Steve Langridge
Member
Hi. I've browsed a few threads on here already and I can probably muddle my way through with a bit of trial and error, but anyway I thought I'd ask a few questions which may help with my overall understanding as well as with less trial and less error!
(I have installed an aux in cable in a pretty crude way in the past in a Mazda and a Peugeot (yes I'll wash my mouth out!). Because neither of those vehicles had the right wiring, I did it using a device which you may be familiar with, which basically sits between the header unit and the external antenna and effectively you tune the device to an unused area of the FM band and you can play your iPod as if it was an FM radio station. I don't want to do this unless I have to because although it works it's pretty crude and of course FM coverage is pretty full and the available frequencies vary when you travel around, which means that the iPod's frequency can clash with 'real' radio stations and of course then the playback is interfered with.)
So I know from other threads that there is a 'proper' way to do this in the A2 via a box which can be bought off Ebay or Amazon.
Here's what I'm asking and please by all means just point me in the right direction if these questions are answered elsewhere:
I haven't pulled the header unit out yet so I'm not quite sure what lies behind. 1) What am I going to find? Is what's back there standard on all A2s or does it vary by model? (It's my other half's car, a 2002 1.4SE). 2) Also, do the additional boxes which provide the aux in facility depend on the A2's wiring, or on the header unit wiring, or both? (I don't have a pic of the header unit to hand but it's an FM/MW radio with a single CD input. I can do a pic and post it if that helps). 3) I would gladly sacrifice the CD input facility because that isn't used, and would use its wiring if it is possible and/or would make installation simpler. Does that make any difference to the choices I may make? 4) Do the aux in boxes require splicing into the wiring loom or is power delivered via one of those multi-wire plug interfaces? 5) Do you have a recommended device which works for you, especially one which is relatively hassle-free to install?
I know this is a bit long-winded but thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any pointers.
Cheers, Steve
(I have installed an aux in cable in a pretty crude way in the past in a Mazda and a Peugeot (yes I'll wash my mouth out!). Because neither of those vehicles had the right wiring, I did it using a device which you may be familiar with, which basically sits between the header unit and the external antenna and effectively you tune the device to an unused area of the FM band and you can play your iPod as if it was an FM radio station. I don't want to do this unless I have to because although it works it's pretty crude and of course FM coverage is pretty full and the available frequencies vary when you travel around, which means that the iPod's frequency can clash with 'real' radio stations and of course then the playback is interfered with.)
So I know from other threads that there is a 'proper' way to do this in the A2 via a box which can be bought off Ebay or Amazon.
Here's what I'm asking and please by all means just point me in the right direction if these questions are answered elsewhere:
I haven't pulled the header unit out yet so I'm not quite sure what lies behind. 1) What am I going to find? Is what's back there standard on all A2s or does it vary by model? (It's my other half's car, a 2002 1.4SE). 2) Also, do the additional boxes which provide the aux in facility depend on the A2's wiring, or on the header unit wiring, or both? (I don't have a pic of the header unit to hand but it's an FM/MW radio with a single CD input. I can do a pic and post it if that helps). 3) I would gladly sacrifice the CD input facility because that isn't used, and would use its wiring if it is possible and/or would make installation simpler. Does that make any difference to the choices I may make? 4) Do the aux in boxes require splicing into the wiring loom or is power delivered via one of those multi-wire plug interfaces? 5) Do you have a recommended device which works for you, especially one which is relatively hassle-free to install?
I know this is a bit long-winded but thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any pointers.
Cheers, Steve