motobill
04-30-2004, 11:38 AM
SEE MY NEXT POST FOR PICTURES. THIS IS ONLY THE SAGA.
well, i spent the better part of today installing the new ice-link in my audi. although it looks good, really good, it doesn't work (yet) because the radio doesn't automatically "see" the new device (i.e. not plug-n-play). they don't tell you that on the website or in the instructions. so now i have to go to my dealer and have them program the radio to enable the 2nd cd player that the ice-link replicates.
that all said, if you're going to tackle this project yourself, be prepared and read on. prepared:
1. audio extraction tools - got mine on ebay
2. bentley reapair manual for the car's model year (wiring diagrams are invaluable)
3. volt meter to make sure you're on the correct wire
4. tape, wire ties, double stick tape, etc.
unless the area behind your radio is laid out differntly than my car, don't waste any time trying to figure out whether the "connects 2" (siver box in the pictures) will fit back there - it won't. i mounted it with double stick tape under the right side of the driver's footwell (over the gas pedal). it's out of the way there and completely concealed. i routed the wire for the craddle out the right side of the center console and tucked it under the lip. the wires that come off the wiring harness and are connected to the "connects 2" don't reach when the radio is pulled out so you need to tape it to a snake so you can pull it through the space by the driver's footwell while the radio is being pushed back. (do you get the sense i got more than i bargained for?)
UPDATE 5/8/04
spoke with tom @ dension yesterday. he was very helpful. we narrowed the possibilities down to 2 potential problems. 1 - unit is defective; 2 - the power is connected to the wrong wire (which i started suspecting earlier in the week).
pulled the thing apart this morning and connected the power to the CONSTANT +12V wire. PROBLEM SOLVED! the instructions say to connect to the constant +12v, but instead i connected to a switched power supply - should have followed the directions.
one last point - when re-connecting the harnesses on the back of the radio, make sure the one with the power supply is the LAST ONE CONNECTED, otherwise the head display says "CDC1 LOAD" and nothing happens. (disconnecting and re-connecting the battery may accomplish the same thing, but i didn't do that).
I'M TOTALLY HAPPY NOW & LOOKING FORWARD TO A LONG DRIVE SOMEWHERE!
well, i spent the better part of today installing the new ice-link in my audi. although it looks good, really good, it doesn't work (yet) because the radio doesn't automatically "see" the new device (i.e. not plug-n-play). they don't tell you that on the website or in the instructions. so now i have to go to my dealer and have them program the radio to enable the 2nd cd player that the ice-link replicates.
that all said, if you're going to tackle this project yourself, be prepared and read on. prepared:
1. audio extraction tools - got mine on ebay
2. bentley reapair manual for the car's model year (wiring diagrams are invaluable)
3. volt meter to make sure you're on the correct wire
4. tape, wire ties, double stick tape, etc.
unless the area behind your radio is laid out differntly than my car, don't waste any time trying to figure out whether the "connects 2" (siver box in the pictures) will fit back there - it won't. i mounted it with double stick tape under the right side of the driver's footwell (over the gas pedal). it's out of the way there and completely concealed. i routed the wire for the craddle out the right side of the center console and tucked it under the lip. the wires that come off the wiring harness and are connected to the "connects 2" don't reach when the radio is pulled out so you need to tape it to a snake so you can pull it through the space by the driver's footwell while the radio is being pushed back. (do you get the sense i got more than i bargained for?)
UPDATE 5/8/04
spoke with tom @ dension yesterday. he was very helpful. we narrowed the possibilities down to 2 potential problems. 1 - unit is defective; 2 - the power is connected to the wrong wire (which i started suspecting earlier in the week).
pulled the thing apart this morning and connected the power to the CONSTANT +12V wire. PROBLEM SOLVED! the instructions say to connect to the constant +12v, but instead i connected to a switched power supply - should have followed the directions.
one last point - when re-connecting the harnesses on the back of the radio, make sure the one with the power supply is the LAST ONE CONNECTED, otherwise the head display says "CDC1 LOAD" and nothing happens. (disconnecting and re-connecting the battery may accomplish the same thing, but i didn't do that).
I'M TOTALLY HAPPY NOW & LOOKING FORWARD TO A LONG DRIVE SOMEWHERE!