AUX input for under $5.00*** You guys wont be disappointed Pic intensive
#136
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ok I did this an i am not able to get the full sound. I get the voice and the beat but the bass is gone and it does not sound right. I took the wires out if the harness that plugs into the CD changer. Should i have grabbed the other harness? Also when i plug the wires in the order given I have to turn it all the way up in order to hear something.
Any ideas where I went wrong?
Any ideas where I went wrong?
it is indeed the CD changer's wiring harness you should be working on.
i would make sure all connections are solid at ur solder joints (if you soldered)
i did have to turn up the volume more than usual but didnt have to turn up too much to get the music coming loud and clear on all channels
#138
Great write up to the OP! I did this mod yesterday and it works flawlessly. Sound quality is excellent and there is absolutely no hiss or static that u used to get from the cassette adapter. As a few people mentioned, I grounded the jack to the factory amp screw and get no alternator noise or any other interference.
I did take me quite some time to do though, because I mounted the jack into the center console from behind, right next to the power outlet. To keep myself sane and run the wires neat, I removed the radio/climate control panel, ashtray (which just pulls right out), the entire panel around the shifter and the center console. That wasn't the big deal…once I had everything apart I figured I would replace the cabin filter (which required a trip to Lexus) and got side tracked by cleaning everything. I have never taken any of those panels off before, so I was surprised how disgustingly dirty everything inside was and it just bothered me lol.
I probably would have had the entire project wrapped up in 45 minutes, but my OCD with cleaning kept me out there for 3 hours.
IMO, if you are going to do this great mod, take the time to run the wires into the bottom part of the center console. It looks factory!
The only PITA was soldering the wires to the pins on the jack…the pins are so tiny and my soldering skills are questionable at best lol. Good thing I bought 2 jacks when I went to radio shack, because I melted the first one in half.
Wiring up the harness for the CD player, I didn't even bother soldering…I just used the t-splice connectors which worked out great!
Additionally, the double sided male audio cable I had laying around worked great, but just for the hell of it I bought the monster cable to see if it made any difference. The sound quality from the monster cable was no comparison to the thin wire no name one. IMO, the monster cable is well worth the 20 bucks.
OP- thanks for the great write up, as well as all the others who shared input and different ideas.
Sent from my iPhone
I did take me quite some time to do though, because I mounted the jack into the center console from behind, right next to the power outlet. To keep myself sane and run the wires neat, I removed the radio/climate control panel, ashtray (which just pulls right out), the entire panel around the shifter and the center console. That wasn't the big deal…once I had everything apart I figured I would replace the cabin filter (which required a trip to Lexus) and got side tracked by cleaning everything. I have never taken any of those panels off before, so I was surprised how disgustingly dirty everything inside was and it just bothered me lol.
I probably would have had the entire project wrapped up in 45 minutes, but my OCD with cleaning kept me out there for 3 hours.
IMO, if you are going to do this great mod, take the time to run the wires into the bottom part of the center console. It looks factory!
The only PITA was soldering the wires to the pins on the jack…the pins are so tiny and my soldering skills are questionable at best lol. Good thing I bought 2 jacks when I went to radio shack, because I melted the first one in half.
Wiring up the harness for the CD player, I didn't even bother soldering…I just used the t-splice connectors which worked out great!
Additionally, the double sided male audio cable I had laying around worked great, but just for the hell of it I bought the monster cable to see if it made any difference. The sound quality from the monster cable was no comparison to the thin wire no name one. IMO, the monster cable is well worth the 20 bucks.
OP- thanks for the great write up, as well as all the others who shared input and different ideas.
Sent from my iPhone
#139
Lexus Champion
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One last thing to make this complete. Earlier I mentioned running the ground wire of the cigarette charger whichever one you are using to charge your iPod while you play it to the amp ground to get rid of the alternator whine while you charge your iPod. I did this and it did reduce the whine but it is still there. So I ordered one of these, It still has not arrived but I will report if it works when I test it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Isolator...10944773675%26
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Isolator...10944773675%26
Last edited by sam12345; 12-25-12 at 06:42 AM.
#140
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Hey Sam! I've been trying into looking to find a solution for my wine in my cig lighter cause I eat to have Bluetooth in my car will this actually fix it? Cause if so ill be sure to place an order for mine
#143
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Isolator...10944773675%26
Ok if you get the energizer 2.1amp cig to USB converter with the energizer cable it works perfect
Last edited by sam12345; 01-13-13 at 04:35 PM.
#144
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Hi,
I just found this thread. Will this mod work on a 2008 Lexus RX350 with Pioneer cd changer/no cassette/no nav/ radio? I took my radio off and it has more colors and more wires. I don't know which one goes where. Any advice is appreciated.
I just found this thread. Will this mod work on a 2008 Lexus RX350 with Pioneer cd changer/no cassette/no nav/ radio? I took my radio off and it has more colors and more wires. I don't know which one goes where. Any advice is appreciated.
#145
This mod is done to the changer-to-amp harness, not the stereo.
#146
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This mod does work however has anyone else noted that the volume of the aux input is about 1/3 of all the other sources on the stereo? That alone made this a no go for me and i had to unwire all of the rats nest of wires I initially ran to get this thing up and running. Three hours wasted yet now I'm sure that a stereo upgrade with all the latest technology built in including bluetooth is in my near future. Wish this was my solution as it was only $12 bucks for everything I needed.
#147
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This mod does work however has anyone else noted that the volume of the aux input is about 1/3 of all the other sources on the stereo? That alone made this a no go for me and i had to unwire all of the rats nest of wires I initially ran to get this thing up and running. Three hours wasted yet now I'm sure that a stereo upgrade with all the latest technology built in including bluetooth is in my near future. Wish this was my solution as it was only $12 bucks for everything I needed.
#148
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Will regular subwoofer speaker wire work? and there are two wires of red white and green, I'm pretty confused. Do I just cut the wire and solder the wires connected to the jack?
#150
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Thank you
I happened on your excellent "how to" replete with photos. I followed your writeup and was able to add an aux input to my 1998 Lexus LS400. The only thing I couldn't do was solder in the wires because the wires were too close together. I used connectors and they seem to work; when they'll come off I don't know
Thanks for your help.
___________________________________________________________________
1998 LS400 and 2005 Acura MDX
Thanks for your help.
___________________________________________________________________
1998 LS400 and 2005 Acura MDX