Short question to clarify this for me: Was the UQ7 Performance Sound system available on 88 models with this UT4 type head unit in the pictures? Thanks for answering.

 

I've got an 88 GTA,... it's got the SUB system and the Steering Wheel Control radio from the factory. Sadly,... I don't have the original RPO tag from the car so you can the codes.

 

I also have an 88 GTA, with steering wheel controls, with GAIN switch and the pictured UT4 radio. The thing is... the GAIN switch lights up when I turn on the headlights, but if I press the button, nothing happens. And sadly, I don't have any RPO codes either. One of the PO didn't take the "DO NOT REMOVE" on the label serious and ripped it off. Also I haven't seend a build sheet. So I just don't know if it has UQ7 factory or not... The original UQ7 rear speakers are gone and have been replaced, but I was able to buy a good pair for 50 €. It seems I have to disassemble the radio or the "performance suspension" plastic piece to look for the amp... after I cured my broken leg.

 

The amp looks like most other GM control boxes. Silver, buncha holes in it, with a single plug holding multiple wires. It should be right under the lower dash panel on the passenger's side, closest to the console. Could also look under the rear speaker covers and see if you have the sub boxes with a 4" sub and 4x6 speakers or six by nines.

If I were in your position, I think I'd just find the block off plate from a Firebird without "premium sound". The subs are pretty much unobtainable in good condition. The audio quality is so-so at best. You can beat the sound quality with the stereo system in a box from Walmart, and a cheap sub/amp combo. For that matter, a modern headunit with a decent built in AMP probably puts out more than the external GM amp. Some modern head units will drive a single 10" sub off the built in amp.

88 is cutting it close, but you might ask on the history/originality board if someone can run your VIN thru compnine and see if they have your RPO codes.

 

The stereo pictured is UT4 and was one of the radios available with the UQ7 subwoofer option. My 1988 GTA has both with steering wheel controls.

As Drew suggests, you can post your VIN (or PM the VIN) and I'll see if it's in Compnine's database. Since you're in Germany, the car may be an export from the start and thus might have records available.

 

Check this out; here's a pair of Pontiac Sub-Woofer AMPS..... ( don't mind the radios,.. just stuff I've been workin' on recently.)



The Sub-Woofer AMP on the LEFT is from an 86 Fiero ( I pulled it from a 27K mile car ) and the one on the RIGHT is marked as being pulled from a Firebird.( I did not mark it or verify the part # ). They look very much the same but not identical; the Fiero AMP only needs to power 1 Sub-Woofer so I'm almost certain it's different. There is a small detail that makes them distinguishable & while it might be a year-to-year 'thing',... it might also be a car model specific difference: Notice the Fiero AMP has a large BLUE capacitor visible in the 'window' at the bottom of the AMP and the (so called ) Firebird AMP has a large ORANGE Capacitor visible in that window. Just pointing this out in case future readers buy or find a Fiero AMP installed by mistake and can't figure out why there's only sound 1 of their Sub-Woofers. ( When I learn more about this,... I'll update here. ) I've got at least 1 more of these things installed my GTA and might have 1 more stashed away with my radio stuff.

Here are some schematics from the 86 Shop Manual:

 

Thank you all guys, that's helpful! Someone must have pulled the UQ7 speakers, as I mentioned there are normal 6x9" installed (but they are Rockford Fosgate and sound awesome, no cheap crap). But the wiring of the amp and switch seems to be still there, loose connectors everywhere and the "dead" gain switch. The place where the amp is located is empty, but you can see there has been something bolted up in the bolt holes. So sad...
I've tried to compnine my VIN when I bought the car, but it is not in the system.


I think it is a domestic US car, because it has none of the typical german export features the official exports got. It has original DG7 mirrors (they were all changed to the ugly DD9 on official exports), 85-90 tail lights with red turn signals (not allowed here, only with certificate of exception which I have), yellow parking light (also not allowed), rear and front side markers are still working (not allowed) and so on. Yep, german laws are stupid, but it is the way it is...
The only not original feature is the headligths, they have been changed to H4 with asymetric light, otherwise you couldn't register a car here until today. For everything else I have a certificate of exception in my car documents, which is very uncommon these days.

I think I won't switch back to the UQ7, the Rockfords in the back and some noname speakers in the front sound really well with the original radio. I've added an aux jack to it over a year ago, I am pretty happy with it.

Thanks for your help again guys!

 

The UQ7 system was great for it's time. A lot of them didn't survive the 80s, much less the 90s. The rubber surrounds on the subs go bad, people hack up the wiring to change the head unit, the amps fail, pieces get removed along the way... I pieced together most of a setup several years ago. I sold it to someone with more optimism and haven't given it a second thought. If a car had the complete system installed and it didn't work right, I'd probably tear it out rather than fix it. With pieces missing, I wouldn't even think about fixing it. Entertainment technology is constantly changing. The best from GM in the 80's didn't really compete with stock stuff in the 90s, get into aftermarket stuff and there's no comparison. Now in 2020, the UQ7 system is little more than a curiosity.

 

FYI...

Location of the UQ7 amp (this is factory in my '88 T/A.



In case you decide to find some factory speakers and rebuild them, here are some posts of when I did mine.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...ml#post6019018

 

NICE good eye thats some good info right there........

 

Since someone has revived this thread, I've got bad news for you, John, and your capacitor color theory...

Clicked a pic of my amp this summer while the interior is out of the car, factory original, never removed, replaced or even touched, all of which I know is true because I'm the car's original owner. I had the subs rebuilt many years ago, but nothing has ever been done to the amp: blue capacitor.

 

Funny,.... I was expecting to update this thread soon, but I didn't get to it soon enough !!

I checked the AMP in my 88 and it too has the Blue Capacitor showing. However,... that's not the only interesting update today: After pulling out some radio parts for some radio bench-work I was doing I came across another Sub AMP that I had stashed away some 8-10 years ago. This AMP was also pulled from a Trans AM, and it's got a Black Capacitor !



And that's why you don't EVER trust a "THEORY" !!!


Someday I'll be able to check the Fiero AMP on the Firebird system and I'll be sure to update this post when I do !!