Less than cool car, Kinda cool install

[chucktaylor]

I just finished the install on my Bronco (If I told you the year, you'd laugh considering most here seem to drive 2002 and newer). I am very happy with the results and will post a pictures tonight or tomorrow. Here's a brief description:

1. SIK Imp (Line out Audio & Charging). $30
2. 1/8" Male-Male Audio Extension Cable. $12
3. RadioShack AC Vent Cell Phone Mount (Surprised how well it fits). $25
4. RadioShack Cigarette Adapter (Spliced in so wouldn't have to plug in each time). $7
5. RadioShack Two-way Switch (See below). $3

Total = $77

Not Much out of the ordinary with my install except that I decided to install a switch that would control the charging of the ipod. I wanted to hide the cigarette adapter, but at the same time wanted to control whether or not it charged the iPod. My concern was that with as much as I drive, constantly charging the iPod could be bad for the battery.

Only a couple regrets. When I bought my car stereo a year ago, I didn't opt for the slightly more expensive model that had an AUX input on the front & back. Mine is only on the front, but who cares. I also didn't notice how much I was spending on the install until I just added it up. Again, oh well.

I tried mounting the dock and had my iPod jump out a couple of times , this works much better

[chucktaylor]

Here are some pictures of the finished install.

[chucktaylor]

Another angle

[chucktaylor]

Power Switch

[chucktaylor]

CD Deck Face

[chucktaylor]

Sittin' Pretty

[joggy]

My setup is basically same as yours including the cellphone mount - excellent find.

I want to clean mine up though, similar to what you have. Right now my (belkin) charger/line out is plugged into my regular cigarette lighter on dash with line to Aux Input in front of deck, and dock connecter to pod. To hide this part of the setup iw would run everything behind dash and I assume I need these(?):

4. RadioShack Cigarette Adapter (Spliced in so wouldn't have
to plug in each time). $7
5. RadioShack Two-way Switch (See below). $3

If so, what is the 2 way switch for?

Also, is it necessary to splice the adapter?

Any input from what you did is appreciated, thanks!

[chucktaylor]

The switch is used to cut power (charging) to the iPod without having to unplug the cigarette charger. I didn't want to charge the battery all the time. I thought it would be bad for the battery in the iPod.

you don't "have" to splice into the current cigarette lighter, it was just a convenient source of power for me.

On a side note, i think i may have wired incorrectly because I got a dead battery yesterday. Could be coincidence (battery was very old), but it was a matter of 24-28 hours after hooking it up before the car battery died. I'm going to check with my dad (electrician) next time I see him.

[joggy]

awesome. makes sense now - thanks chucktaylor

[bhb399mm]

looks good bro good job

[zilla31]

hey chucktaylor - i'm a noob with a question - my new nissan titan comes with an aux input right on the front face - can i just use that radio shack male-to-male to connect my ipod to the headunit via that front input? and that's all there is to it? where does the other end of the male-to-male plug (on the ipod)? into the headphone jack or something? sorry if i sound dumb

[Tygh]

Zilla, you can go that route, but the sound quality is only so/so. If you get something like the SIK Imp, which uses the docking plug, the sound quality is surprisingly better. You can then use the male-male line to plug into your headunit.

[CameronS]

Hey, did you ever figure out why your battery died? I would like to know the update because i want to do a simular install with the way oyu used the extra cigarette lighter and stuf.. Let us know, thanks

[chinhster]

It was probably a coincidence. The first time I wired my iPod with a Belkin autokit to my car, the battery died within a few days. I looked online and found out that the manufacturer battery that comes with my car tends to only last a couple of years. It was just a bad battery but a strange coincidence.

I got a new battery and haven't had the battery die since.

[chucktaylor]

Sorry, haven't been on much lately. My battery was just dead. I replaced it and haven't had any problems since. I'm thinking that maybe the extra strain on the battery (although not much at all!) was too much for the old thing. I needed a new one anyway. the terminals were all corroded anyway.