My car install (with pics)

[Delroy666]

I finally got my iPod set up in my car ('95 Trans Am) and thought I'd share my setup with everyone...

I picked up an adjustable cell phone holder for about $10. It's actually two pieces: the holder itself and a clip that attaches to the dash which the holder slides onto. The clip came with flexible rubber riveted to the back that you can stick to your dash with double sided tape. That would never hold, so I cut this rubber piece off and used the rivet holes to bolt the clip to a piece of metal I found.

I liked the Panavise InDash-type mounting solution, so I sort of 'borrowed' from this idea. I bent the metal piece so that it could be attached securely to one of the stereo mounting holes. This gets covered by a trim piece that goes on around the stereo.

The Belkin Auto Kit is plugged into an extra cigarette lighter I wired behind the dash, so I can still unplug it if I want to use it in another car. I connected it so that it's only on when the car's ignition is on. My head unit (Nakamichi CD-45z) actually has TWO sets of RCA line inputs, so I just used a 3.5mm-to-RCA cable from the Belkin's line-out.

The Belkin was about $70, and I already had the cable, so with the holder I ended up spending about $80 CDN.

Some pics:

http://ca.photos.yahoo.com/delroy666

Delroy666

[jasonmccabe]

That's nice!

[LiquidGUI]

Very nice job. I like how well postioned it is so you dont have to look down too far when driving.

[tonicboy]

Nice install. I'm surprised the stereo trim fit over the metal plate. Did you have trouble with that?

[Delroy666]

Nice install. I'm surprised the stereo trim fit over the metal plate. Did you have trouble with that?

Thanks! Nope, I had no trouble getting the trim back on. If the metal was much thicker, it might have been an issue though.

I had been using the drink holder in the center console to hold the iPod, which didn't leave the dock connector accesible and required taking my eyes completely off the road. I thought I'd better come up with a better solution before I ran over someone.

Now if I could just change tracks using the stereo controls on the steering wheel, and have the iPod play/pause when turning the car on and off, I'd be all set. :)

Delroy666

[sacarmic]

Delroy 666,
So did you cut off the Belkin cigarette lighter end off and just hardwire the power and audio out's?

[Delroy666]

No, I actually kept the Belkin completely intact. I bought an extra cigarette lighter socket, soldered wires onto it and connected it to power behind the dash. It's still easy to unplug the Belkin and remove it from the car. Doing this also left the original cigarette lighter socket on the front of the dash available, in case I want to plug in the cellphone, GPS or whatever.

Delroy666

[santaklaws]

Help me do it on mine...j/k. Nice job.

[tonicboy]

Originally posted by santaklaws
Help me do it on mine...j/k. Nice job.

it's really not that hard. what is your car's make and model? OEM head unit? if not, what head unit?


check out this site for some instructions on how to install car audio into your car:
http://www.installdr.com/

or, buy the Chilton's manual for your car.

[BigIzz]

How much did the extra cigarette lighter socket cost and where did you get it? Are they all the same? I was thinking of doing something similar in my Eclipse, but I wouldn't have a problem disabling the in dash lighter socket because I don't ever use it. I know the wires have connectors and easily snap on and off, would I be able to easily snap them on to a new socket I bought?

[tonicboy]

Originally posted by BigIzz
How much did the extra cigarette lighter socket cost and where did you get it? Are they all the same? I was thinking of doing something similar in my Eclipse, but I wouldn't have a problem disabling the in dash lighter socket because I don't ever use it. I know the wires have connectors and easily snap on and off, would I be able to easily snap them on to a new socket I bought? $5.99 from RadioShack. Works for any car and requires no electrical work or soldering. Just snap it on and clamp it with some pliers. You can't take the leads from your OEM socket and plug them into a new one, though (at least not this one).

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F009%5F001%5F002%5F000&product%5Fid=270%2D1556

Check out this for a detailed pic of the socket in action.

http://public.fotki.com/tonicboy/ipod_car_install/resize_of_img_2767.html

The white wire is the existing socket's hot-wire. The red wire is the new socket's hotwire. The blue thing holds the two wires together and there is a little guillotine that, when squeezed, partially cuts both wires and creates the tap.

[BigIzz]

Thanks for the info, I'll look into it. Maybe ill check the local junkyard to see if I can find a socket that'll work with my OEM leads...

[Delroy666]

I got my cigarette lighter socket at Canadian Tire for about $10. They have OEM replacement sockets for various makes of cars that plug into the existing connector. In my case that didn't really matter since I was soldering wires to it instead. In the States, I imagine any auto parts stores would carry these. That Radio Shack thing looks pretty good too.

Delroy666

[Stingrey]

Most of the good pics can be viewed @ http://stingrey.com/guitars/ipod/ The car is for sale by the way, http://wwrd.com has more pics of the setup. I am in love with my iPod setup in my car, I am selling to get an 00 Vette and will be taking on the same project there :)

Rey!