL module?  There are rare occasions when the PAL module can get "locked up" and not function correctly.  If this happens, the PAL module must be rebooted.  Since the PAL, like most accessories in the Corvette, has a hot battery feed to it at all times, switching off the ignition cannot reset the PAL.  To reset the PAL, power to the PAL module must be interrupted.  You can do this by disconnecting the 16 pin connector from the PAL module for about ten seconds, then reconnecting it.  If you have a convertible where the PAL module resides behind the waterfall, access to the PAL module is a bit more difficult than in a coupe or Z06.  In this case, the easiest way to kill the power to the PAL module is to pull the RDO/SBAND/VICS fuse in the passenger footwell fuse panel.  This fuse feeds power to both the radio and the XM receiver wiring, which is used by the PAL.

 

     23.  Has the problem of random losses of XM been corrected in the Version 2 PALs?  Some owners of Nav equipped cars and a PAL with an early version of software found that while listening to their iPod, for some reason the iPod would stop playing and the owner would find himself listened to an FM station or a CD.  When investigating the Nav screen, he found that the XM1/2 button had disappeared and he essential lost all control and input from either XM1 or XM2 (PAL mode).  Only a shutdown and restart of the engine would restore the XM1/2 buttons and their functions.  The later revisions of PAL software resolve this issue.

 

    24.  Is there a Version 2 PAL available for non-Nav equipped C6s?  Yes, the latest software in the Version 2 PALs will work in all C6s equipped with non-Nav radios.  Plus, the new PALs have the Q-Links feature which allow you to program the six preset buttons above the display.

 

    25.  Where can Version 2 PALs be purchased?  The only source for Version 2 PALs is on this website:  http://www.kawal.net/PAL%20Rev%202.htm

 

    26.  Does the iPod shut off after the car is shut off and locked?  The answer is yes, but it is easy to be fooled into thinking it stays on and might drain the car battery.  This is because after locking the car, the iPod remains on for a minute or two, and also, when later coming back to the car and opening a door, the iPod is again on.  What happens is that it take a few minutes for the iPod to shut down, but the instant that any door button or command on the FOB is pressed, the PAL and iPod will again start up.  To test and make sure the PAL is working properly, leave your iPod connected on the seat.  Lock the car and leave, then look through the window in 10-15 minutes.  You should find it is now off.  Touch a door button - you don't even have to open it - and you'll see the iPod light up instantly.  

Also, if you can put your PAL module out where you can see it through a window, look at the red power LED.  When you shut down your car, you will see that the LED stays on for sometimes up to a minute or two after you lock the car.  But give it time and the LED will shut down for good.  But the second you touch your FOB or door button, it too will light up instantly.

 

    27.  There is a " . " before the title in my PAL display - why?  The " . " before the display shows that you are in Repeat Mode.  In the Settings menu you can set the Repeat Mode to OFF > ONE > ALL > Auto Next.  Auto Next will allow you to continuously play your iPod without stopping.  With Repeat OFF, the PAL will Stop at the end of your search selections - for example, if you search for an Artist and you have only four songs by that artist, the PAL will stop after those four songs are played.  Also, there is Shuffle Mode, as indicated by a " * " before the display when it is ON.  Your Shuffle Mode choices are OFF > SONGS > ALBUMS.  If both Repeat and Shuffle Modes are on, a " : " will be displayed before the title.

If you have any questions, you can email me at ray@kawal.net