*** This mod works with the stock Forester XT 6-disk head unit...no modifications are required !!! ***

I just finished my iPod adapter and plugged it in...wow what a difference over the FM adapter! I made it myself in around half an hour, then it took about fifteen minutes to install. I just followed the directions of BOXXER on this thread: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hreadid=459029

The list of items needed are as follows:
1. 13pin mimi din plug ($9.94) http://www.connectworld.net/cgi-bin/iec/DN13M
2. 3ft of patch cord with 1/8" male stereo headphone jack on one end (a patch cord can be bought from Radio Shack and one end cut off; $4.99) http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=42%2D2387
3. OPTIONAL - Belkin Auto Kit for iPod w/ Dock Connector ($49.99...can get cheaper if you shop around online, ie Amazon is $31.99) http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=149006
4. A CD with a continuous blank track. I downloaded John Cage's song 4'33" 16 times on a CD (for those of you who don't know John Cage is famous for recording four minutes of perfect silence and calling it a song!) or you can use Sony's free Sound Forge Demo download and record one continuous blank track for the whole length of the CD.

My total cost was around $50 for the whole thing but you can do it cheaper if you don't get the Belkin. It just makes it a cleaner installation and charges it to boot.

To make the adapter:
1. Cut one end off the patch cord and make the length around 3ft.
2. The phono patch cord has either 4 wires in it (2 center wires and 2 wrapped around the outside) or 3 wires (2 center and 1 wrap). Solder each of the 4 wires to the 13pin plug terminals 1,2,3,4 for R+,R-,L+,L- respectively.
(If you have 3 wires, the two center ones are L+ and R+, the outer wrap is a common ground and must be split in two and soldered to L- and R-)
3. Reassemble the plug and you're done...that's it!



To install the darned thing:
1. Carefully pull up on the rear edge of the plastic shifter boot housing. It will release from the center console revealing 2 screws on the bottom edge of the center panel.
2. Unscrew those 2 screws and set aside.
3. Now the hard part, you have to use a flat screwdriver and pry the center panel out. The Suabru instructions call for putting thick tape around the edge of the center panel on the dash itself to prevent maring. Pull gently on the lower edge of the center panel while carefully prying around the edge with the screwdriver. I found prying the screwdriver handle inwards worked best for me.
4. Unclip the 3 connectors behind the panel
5. Unscrew the 4 screws holding in the radio.
6. Pull out the radio and plug in your adapter.
7. Feed the adapter cord wherever you want it to go. I recomend through the center tunel to the storage container between the seats.
8. Reinstall everything in reverse order.
9. Plug in the optional Belkin adapter. Plug in the patch cord to the Belkin adapter.
10. Put your blank track CD in the changer.
DONE!!!

All I do now is play my blank CD, select the iPod songs I want, and the music comes out beautifully. Enjoy.

I just bought an iTrip. This is a must do mod for me.
Richard

Just took some pictures to show how it all turned out!

1. This shows the length of the patch cord I have left. It's extra long in case I want to use my Sonic Rio instead of the iPod.


2. With patch cable tucked in, also shows hole I drilled. Very clean.


3. The whole thing together


4. Lid closes right over cord without any problems. Belkin cord is also long enough to hit the dash if I want to get a iPod dash mount. To top it off, everything just drops into the center console when I leave the car so no one can steal it!

Just an FYI. iPods are not water proof.

If you can will you repost the mod in the contributions section of Scoobymods? I think it would be a good addition

Peaty

ipod geeks

hooray for John Cage .. his estate sued a british composer for releasing another silence track saying it infringed on the Cage silence composition .. and Cage won a six figure settlement ..

this mod would work on the WRX with 6 disc changer?

I thought it might me a little ironic that I downloaded it! I hope Cage's estate doesn't come after me.

Couldn't say (since I have a FXT), but if the WRX shares the same 13pin round cd changer plug in back...then yeah, it should!

WRX is a panasonic. Totally different connector.

I found some other info that might be of interest.

cbus pinout
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...089#post106089

and another supposed cbus pinout.

http://www.kipshively.com/kip/stereo/cbus.htm

Those 2 pinout diagrams do point to the possibility that the clarion protocol is I2C. Here's the spec.

Now, any EE gurus out there can come up with a way to fool the deck into thinking there's a changer connected without using a PIC or what have you? Maybe all the deck needs is a pusle signal or even high or low signal to the data line and clock line?

sucks for us wrx ipod owners .. i guess im still waiting for the alpine ipod headunits .. patience ..

irmiger,

can you repost pics, or update links ... I wanna see the awsome job you did

Great job. I've been worried about how in the world I'm going to connect my iPod without a cassette adaptor when I upgrade to either a FXT or Legacy GT. Neither model has cassette players anymore!

Ken

I think this might be the same trouble I had with my Sony amp ... requires a digital START and STOP signal to initiate the flick to AUX mode I'm no EE ... so I don't think it's going to be easy.

Well I got my connector last night. Wired it up ... hooked it up ... burned a blank 70min CD ... and I'm STOKED!!!!

Works a charm!

Couple of tips:

If you slightly mash the grey plastic surrounding the console with your screwdriver ... find a piece of plastic (nylon or teflon's best) and rub it quite hard over the scrape. It comes out as good as new Usually your screwdriver handle works well!

If you want a full length quiet CD, download a program called Sound Forge (demo), open a new file, then Edit->Insert Blank (70min blank ) ... save file, burn, and VOLLIA!

I did an install similar to this.
http://www.mindspring.com/~pmbenn/iPod

I hacked a belkin adapter to make it work. these can be had for around $10 on ebay (open box).

I just updated the finished pictures above...had to switch my image host. Yahoo wouldn't let me hotlink the pictures to this site, so I switched providers. Enjoy!

I've been noticing some high frequency engine rev noise coming through using my Belkin iPod adapter. I heat shrunk all my connections, so I know it's not that.

Found some info on this incase anyone else has this problem:

http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/sho...t=engine+noise

This is also good info for a ground loop:

http://www.audiocontrol.com/techpapers/tech1002.pdf

I just found some good info about cd changer wiring:

CD Changer Protocols:
http://www.mictronics.de/?page=cdc_proto

Panasonic CD Changer Emulator - PIC 16F84A controlled:
http://www.lafrog.com/cdcemu/

Maybe someone can make a real AUX input for Panasonic 6-CD changer? (16-pin connector).

I've actually had a few questions regarding hiss. It seems that using the Belkin Auto Adapter does cause a slight hiss. Also reported is audible engine noise. Both of these issues are usually the result of a poor ground. The following info is posted on Crutchfield's Tech Pages and should fix things:

Noise Problem Troubleshooting: Noise from portable device

If you have noise just when you are using a Portable (CD/MD/MP3) Deck, then the problem is most likely ground-related. Most portable players are connected to the head unit using either a cassette adapter, or through 'AUX IN' jack(s) on the front or rear of the head unit. The power for the portable is then obtained through a twelve-volt adapter that is plugged into the cigarette lighter.

The problem lies in the fact that using the cigarette lighter, which is using a different ground than the head unit, creates a ground loop between the two units. Test by unplugging the power converter from the portable, and then playing the portable through your head unit using the batteries of the portable for power. If this eliminates the noise, then you could change the ground location for either the cigarette lighter, or the receiver, so that they are both grounded to the exact same location.


Good Luck !!!

Thanks for this mod!!

It worked great, per your instructions. I've been
living with monster fm transmitter for a few
months now, I forgot how much better direct
connection sounds!

thanks again,
...Ted

The program is called Sound Forge 7.0 trial version and is available from Sony at http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/.

Just open a new project, set the Mode to "Punch-In (record a specific length)", then adjust the "Length" to the full time of your blank cd (70,75,80 min). Hit record and wait. After the 75min are up, drop in your blank cd and burn it!

^ Sorry my bad

Hey, no prob! I like your idea better. I actually replaced my multi track cd with a continuous one like yours and it works much better. I hit repeat on the radio and when it's done it just starts over at the beginning. Thanks for the info - James.

Outback Sport 03 - Will this mod work?

Anyone have an idea if the base model cd-player (no cassette) for the Outback Sport 2003 includes the same adapter? If all else fails I can always take it out and check but wanted to check here first...Fingers crossed that its the same!