iPod solution!

[Entropy512]

Originally Posted by ttl

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).

From what I've read (I just discovered those links myself...), many of the other Panasonic interfaces split the audio and the data portions of the interface into two different connectors. The Panny unit in the Subarus seems to use the same protocol but a combined connector, from the looks of the pinout on scoobymods.com.

Another link can be found at http://trikuare.cx/mt/archives/000632.php with some useful info.

I think I have a signal generator capable of a 125 KHz squarewave, so I'll see if that is sufficient for tricking the HU into thinking a CD changer is attached soon.

Otherwise if that doesn't work, instead of using a PIC like the guy in one of your links did, I'll use an Atmel AVR microcontroller. (I'm more familiar with AVRs, and they're easier to program IMHO.) Plus there are some good C compilers for the AVR and C is easier to understand/read than ASM.

I won't be able to do this for another week or two at least - need to get the connectors first.

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[SASniper]

Hey irmiger,

Was it you who posted the wiring harness diagrams in regards to ground loops ... was just wondering if you'd found where the plug in the compartment earthed to, or if you'd found an alternative?

The radio earth is easy to find, but the 12V plug is difficult to locate with that weird perspective diagram.

[irmiger]

Originally Posted by SASniper

Hey irmiger,

Was it you who posted the wiring harness diagrams in regards to ground loops ... was just wondering if you'd found where the plug in the compartment earthed to, or if you'd found an alternative?

The radio earth is easy to find, but the 12V plug is difficult to locate with that weird perspective diagram.

If you mean this one...



Radio : B201
Radio Ground : GR
Front Lighter : B119
Lighter Ground : GB-3

...then yeah, it was me. As for that location of GB-3, I really couldn't say. I'm using the arm rest lighter socket so I went the easy route and ran a seperate wire from the radio's ground (right from plug B201) right to the lighter's wire.

In case you're using the arm-rest socket too, the ground point's easy to find. It's under the carpet, directly under the front edge of the passenger seat. If you run your hand along the top of the raised section there, you'll feel a bump right in the middle. That's it. It's a threaded post sticking straight up with a nut on it.

James.

[SASniper]

Thanks irmiger. Yeah, I am using the arm-rest socket too

"Good news kids ... there's gonna be some rewiring, TONIGHT!"

[SASniper]

Thanks again irmiger.

I still haven't gotten round to this, but I tooka quick look.

How did you get the carpet up from under the passengers seat?

[onglide]

I've found an alternate source for making the adapter cable Irmiger describes in the first post of this thread.

Buxcomm sells a DIN plug that's already wired up with 6 feet of cable. I have one currently installed and talking to my Ipod in my 04 Forester XS stock CD head unit (though I haven't fixed the ground loop problem yet, more on that in another post.)

If you are interested in making your adapter this way, go to http://www.buxcomm.com/afconns.htm and search the page for text like: "13 pin DIN male plug wired with 6 ft".
The cable comes with all 13 pins connected to color coded wires and their web page shows which color goes with which pin. You still need to buy an un-wired mini stereo plug and connect 4 of the cable's wires to the three conductors of the mini stereo plug.

Irmiger kindly translated the cable wiring diagram for me to this simple cheat sheet:

1 - Connect the Brown (1) wire to the Phono Plug's "Right" pin
2 - The Orange (3) wire goes to the Phono's "Left" pin
3 - Then connect both Red (2) and Yellow (4) wires to the Phono Plug's "Ground".

That's it! It works! Thanks Irmiger, Boxxer & others for figuring this out!

[akuhner]

That is sweet, I'm going to be doing that to my wife's Forester after we get eachother i-pods for Christmas. Thanks for posting this, it will save me a lot of time.

I'd do it to my car, but at this point only one speaker works and the wiring is hacked to heck, so forget it...

[onglide]

Sorry to be thick, but I haven't had any luck finding the radio ground from the diagram Irmiger posted.

I think I found the armrest cig lighter ground (at least I've found the threaded post sticking straight up with a nut on it underneath the passenger seat.) But I've no idea how to find the radio ground -- or how to thread a wire underneath the carpet from the center console to the post under the passenger seat. Also, I don't know what a star connector is.

After trying to connect the cig ground to various points under the radio and producing a spark with one of them I decided it would be better to ask than continue experimenting.

Can anyone help describe exactly how to find the ground or post a pic? And/or explain how they got the connecting wire under the carpet?

Thanks,

Eric (Onglide)

[irmiger]

Sorry, I haven't looked at this post for awhile. I'll pull my facia off when I get home from work and snap some pics so you can see where the radio's ground wire is and where to run the wires.

SASniper - If you're using the center armrest lighter socket, then you don't really need to run a wire under the passenger seat carpet at all. The lighter has two wires comming directly out of it's bottom, one positive, one ground. You can use a tap connector and tie right into it there. Then run the wire along under the side of the center console to the radio.

Eric - Thanks for your email. Will post the pics this evening and hopefully everything will clear up a bit.

James.

[irmiger]

Ok gang, I had a wonderfull offer from nearby onglide to use his dismantled dash for my pics...but of course, stupid me checked my email after I finished with the pictures! Go figure. Thanks anyway onglide.

I also thought some pics of the #13D Buxcomm cable would help:



They also offer a 1/8" Stereo Phono Plug for $0.85 just above the cable.


If you don't want to solder anything, Radio Shack has a Solderless 1/8" Plug for $3.99!



CABLE/GROUND ROUTING

a. Unscrew the shifter knob, then pull up on the surrounding plastic panel to remove.

b. To pull the center console cover off (between seats) remove these 2 screws:


c. Then screws 1 and 2 (3 and 4 are for the center facia covering the radio) and pull up where marked (there are two press-fit clips underneath holding it in):


d. Lay console cover against driver's seat while running wires so you won't have to remove the parking brake handle. You can route your cable/ground wires along the right side of the center console without interfering with the parking brake:

[irmiger]

GROUND WIRE (Center console lighter)

a. After removing the center console cover, the lighter's wires will be exposed (you can see my black iPod cable running up along side the lighter). Blue=positive (12v), Black=negative (ground):


b. Use a wire tap and connect your wire to the lighter's black (ground) wire:


c. Run your cable along the right side of the console to the radio.

d. Underneath the radio is the radio chassis ground (black w/yellow stripe). This ground connects back to the radio's primary ground wire (black w/red stripe) located in the main harness plug on the rear of the radio:


e. Using another wire tap, tie into this wire to complete your ground.


f. Optional: to really get a solid ground, remove the radio, unplug the main harness, and tap into the primary ground itself (black w/red stripe) instead of the chassis ground.

- James

[Seayak]

Has anyone tried using the Kenwood Aux adaptor for the MP3 player input solution? Model # CA-C!AUX

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....5&type=product

I'm curious if I can skip the soldering :-)

[irmiger]

Originally Posted by Seayak

Has anyone tried using the Kenwood Aux adaptor for the MP3 player input solution? Model # CA-C!AUX

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....5&type=product

I'm curious if I can skip the soldering :-)

Looks like the right 13-pin plug. I wonder.....

[DanzBorin]

anybody figure out how to trick the HU into thinking it has a changer?... I believe I read that you can use something to do that...

[irmiger]

Just called Good Guys and will be picking one up this afternoon for $25. I'll try it tonight and post my results. Wish me luck - James.

[DanzBorin]

Originally Posted by irmiger

Just called Good Guys and will be picking one up this afternoon for $25. I'll try it tonight and post my results. Wish me luck - James.

picking up what? the cord you mentioned?

[Seayak]

I'll wait 'till you post your results before I order one (none in stock around here - man I hate waiting...)

[irmiger]

Well, apparently it doesn't work. I was looking forward to a quick fix, but I guess not. The actual 13-pin plug is identical and connects right up to the radio. Sadly though, no amount of fiddling around could get any sound out.


After removing it, I checked the pin outs with my multi-meter. The RCA-to-pin matches are as follows:
#12 - Lch (+)
#11 - Lch (-)
#8 - Rch (+)
#7 - Rch (-)
Compare that to what it should be on the Subaru radio:


Does anyone know any other manufacturers using the 13-pin plug?

[Seayak]

Sorry it didn't work IRMIGER

My Buxcomm cable is on it's way - soon it's goodbye RF modulator! I even have a hard-wired Kenwood RF - still sucks! I actually get more volume when using the little IRock battery powered one (cleaner too). The Kenwood does eliminate signal override when I travel though...

When I installed the RF modulator I encountered the ground loop issue. Fix came from Wal-mart of all places... It's a Scosche ground-loop isolator. $12 but I didn't have to open up any panels again. Radio Shack has one too... The Scosche uses RCA in & out.

I'll wire mine up to go in the dash storage - the Nomad sits on top (I use a sticky gel pad from Best Buy to keep it in place - works so well I have on for my boat to hold stuff on the console). I'll post pics when I'm done.

[DanzBorin]

irmiger... can't you just hook it up to the correct pins? I would assume wires are wires...

[irmiger]

Originally Posted by DanzBorin

irmiger... can't you just hook it up to the correct pins? I would assume wires are wires...

Unfortunately, no. Inside the little box you see in the picture are just the connections, no circuit board or anything. Rewiring it only does what I've already done and create a 13pin-to-RCA adapter cord. Nothing different will happen without circuitry to imitate the changer protocols. Bummer.

[DanzBorin]

Originally Posted by irmiger

Unfortunately, no. Inside the little box you see in the picture are just the connections, no circuit board or anything. Rewiring it only does what I've already done and create a 13pin-to-RCA adapter cord. Nothing different will happen without circuitry to imitate the changer protocols. Bummer.

does panasonic make such a cord... if so, that would be the way to go...

[Seayak]

I found a free WAV editor that you can download & make a "silent" song in wav (and other) formats. It's here: http://nch.com.au/wavepad/index.html

Super easy to use. Make a silent song (create a new WAV and use the "Insert Silence" "Begin" under EDIT. You specifiy the milliseconds of silence to insert (45 million milliseconds = 1 hr 15 min = 75 min). It starts playing the track, but the silence is inserted right away... Just hit STOP and SAVE AS. Save the WAV file on your hard drive.

Close WavePad and open Windows Media Player. The latest version will convert a wav file (and many others) to a CD music file and burn it to a CD. Have MediaPlayer search for media files on your disc (if you aren't specific about the location it'll find every sound and such). Click the BURN tab and pick your new silent song from the list - burn it to CD. Done

Hope this is helpful.

[jmolaver]

If I remember correctly the head unit in the Forrester looks real similar to the one in the STi -- anyone have any info if this mod/hack will work with that ('05 STi)?

p.s. please please please say yes

[kevinsUBARU]

I have a AM/FM radio/tape decks (Clarion)from both a 1995 and 2001 Impreza. Both have the 13 pin din plug on the back. If I make this cord and then just put a blank tape in, should it do the same thing as the blank CD? I think it is worth my time to try this if no one else has