lovin_my_C230K

I did it!

First of all I must give all recognition to Crytnotic. His information was the only way I could do this.

Cryptnotics original thread

What was done:

Hard wired an 1/8in aux cable to the tape deck of the w203 stereo. This gives much better sound quality than a tape adapter or an RF adapter. I did this to connect my iPod to my stereo.

I went ahead and took some pictures to help aid anyone who wanted to try Cryptnotics instruction.

Pictures from my install

The sound is great! If you have questions feel free to reply to this thread.

I may write more soon. But I'm gonna go for now. (Girlfriend is here)

....Can anyone read what song and artist is on the iPod?....

Silver_Lana

Loving my iPod in the car too.... Artist: MBWorld.org

C230 Sport Coup

Anybody have a schematic?

And is it possible to have Aux and keep the tape player functional?

VoyagerDude

Perhaps it would be a good idea to install a switch into the glove compartment or ashtray that can toggle between TAPE and AUX.
It would mean running a few more wires into that switch.

jmartinacevedo

Excellent write up. Thanks for the pictures. Can you please post a picturer of what the audio cable looks like at the end. Does it end in two RCAs? 1/8" stereo (female)? Please post pic.
Thanks!
Martin-

P.S. I want to use this set up to install Sirius Sat Radio. Does anyone know what kind of audio input I need? (RCAs?).

lovin_my_C230K

As of right now I have about a 4 foot cable coming out of the ashtray area that has a 1/8 male going directly into my iPod. In the future I will setup a firewire power connector and setup some sort of fancy harness to hold the ipod and conceal the wires a bit.

-Eric

Oooh have I been iPodding lateley!

Blaxer

Hey Lovin_my_C230K Big Big shout out to you and Cryptnotic. Pulled my radio out tonight, modded it and about an hour and a half later I had aux inputs. Thanks so much! It sounds just as good as the 6 disc changer, if not better!


Blax...

20FHK02

$H!T, when I was about the put the things back, I saw two sockets for the top console control unit plug..... which socket should I plug into? The one on the left (1) or right (2)????????

Thanks a million!!!!!

RI203

The right one or #2 on your pic

20FHK02

Thanks everybody for the help and instructions!!!!!! Here is my version.

When not in use:

20FHK02

When needed, plug in a 1/8" (3.5 mm) male-to-male connector:

lovin_my_C230K

Nice work 20FHK02. I like it setup that way.

Clean!

-Eric

VoyagerDude

Yeah looks clean!!


Wouldn't it be nice to be able to make an AUX input that is activated by the TEL button?

Come on geniuses, make it happen, please

20FHK02

But nothing could be done without your pictures!
Cryptnotic's instruction was good but too technical for my understanding without figures heheee...

BTW, this is the mounting kit that I made:

20FHK02

And make them switchable too!

VoyagerDude

Exactly!

I challenge all the bright people here
Can you do it?

20FHK02

Me?? I need instructions and pictures please!

taylor192

Would the same install be possible on the Audo 10 CD player?

I assume tat the CD player does share the basic design principles as the cassette after the D/As convert the digital music into an audio signal... without a CD in, those audio lines could be driven by an external source, but is the rest of the audio path still on? When a CD isn't playing there appears to be no noise emitted from thespeakers, thus making me think the audio output paths become grounded when a CD isn't spinning... more research needed...

peet

I wired a pair of RCA's to my Audio 30. Then I hooked up a 1/8 male to dual RCA and ran the cable into the ashtray area. Took out the ash tray and lo and behold, the ipod while plugged in fits in there. So when I am out of the car, it's hidden by the ashtray door, and when I am in the car the pod sits on the cover for the cupholder.

Peet

Cryptnotic

I'm so glad that people actually tried my directions and were able to follow them and modify the radio for an AUX input. And I'm really glad that someone took pictures along the way (unlike me). Hopefully in the future, auto manufacturers will just make AUX input jacks standard on all car radios.

mercdude

Hi guys, congratulations on such an excellent findings!

Just a quick questions before I commence the surgery on my radio;

1. What happen if I don't cut the trace and just solder the coax, will the aux input work?

2. What about leaving the power to the motor intact, will it affect anything?

Any information is greatly appreaciate it.

Thanks heaps!

lovin_my_C230K

I would think that you could have problems with power going TO the tape controller. (as apposed to coming out of) I'm not possitive. The best way to do it would be to setup some sort of switch to control what imput going to the stereo.

It shouldn't. It would just be running all the time.



Good Luck.

-Eric

20FHK02

I think this will affect the playback. Say, if you eject the tape from the deck, then the unit will cut off any signal sending through the line.

And, if you leave the tape inside then it will be turned because the motors are still connected.

mercdude

Thanks again for the information guys!

I will put a switch for sure then.

I am thinking of using this switch because my car doesn't have this option (I think is something to do with the car alarm) so I could go to the delaer & get this switch, make it look like stock.

From what I can understand the back of these switches are concealed in the trim panel.

I may need to put a relay to swith the L + R coax and the 2 negative power for the motor

Have anyone ever work with these switches?

Thanks!

Buellwinkle

That switch may be momentary SPST to trip a relay so it won't suit your needs. You need a different kind of switch altogether. First off you cut the wire on on two motors and 2 traces. You can probably combine the 2 ground wires to the motor as one. So you need a switch that will close these 3 circuits independently with one flip of a switch. This is called a triple pole, single throw (3PST) switch. I checked RadioShack.com but they don't have any multiple pole single throw switches so a comprehensive electronics store would be the place to go to.