Jeephrog
01-21-2007, 08:51 PM
I really like to have my iPod music in the Jeep but I really hate all the wires. Also I have found that the sound when using this setup is better than using the headphone jack on the iPod into the AUX.
Today I am about 95% complete on on installing my iPod into my center console. It hasn't been too hard and I know many of you will like the way this turns out, especially those looking for an iPod mount. The iPod mounts I seen look clunky and give away the fact that you have an ipod in your Jeep.
First, the equipment you'll need:
1 Auto Kit for iPod w/ Dock Connector (available at http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=149006)
1 mini- jack cable - about 4 feet long should be enough
4 feet each (enough to go from the power outlet to the center console storage box) 14 gauge red wire and 14 gauge black wire
2 squeeze type wire splicers for 14 gauge. I am not sure of the exact name, but one end of the new wire goes in a hole, the old wire (in the car already) slips into a slot, then the whole thing is squeezed with pliers to make the splice. No stripping necessary.
2 crimp on blade connectors to attach wire to new power outlet
Connectors:
http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Connectors.JPG
1 12v cigarette lighter/power outlet (about $5.00 at Auto zone)
A set of Torx drivers
A drill and a long - at least 8" - drill bit, about the size of the thickness of the end of Belkin iPod connector
A hacksaw blade.
1. First, get a good idea of the size of the iPod end of the Belkin outlet. Drill a couple of holes into the center of lower shelf at the interior right front of the center console. (will post picture). Use the hacksaw blade to cut the rest of the hole big enough to fit the connector through.
2. Now, remove all the torx screws on the bottom part of the center console. Lift the grey side up and partially away from the console box. Lift the console box up and back enough to get your hand underneath and in fron of it ( I did not disconnect the plug for the rear window switches). Push the iPod connector through your hole from the bottom.
Sample hole:
http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/CenterBoxHole.JPG
3. Have a beer now and take a break. This was not as easy as it sounds.
4. While taking your break, crimp the blade connectors onto one end of the black and red wires.
5. After break, follow BeerMonkeys instructions for removing the center dash. I will give you some additional hints on that. His write-up is here: http://jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=706
6. My hints are to use a wide metal putty knife to pop open the top panel and to help with removal of the blank piece. You do not have to remove the stereo, just put your Jeep in a gear that allows you to get the bottom of the dash pulled out a bit.
7. Oh yeah, if you haven't already, you may want to disconnect your battery. I didn't, but I like sparks and that tingling sensation........
8. Now that you have the dash open, find the wires (there is a black one and a red one) going to the back of the power outlet. (I used the outlet on the right because it is un-switched and allows power to components all the time and the iPod stops drawing power when it is fully charged).
If you chose not to disconnect your battery, now would be a good time to put some electrical tape over those spade connectors that you installed while having your beer. Pretty soon, if those touch each other, you will likely get sparks.
OK - - All electrical safety precautions have now been announced……
9. Use the crimp splicers to splice the new red wire to the red wire on the outlet. Do the same for the black wires.
Note: If you have a mulit-meter and know how to use it, now would be a good time to ensure that the red wire, which is supposed to be positive, does indeed go to the center post of the outlet, which is also supposed to be positive. Hooking this up wrong could burn out our iPod.
10. Run the spade ends of the wires down under the center console and out the side near the passenger seat.
Connect the spade connector on the red wire to the center post of the new outlet. Connect the spade connector on the black wire to the other connector on the new outlet.
11. Reconnect your battery.
12. Plug the Belkin thing into the new power outlet. If you did things right you should get a green light on the Belkin. Plug your iPod into the Belkin – it should start to charge.
13. Now, connect your one end of your mini-plug cable to your Belkin and the other to the AUX port on your stereo. Turn on your stereo and select the AUX input and fire up some tunes on the iPod. If you have done everything right to this point you will hear your iPod music. If you don’t hear music, adjust the volume wheel on the Belkin until you do. If that doesn’t work, check your crimp splices and ensure you have power to the outlet.
14. Hopefully you heard your music. You should adjust the volume using the volume wheel on the Belkin to get the sound level you want. The iPod volume control will do nothing in this configuration and you won’t be able the reach the Belkin plug any more after this.
15. Using electrical tape, wrap up the connectors and the end of the new outlet to prevent shorts.
16. Unplug the mini-jack from the stereo
17. Pull most of the Belkin wire up through the hole and into the center box while pushing the plug and outlet under the center console and in front of the center box.
18. Push the black, red, and the mini-jack wires under the center console.
19. Route the mini-jack wire up through the dash and out the side near the AUX port.
20. Re-install the dash and center console.
21. Plug the mini-jack back in and you are pretty much done.
22. I haven’t done this yet, but I am going to install an elastic strap inside the box a couple of inches over the hole to hold the iPod. I have also used a little furniture slide thing on the front of the box to keep the iPod from rattling. You can se it in the picture.
Sorry, my camera battery was dead when I had the dash off :(
Finsihed Dashboard:
http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/Finished.JPG
Today I am about 95% complete on on installing my iPod into my center console. It hasn't been too hard and I know many of you will like the way this turns out, especially those looking for an iPod mount. The iPod mounts I seen look clunky and give away the fact that you have an ipod in your Jeep.
First, the equipment you'll need:
1 Auto Kit for iPod w/ Dock Connector (available at http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=149006)
1 mini- jack cable - about 4 feet long should be enough
4 feet each (enough to go from the power outlet to the center console storage box) 14 gauge red wire and 14 gauge black wire
2 squeeze type wire splicers for 14 gauge. I am not sure of the exact name, but one end of the new wire goes in a hole, the old wire (in the car already) slips into a slot, then the whole thing is squeezed with pliers to make the splice. No stripping necessary.
2 crimp on blade connectors to attach wire to new power outlet
Connectors:
http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Connectors.JPG
1 12v cigarette lighter/power outlet (about $5.00 at Auto zone)
A set of Torx drivers
A drill and a long - at least 8" - drill bit, about the size of the thickness of the end of Belkin iPod connector
A hacksaw blade.
1. First, get a good idea of the size of the iPod end of the Belkin outlet. Drill a couple of holes into the center of lower shelf at the interior right front of the center console. (will post picture). Use the hacksaw blade to cut the rest of the hole big enough to fit the connector through.
2. Now, remove all the torx screws on the bottom part of the center console. Lift the grey side up and partially away from the console box. Lift the console box up and back enough to get your hand underneath and in fron of it ( I did not disconnect the plug for the rear window switches). Push the iPod connector through your hole from the bottom.
Sample hole:
http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/CenterBoxHole.JPG
3. Have a beer now and take a break. This was not as easy as it sounds.
4. While taking your break, crimp the blade connectors onto one end of the black and red wires.
5. After break, follow BeerMonkeys instructions for removing the center dash. I will give you some additional hints on that. His write-up is here: http://jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=706
6. My hints are to use a wide metal putty knife to pop open the top panel and to help with removal of the blank piece. You do not have to remove the stereo, just put your Jeep in a gear that allows you to get the bottom of the dash pulled out a bit.
7. Oh yeah, if you haven't already, you may want to disconnect your battery. I didn't, but I like sparks and that tingling sensation........
8. Now that you have the dash open, find the wires (there is a black one and a red one) going to the back of the power outlet. (I used the outlet on the right because it is un-switched and allows power to components all the time and the iPod stops drawing power when it is fully charged).
If you chose not to disconnect your battery, now would be a good time to put some electrical tape over those spade connectors that you installed while having your beer. Pretty soon, if those touch each other, you will likely get sparks.
OK - - All electrical safety precautions have now been announced……
9. Use the crimp splicers to splice the new red wire to the red wire on the outlet. Do the same for the black wires.
Note: If you have a mulit-meter and know how to use it, now would be a good time to ensure that the red wire, which is supposed to be positive, does indeed go to the center post of the outlet, which is also supposed to be positive. Hooking this up wrong could burn out our iPod.
10. Run the spade ends of the wires down under the center console and out the side near the passenger seat.
Connect the spade connector on the red wire to the center post of the new outlet. Connect the spade connector on the black wire to the other connector on the new outlet.
11. Reconnect your battery.
12. Plug the Belkin thing into the new power outlet. If you did things right you should get a green light on the Belkin. Plug your iPod into the Belkin – it should start to charge.
13. Now, connect your one end of your mini-plug cable to your Belkin and the other to the AUX port on your stereo. Turn on your stereo and select the AUX input and fire up some tunes on the iPod. If you have done everything right to this point you will hear your iPod music. If you don’t hear music, adjust the volume wheel on the Belkin until you do. If that doesn’t work, check your crimp splices and ensure you have power to the outlet.
14. Hopefully you heard your music. You should adjust the volume using the volume wheel on the Belkin to get the sound level you want. The iPod volume control will do nothing in this configuration and you won’t be able the reach the Belkin plug any more after this.
15. Using electrical tape, wrap up the connectors and the end of the new outlet to prevent shorts.
16. Unplug the mini-jack from the stereo
17. Pull most of the Belkin wire up through the hole and into the center box while pushing the plug and outlet under the center console and in front of the center box.
18. Push the black, red, and the mini-jack wires under the center console.
19. Route the mini-jack wire up through the dash and out the side near the AUX port.
20. Re-install the dash and center console.
21. Plug the mini-jack back in and you are pretty much done.
22. I haven’t done this yet, but I am going to install an elastic strap inside the box a couple of inches over the hole to hold the iPod. I have also used a little furniture slide thing on the front of the box to keep the iPod from rattling. You can se it in the picture.
Sorry, my camera battery was dead when I had the dash off :(
Finsihed Dashboard:
http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/Finished.JPG