iPod in Car Update

Opened Up Dash and Center Console
(Click for more…)

Well, there’s the center console of my car as I had it opened up last night in order to figure out wiring stuffs. I ended up taking the following notes on these three pages which should cover everything I need to get my iPod nicely connected to the Aux In, without any visible wires:

· Accessory Power Socket pinout and notes.
· Auxiliary Jack Assembly pinout and notes.
· Connector E on Navigation Unit pinout and notes.

Despite a bit of digging in the dashboard (photo) I was unable to find a keyed +12v source on Connector E, which is the one which is used to connect audio accessories such as XM, CD changers, and the Honda Music Link. There are two sources of +12v there, but they don’t switch off when the vehicle is turned off. I can only assume that the Honda Music Link works by using a relay to turn off the power sent to the iPod when the vehicle is switched off by noticing a lack of data coming from the Navigation Unit or something, not by a simple loss of power on some lines. Ah well.

That said, I think I’m going to instead get power from the back of the Accessory Power Socket. It turns out that the connector is a simple pair of 1/4″ spade connectors with some nicely moulded plastic around it. I should be able to make a small harness which allows me to both collect power from there and pass power through to the existing socket, so it can still be used.

As far as audio goes, the back of the Auxiliary Jack Assembly is a bank of five pins, .100″ (2.54mm) apart, and just about 3/8″ long each. Of these five pins, the first two are shorted together when a 1/8″ (3.5mm) plug is inserted into the jack. This signals to the Navigation Unit that there is something connected to the Aux In and to make this an available input option via the interface. The other three pins are the standard Left / Right / Ground (Tip / Ring / Sleeve). So, I just need to get a small bank of the appropriate pins, short the first two together, and wire the other three back to the box where all the connections are made.

So, yeah. Lots of progress last night… I only had one problem, which I’m really kicking myself over. See, the navigation unit is held down by two 8mm-head bolts which are inserted from the underside. This probably also makes it a lot harder to steal. Anyway, when inserting one of the bolts I accidently dropped through a relatively small hole and it into the center console where it seems lost. I think it may have rolled to the side and is now somewhere under the carpet. There is still one bolt holding it pretty solidly, but I feel quite stupid about it all. Ah well.