The I-Pod mod - How to add an AUX input to your FX

[gtxjoe]

Download the PDF version (717K)

Here is a writeup of how to add an AUX input to your FX, if you do not have the Mobile Entertainment System-DVD player option. This mod uses the "CD / Rear AV" button on the Radio Head Unit.

The first approach uses the unused MES-DVD player harness located under the center storage console. Applies to all '03 and very early '04 models. (My '04 built in Sept, 2003 had the harness, stormace's '04 built in Oct, 2003 did not)

The second approach assumes the MES-DVD player harness is not present, so the same connections are made, but this time it is directly to the back of the radio head-unit. (Most '04 models and later)

Another approach using the SAT-Radio harness can be found here http://www.infinitifx.org/viewtopic.php?t=1787

Credit goes to ak1nza for doing the harness mod approach, and stormace, FoxHawk and Rick64e for doing the headunit mod approach, and ShadyJC for the SAT-Radio method. Many others also contributed...

RadioShack Parts used
===============
274-249 1/8" (3.5mm) Phone Panel Mount Jack
276-1429 Crimp-type D-Sub (for the pins)
speaker wire
soldering tools
7/32 drill bit (will depend on phone jack)

Optional - PAC Turbo1 audio line driver to boost AUX volume levels Here was the cheapest place I found it - http://www.audiooutfitter.com/store/TURBO1.html

Using the MES-DVD player harness
=================================
Remove rear panel


Open storage bin and pull on back panel. Just grab the sides near the top with your hands and pull. Close the storage bin and the back panel comes off easily.





In mine, the unused wiring harness was taped back, so it was a little harder to find. You can see it in the lower right of the picture.



The wiring harness diagram



First, short out pins 9 and 11 on the harness to activate the REAR AV button.

Connect the headphone jack to the harness. The headphone jack has 3 connections on it, Tip(left), Ring(right) and Sleeve(common)



Pin 1 is Left +. Connect this to the headphone jack tip (Left)
Pin 3 is Right +. Connect this to the headphone jack ring (Right).
Pins 2(Left -) and 4 (Right -). Hook both of these up to the headphone jack common.



Install the headphone jack in the desired location. I installed mine here, but it wasn't the easiest location. It was made of much thicker plastic (probably to support the power socket). Drilling was not the problem, but putting on the locking nut was difficult, since there was not much of the thread exposed. I had to countersink the hole to get it secure, so I would recommend a different location or use a phone jack with a longer mount.





Here is another install location


Posts about this install
http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads ... r=67413729
http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads ... r=67620028


Low Audio Volume
=================
Several people noticed the audio output of AUX input was about half of the volume of the FX CD and FM output. If you are using an IPOD with the Belkin Auto Kit, you will not have this problem, since the Belking kit has a built-in adjustable amplifier. For my mp3 player, I installed a PAC Turbo1 audio line driver to increase the volume output. The PAC Turbo1 also has an adjustable gain.

The PAC amp runs off of 12 volts, so I just used power from the power socket. You can see in the pic, the red wire was pushed into the back of the power socket connector (white wire). For ground, I just attached the black wire to a screw that was screwed into metal.

Wiring changes:
I took a stereo RCA cable and cut it in half. Use one half to connect the DVD harness to the PAC Turbo 1 INPUT side, and the other half to connect the Turbo 1 OUTPUT to the headphone jack.





Posts about this install
phpBB2/viewto ... pac+turbo1


Install with no DVD harness available
=====================================
Here are the relevant pics and posts on this. I have not done this install, but it's the same concept, except you are using the connections on the back of the head unit.

Short out pins 38 and 40 on the harness to activate the REAR AV button.

Pin 37 is Left +. Connect this to the headphone jack tip (Left)
Pin 43 is Right +. Connect this to the headphone jack ring (Right).
Pins 39(Left -) and 42 (Right -). Hook both of these up to the headphone jack common.




Posts about this install
http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads ... r=67769452
http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads ... r=67809754


edit by particlefx: added the PDF version

[particlefx]

Thank you gtxjoe for organizing and putting all of this together!

[FXLENT]

I have a question regarding the IPOD mod. Is the reason you did this mod because the signal comes thru the FX stereo as a digital signal versus using this-

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/W ... =T8585LL/A

- which comes thru as just a FM station (non-digital)?

[FXLENT]

anyone?

[MustGoFastR]

I have a question regarding the IPOD mod. Is the reason you did this mod because the signal comes thru the FX stereo as a digital signal versus using this-

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/W ... =T8585LL/A

- which comes thru as just a FM station (non-digital)?

Yes. Direct digital input will give much higher quality sound than an FM modulator. Like difference between radio and CD.

[ShadyJC]

FXcellent, it is not a digital vs. analog thing, the music is delivered via analog methods in both cases (headphone jack).

The primary reason why others (myself included) have gone for the hardwire is for better sound quality. The difference in hardwire is like listening to a song on the radio and then switching over to playing it on CD.

If you've encoded any MP3s yourself I'm sure you're familiar with the ability to adjust the bit rate you encode at - the typical MP3 is recorded at 128 kbps. (CDs have an equivalent recording rate of 1.4mbps).

To give you an idea, most people would equate the sound experience of a telephone call to about 8 kbps and FM stereo to 56 or 64 kbps. By using a FM modulator you are down-stepping the quality of your recorded music to FM capability, and that's assuming you can get a clean signal to your FM radio from the modulator.

My own personal experience is that for me in the LA area the FM dial is so crowded that the modulators are not powerful enough to overcome the station that is legitimately broadcasting on that frequency.

[FXLENT]

Shady,


Thanks for the explanation.

[NXTVGUY]

I just installed my Dell Digital Jukebox using the information gathered here and it is awesome!

Thanks for the information.

Robert

[fxguy]

Can anyone repost the pictures for this install? They don't appear anymore. Thanks!!!

[puppyc73]

My 04 Does not have the dvd harness in the console

Looks like i might have to take the entire unit out and try and connect via the rear of the headunit

[NJ_Jackals]

The first approach uses the unused MES-DVD player harness located under the center storage console. Applies to all '03 and very early '04 models. (My '04 built in Sept had the harness, stormace's '04 built in Oct did not)

My '04 was manufactured in May 2004. After reading this thread last night I opened the back of my center console at 2am expecting to find the dvd harness. No luck. You think it has to do more with location it was manufactured vs. date?

-NJJ

[gtxjoe]

NJ_Jackals, I will update my post above to clarify this, my FX was built in Sept of 2003, not 2004...

[xmen13]

Maybe a stupid question but regarding the inputs. When you all state AUX which button is it? On the console I have:
SAT
AM-FM
TAPE
CD_Rear AV

Is there something I am missing?

Looking on doing the IPOD MOD but don't know about pulling out my whole system to get to the back of the radio. I don;t have a rear Entertainment nor a TECH package

[xmen13]

never mind. Its good if I read the post MOD more carefully.

[quicksmile]

I am planining to add a connection for my I-river (mp3) hopefully I have the harness under the console in my 03 FX. I have downloaded the pdf file, thanks for the clear instructions. The question I have is; when I'll use the rear AV button will it automatically detect the mp3 player and not the CD.
I don't have a DVD , but I do have a SAT player.

[gtxjoe]

After the mod, the button will toggle between CD and Rear AV (Aux) modes

[quicksmile]

Thanks, I was just not clear. I 'll go out and buy the needed materials.

[araczynski]

i'm looking at doing this mod (have the turbo1 already) but am not interested in using the aai-nis harness/adapter....as such, can anyone that's worked with the relevant connectors at the back of the radio comment on whether the male pins on a PC 4 pin molex power supply connector would be too big to be used in there?

i read that the d-sub pins 'might' be a bit too small...

TIA

[rhino]

I just ordered an omnifi setup and was just curious if anyone knows whether a line driver will be required for it. I wired up the mod tonight and hooked up a few different mp3 players. All except for the ipod where low volume. I would assume the omnifi, being a dedicated input device, would have a little higher signal strength. I just wanted to avoid the aai-nis mod so I did it this way. Any ideas?

[iambull]

Hi, I have a 05 tech fx35, the DVD harness was not found under the center armrest console. any idea? thank you very much!

[dmtalon]

Just did this 'mod' on the 45 today and combined with the belkin auto kit makes it awesome for the Ipod.

Taking a Trip down to Dayton next weekend for the daytona 200 (AMA Motorcycle races) and having a charging / clear sounding iPOD will be nice

21xx songs vs searching for a commercial err... radio station

Thanks for coming up with this

[djboyle]

Add me to the list of people with an 04 FX that does not have this harness in the back.

[Judge]

My harness was really tucked away up into the armrest area. I thought I was sol but reached up in there and pulled on whatever I could reach. Ended up with the harness that was fairly strapped down.

[csfx35]

I just took the radio out the FX and I noticed that the DVD connection is completely opposite of the schematic I got from gtxjoe's post I was wondering if any has the schematic for the radio that the 2006 has radio Model # PN-2708N? CLP 2005

[ATLFX07]

So the ipod still ends up in your armrest area? Is there a way to put it so that it is more acessabile?