Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Can you convert an iPod dock to aux 3.5 stereo??? PLEASE HELP!!!

T

Timmy J.

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 22, 2008
12
0
I just bought myself my first new car (I'm 19, so this is a HUGE deal). It's the new 2008 VW Rabbit. I got the optional iPod dock with the car, but now I have a problem.
The car would come stock with an aux 3.5 stereo input, but since I got the iPod dock, they removed the aux. Apparently it's either one or the other. I've had the car for about a month, so it's too late to really do anything about it now. I do use my iPod on the dock, and love it, but I would REALLY REALLY like to use other devices through the stereo. I have used those FM converters, and I really don't like them very much at all.

Is it possible to get some sort of cable or converter to plug into the iPod dock that will make it simply an aux input. I don't really care about the cost, but as far as I can tell, I haven't been able to find anything that even resembles this.
After LOOONG hours of searching the web for anything of this sort, anyone who could post a link or something about where I could purchase/make/whatever something that would make my iPod dock in my car an aux 3.5 sterio input would be a GOD!!! lol


PLEASE HELP!!!


Thanks so much,
Timmy J.
www.myspace.com/timmy_jones
 
Can you post a picture of the dock in the car? I can try to think of an idea if I can visualize it better.
 
Pictures for you

DSC00230.jpg


Is this a good enough picture, I went on a 500 mile round trip in it this past weekend, so it's a lil dirty. lol, j/p. This pictures are below.

DSC00225.jpg

DSC00228.jpg

DSC00229.jpg




It's just a standard iPod male input. Thanks soooo much for tryin to help me out with this one.


Timmy J.
 
I started looking for parts to help you put together a cable. In the process I found this: Input Jive Input Cable.

This is exactly what you're looking for, but for $45. (Ouch.)

I kept looking for other solutions and found this one (a little less fancy and perhaps a bit riskier) for $39.90. Ridax Connectors (click on "iPod Line In/Out Adapters on left frame)

On that same website if you go to "Female iPod Receptacle" you could buy product "C", "Ks", and the strain relief "J". Then I would go to Radio Shack and buy a 6 foot 1/8" (3.5mm) cable. Cut off one end of the cable and leave your desired length. Strip off the insulation to get down to the bare wires and solder them to the part Ks which then gets snapped inside part C. I'm not 100% sure which pins inside the connector are for audio, but there would be one for left, one for ground and one for right. Ultimately, buying a pre-made product would be the best scenario, unless you're the handy type.
 
Wow

I really am amazed that you were able to find some stuff for me. I can't tell you how long I looked, and came up with nothing. I am pretty good with wiring and soldering, but the price tag for the parts almost wouldn't be worth it, u know. Hmmmm, I think that I'll just wait on this for a little bit, but I may end up forking over the highway robbery of $45 for that little cord. I knew that there just had to be something of this nature available for purchase online, but it just didn't think that it would be at such a hefty price tag.
Thank you soooo much for coming up with something for me to use. I may keep looking for a while to see if I can even come up with another version of this product, we'll see. If any1 else can make lightning strike in this same spot and come up with another, cheaper way to convert a male iPod dock to a 3.5 stereo connector, you may be considered as runner up, but Chriswheat has won this user's vote for godlike human. lol.

Tim
 
Are you good at taking things apart?

Another way to tackle this problem may be to tap into the connector at the back of the stereo.

If you're okay with taking your brand-new car apart (I can understand if you're not), and if you are good with electrical work, you can: pull the stereo out, locate where the iPod adapter is plugged in, find the wires that provide the analog audio signal, then splice and solder on a 3.5mm jack (and perhaps a switch to isolate the two inputs).

Of course, that assumes that the signal goes into the stereo in analog (probably a safe assumption). And it assumes that the stereo will still play whatever signal it is given even if it doesn't detect an iPod (a less safe assumption).

It's a lot of work, with some risk of damage if you don't know your way around a dashboard, but the parts will only cost about five bucks at Radio Shack. And it'll provide a much greater feeling of accomplishment when you're done. Or maybe I'm just a nerd like that...
 
LasarCat, I know what you mean with the whole accomplishment thing. Before I bought this car, I had a '95 Nissan 240sx with over 100k miles on it. It wasn't that great of shape when I got it, but after some work, it was pretty nice. I replaced the entire sound system, and put in some lighting affects with the help of a friend, and I did get the accomplishment feeling. I just cannot see pulling out the radio and start cutting wires of a car that's only got 1k miles on it total. It would be a much cheaper solution though.
I may try to unscrew the iPod dock and splice into the cord that runs to the dock, but I don't know what wires are the right, left, and ground wires.
 
Localoid, the cable that amazon has that you said is only $5 is the wrong sex iPod interface. I would need it to be a female interface for that.
The website that you posted with the iPod interface map on it though is great. Now that I know what pins are what, i think that I will go to Radio Shack and some other local parts stores to see if they have the female part. If I can pick it up for <$20 then I'll go for it cause I already have the stripped audio cable with the wires separated and stripped as well.
Thanx a lot Localoid.
I still will continue to look for a cheaper version of the $45 rip-off of a cable that was posted earlier, but I guess if that person makes the only version of it, then he can charge whatever he wants. Even though I think that even $30 for that is high.

Tim
 
I still haven't found anything other than that $45 cord that was posted above. I haven't finished looking through all of the local stores, but I don't think that any1 of them will carry the iPod interface.

Thanks again,
Tim
 
there should be a pin layout which will tell you the pins that the dock uses for audio which you can then splice the 3.5 connector to
 
If you don't care about the cost, you can have someone install an input splitter or switch.

The picture shows the dock connector section in your car seems to be held by a few screws. I doubt they hardwired it, so it would be pretty simple thing to open, insert a splitter, and make a hole for the new audio input.
 
I was seriously thinking of unscrewing that and seeing what's under there. I'm good with wireing/soldering/electrical/ect, but I'm a little hesitant to just start taking apart my brand new car, and cutting wires if I need to. I think that I will unscreww thos to take a look. That can't hurt anything.
 
STEVE!!!!
Your the MAN!!!!!
You straight showed up Chriswheat. lol. Sorry Chris, u got ur ass handed to you, but then again, you two were the only two who actually found this part. lol

But really, thanks to everyone for lookin, Steve got the Gold this time tho. lol.
I will prly buy that off ebay like in a week or two. (cause I'm leaving for a 9 day vacation tomorrow. The Rabbit's goin to Jersey.)

Steve, I really had a bad feelin in my checking account. Yeah, I'm spending my money a lot faster than I thought w/ this car. lol. I jus bought books 4 college, I gotta pay a higher insurance rate, and my dad talked me into paying off one of the 4 years on the car in advance cause I had the money in the account. Can't forget bout workin less with school, and the good old cell phone bill. Plus, I'm not doin bad with gas now, but I'm sure that the oil companies will find a way to bring the prices up again.

Thanks to everyone who read this thread, and to those who posted replies. And I'm sure many people, including myself, will be thanking Steve for that affordable cable.

Here's that link again:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ipod-Female-Doc...690784QQcmdZViewItem?IMSfp=TL0807211319r19798



Tim
 
Results

Timmy,

Did you get the cable? Did it work?

I have the same problem with a GTI and am looking for something like this.
 
LOL, Yeah, I love the arm rest, but it came in the "iPod package." So, they removed the damn aux input. lol.
I have yet to buy the cable. I've been really busy with keeping up with classes now that this semester is in session again, my new AMAZING girl friend, and work(minimum of 20 hours/wk).
I've already made my eBay account, and I was going to get to the PayPal account taken care of sometime soon.
(I'm also looking at getting a set of those rims that come stock on the GTI's. I think that they're called Denver's or Mini Huffs. I think that they look pretty sick, and the best retailer that I could find is an eBay store.)
I will definitely post a comment in these forums about that cable when I do get it though.

Hey, I have a few quick questions for you now. My 2-year contract with AT&T is about to run out again. I will be renewing it, but am not sure if I want an iPhone 3G. My questions are:
Do you know if the iPhones are compatible with the iPod docks in the VW cars?
My main concern isn't really compatibility (in a software aspect), do you know if one will fit in that limited space where the dock is?

This question could probably be answered by anyone in these forums though.
Are the iPhones completely compatible with other iPod accessories and peripherals (from a software standpoint, not physical dimensions)?

Thanks,
Tim
 
Save Your Money

Timmy J,

Save your money on that cable. As I continued to research the links provided I found a note on the CableJuve site. (The $45 cable)

http://www.cablejive.com/faq.html

"The cable does not work with the factory-installed VW iPod interface.

A general guideline if you're automobile isn't listed here is this: if your car stereo is accessing the playlists on your iPod/iPhone and giving you control over the device from the car stereo, neither of these cables will work. In this instance your car is accessing the data on the iPod/iPhone and using that to play music, not the audio output from the device. "

So the search continues.

Basically the factory iPod adaptor replicates a external 6 disc CD changer to the headunit in the dash. This is why the iPod dock is limited to 6 playlists. In the bottom of that tray the dock is in there is a 12 pin connector that plugs in to a printed circuit board and the dock plugs in to it. I have been looking at a product from Blitzsafe but the problem is the cable connection on the factory harness to the printed circuit board is not the same. Still trying to find out from them if there is an adaptor.

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/VW_AUX_DMX_V3A.html
 
Good look Rolfman.

Damn that sucks. Hmmmm, I haven't yet made it to that 5k free oil change time yet, but when I do, I'll ask if there is any way that they could hook up the regular aux input again.
With that, I'd still be able to use my iPod, but also my laptop, and anything else that uses that jack.

We'll see.


So, do you know anything about my other questions about the iPhone being compatible with the dock in the car???? I'd be a little disappointed if I went and got one, but it wouldn't work for one reason or another. lol


Thanks,
Tim
 
The Fix

Timmy J,

Not sure if you are still in the market for a fix to your probelm but there is one out there. The answer is the product from Blitzsafe sold by Enfig Car Stereo.

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/VW_AUX_DMX_V3A.html

If you lift out the black plastic bucket that iPod dock is in you will see the cable assembly it is attached to. Under the foam warpped around it in the middle of the cable is a connector. If you take that apart this product plugs right in. You hit CD button twice and you got your MP3 player.


From a factory stand point there is no way to have both Ipod dock and aux jack. There is another product from those guys that might work for both iPod and Aux In but not sure about it.

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/DENSION_GW15VW1.html

From what I have heard the iPhone would only work as the iPod and would be limited to the 6 playlists. No phone features etc.

Good Luck,

Rolfman
 
Did you ever find a solution?

Hey Timmy J / all,
Did you ever find a solution? I have the exact same problem. Please comment.

Rolfman said:
Timmy J,

Not sure if you are still in the market for a fix to your probelm but there is one out there. The answer is the product from Blitzsafe sold by Enfig Car Stereo.

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/VW_AUX_DMX_V3A.html

If you lift out the black plastic bucket that iPod dock is in you will see the cable assembly it is attached to. Under the foam warpped around it in the middle of the cable is a connector. If you take that apart this product plugs right in. You hit CD button twice and you got your MP3 player.


From a factory stand point there is no way to have both Ipod dock and aux jack. There is another product from those guys that might work for both iPod and Aux In but not sure about it.

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/DENSION_GW15VW1.html

From what I have heard the iPhone would only work as the iPod and would be limited to the 6 playlists. No phone features etc.

Good Luck,

Rolfman
Click to expand...
 
What I did was I got the dock extended from Cable Jive. It's pretty cool. It was pretty pricy, but it works well. I also ended up getting the charge converter as well. So I have the charge converter plugged into my car and the dock extender plugged into that. I plug my iPhone 4 into the dock extended and it charges and I can play music from my iPhone 4 to through the car stereo. They redesigned the cord since I first started looking, I have the redesigned cord. The new cord is a straight extension of every contact in the connector, except like a few video signals. In all, it was more pricy than I wanted to spend, but I'd say it was worth it since I'll have the car for a while. Hope this helps.

Timmy J.
 
Ok but are you using the 3.5mm output?

Thansk so much for replying.
Now i am in more doubt. Do you use the 3.5mm headphone jack? the iphone 4 does not charge from there. I know what you will think but please bare with me. Does that mean that you have two cable comming out? One is the 3.5mm jack and the other is a charge for the iphone? If yes then i am good, can you controll the ipod from the ipod?


Timmy J. said:
What I did was I got the dock extended from Cable Jive. It's pretty cool. It was pretty pricy, but it works well. I also ended up getting the charge converter as well. So I have the charge converter plugged into my car and the dock extender plugged into that. I plug my iPhone 4 into the dock extended and it charges and I can play music from my iPhone 4 to through the car stereo. They redesigned the cord since I first started looking, I have the redesigned cord. The new cord is a straight extension of every contact in the connector, except like a few video signals. In all, it was more pricy than I wanted to spend, but I'd say it was worth it since I'll have the car for a while. Hope this helps.

Timmy J.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back