How To: Build and Hardwire an Auxillary Input to OEM Stereo
08-07-08 | 10:16 AM
#331
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
From: NC
a tip tho, i would DEFINITELY buy a crimper and some butt connectors, those screw caps do NOT work well in cars, and become undone from vibrations. if they short you can say goodbye to anything they are connected to...
It's sort of weird....doing this took over my FM/AM radio too (mp3 player plays through that too)....I thought it would just override my CD changer?
No biggie, just unexpected.
08-11-08 | 03:29 AM
#333
08-12-08 | 06:40 AM
#334
Sorry for the numerous pictures.
I didn't take pictures of the auxillary relays build. However, here is a picture of the relays hidden next to the stock amplifier.
Navigation interface:
Testing of Alpine DVD player:
Headrests:
Alpine under seat:
Remote eye for DVD player coming out of right vent (sitting at upper-right hand corner of vent):
I didn't take pictures of the auxillary relays build. However, here is a picture of the relays hidden next to the stock amplifier.
Navigation interface:
Testing of Alpine DVD player:
Headrests:
Alpine under seat:
Remote eye for DVD player coming out of right vent (sitting at upper-right hand corner of vent):
08-12-08 | 10:56 AM
#335
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 395
Likes: 2
From: va
found this out doing my own car
Great writeup PureDrifter!!
Just have an update on all of the es300 models with the cd changer in the trunk. I did this in my car and I found the correct wire colors in the back of the radio in the cd changer input harness. I found that hooking it up at the amp created the same problems that lex bubble was talking about. I did some looking around and found the cd changer input behind the radio. I wired everything back there, mounted my switch under my driver's side dash somewhat stealthy. I used a Belkin direct plug in charger cord and it has a headphone jack at the cigarette lighter end so that you can plug a headphone jack into your aux port on your radio. I cut the wires going to the aux output on the plug before the jack and just wired them into the relays schematics. In doing this I was able to have the cord plug directly into the bottom and charge the ipod when the car is on and have non-fading low level output/input (depending on how you look at it) into the factory radio into the low level cd changer wires. It works beautifully! Especially since I don't use the headphone jack at the top of the ipod and just plug in the ipod cord as if I were plugging it into the computer or something. And, with the mount, I couldn't ask for more. Much credit to you guys!!!
I did a little research myself on the Belkin adapter. If anyone is interested in how to wire one up so that you can have it charge and have a non-fading audio output just let me know.
I have also done this install in a SC400. Works great. Had to do that one at the cd changer in the trunk. Turned out great. It was actually just an aux input we did with a headphone jack. So, nothing fancy, but it did the job!
I quoted the original posts of the wrong info. Oh. The wire colors are correct. So basically the same thing Pure was saying, just behind the radio. It is a 12 pin harness. The wire colors are correct. Do not hook it up at the amp because you will have the same problems as lex bubble. Hope this helps!!
Above is a (bad cell phone) pic of the smaller of the 2 harness' on my factory amp. The pink/blue wire would be pin 1 (I believe?). Could you cross reference the factory diagram that you have? The pinout that you provided (thanks, by the way) doesn't match what I'm seeing on my factory amp. Or I made a mistake and I'm looking at the wrong harness. Thanks in advance for all you help, bro.
Just to reiterate, I have a '94 ES300 with the factory stereo/6-disc changer.
Thanks!
Just have an update on all of the es300 models with the cd changer in the trunk. I did this in my car and I found the correct wire colors in the back of the radio in the cd changer input harness. I found that hooking it up at the amp created the same problems that lex bubble was talking about. I did some looking around and found the cd changer input behind the radio. I wired everything back there, mounted my switch under my driver's side dash somewhat stealthy. I used a Belkin direct plug in charger cord and it has a headphone jack at the cigarette lighter end so that you can plug a headphone jack into your aux port on your radio. I cut the wires going to the aux output on the plug before the jack and just wired them into the relays schematics. In doing this I was able to have the cord plug directly into the bottom and charge the ipod when the car is on and have non-fading low level output/input (depending on how you look at it) into the factory radio into the low level cd changer wires. It works beautifully! Especially since I don't use the headphone jack at the top of the ipod and just plug in the ipod cord as if I were plugging it into the computer or something. And, with the mount, I couldn't ask for more. Much credit to you guys!!!
I did a little research myself on the Belkin adapter. If anyone is interested in how to wire one up so that you can have it charge and have a non-fading audio output just let me know.
I have also done this install in a SC400. Works great. Had to do that one at the cd changer in the trunk. Turned out great. It was actually just an aux input we did with a headphone jack. So, nothing fancy, but it did the job!
I quoted the original posts of the wrong info. Oh. The wire colors are correct. So basically the same thing Pure was saying, just behind the radio. It is a 12 pin harness. The wire colors are correct. Do not hook it up at the amp because you will have the same problems as lex bubble. Hope this helps!!
First off, BIG thanks to Pure Drifter for the write up. I've been waiting for a solution like this for a while. I took stab at the install this weekend and ran into a couple of issues (due in part to my lack of patience for the remaining instructions on the install). Here are the details of my situation:
I have a '94 ES300 with a bone-stock factory Pioneer system with the 6-disc changer in the trunk. I gathered the parts together, started with the install, and realized that my factory amp has different connectors than the one's pictured in the write up (no real surprise here). I Google'd for the amp harness diagram to no avail. So, determined to continue...I tried to figure out which wires were the right ones to use. I found some that work, but I don't think I found the right ones. Here's where I'm at.
First issue: The ipod will play through all of the speakers in the stereo. However, the volume is either on or off...no in between. Regardless of whether or not I adjust the volume on the ipod. If I turn the volume **** on the stereo to anything more than around 20%, the music playing through the ipod is heard (at a constant volume that doesn't increase as the **** is turned). Less than 20 % it's dead silent. Also, the left to right and front to rear adjustment ***** no longer make changes as I turn them.
Second Issue: I bought the ipod harness pictured a few pages ago. But I bought the one with the power/ground wire so I can charge it while it plays in the car. My ipod battery won't hold a charge at all, and needs a power source to be played for more than 2 minutes. I found a 12v switched source on the amp's harness and wired the red power wire on the ipod adapter harness, and the ipod see's an input of power...but it will not charge the ipod. (I know the issue is not with the ipod, because I can use the USB, wall, and cigarette lighter plugs to charge it)
Third issue: My stereo, cassette, cd changer no longer generate any sound when they're chosen as the source.
I obviously took a wrong turn somewhere. My amp has 2 plugs on it (and not 3). If anyone can post up the '94 ES300 factory amp pinout and any other useful info, I'd greatly appreciate it.
I have a '94 ES300 with a bone-stock factory Pioneer system with the 6-disc changer in the trunk. I gathered the parts together, started with the install, and realized that my factory amp has different connectors than the one's pictured in the write up (no real surprise here). I Google'd for the amp harness diagram to no avail. So, determined to continue...I tried to figure out which wires were the right ones to use. I found some that work, but I don't think I found the right ones. Here's where I'm at.
First issue: The ipod will play through all of the speakers in the stereo. However, the volume is either on or off...no in between. Regardless of whether or not I adjust the volume on the ipod. If I turn the volume **** on the stereo to anything more than around 20%, the music playing through the ipod is heard (at a constant volume that doesn't increase as the **** is turned). Less than 20 % it's dead silent. Also, the left to right and front to rear adjustment ***** no longer make changes as I turn them.
Second Issue: I bought the ipod harness pictured a few pages ago. But I bought the one with the power/ground wire so I can charge it while it plays in the car. My ipod battery won't hold a charge at all, and needs a power source to be played for more than 2 minutes. I found a 12v switched source on the amp's harness and wired the red power wire on the ipod adapter harness, and the ipod see's an input of power...but it will not charge the ipod. (I know the issue is not with the ipod, because I can use the USB, wall, and cigarette lighter plugs to charge it)
Third issue: My stereo, cassette, cd changer no longer generate any sound when they're chosen as the source.
I obviously took a wrong turn somewhere. My amp has 2 plugs on it (and not 3). If anyone can post up the '94 ES300 factory amp pinout and any other useful info, I'd greatly appreciate it.
sry i cant help with the charging issue, potential for 12v mayhem was the primary reason i chose not to go with an unproven cable. 
for a 94 ES300 w/factory CD changer you need to intercept the following wires (this is on the amp, not the changer)
these wires are on the smaller of the 2 connectors on your amp, should have a total of 12 wires.
signal____clr______pin
CDR+____Green____1
CDL+____Blue______2
CDR-____Violet_____6
CDL-____Pink______7
my guess as to why u cant switch sources and why ur having issues with volume is because u tapped the wrong wires, i accidently tapped a data wire between my changer and my hu during development and had similar issues.
any more questions just post them up
for a 94 ES300 w/factory CD changer you need to intercept the following wires (this is on the amp, not the changer)
these wires are on the smaller of the 2 connectors on your amp, should have a total of 12 wires.
signal____clr______pin
CDR+____Green____1
CDL+____Blue______2
CDR-____Violet_____6
CDL-____Pink______7
my guess as to why u cant switch sources and why ur having issues with volume is because u tapped the wrong wires, i accidently tapped a data wire between my changer and my hu during development and had similar issues.
any more questions just post them up
Above is a (bad cell phone) pic of the smaller of the 2 harness' on my factory amp. The pink/blue wire would be pin 1 (I believe?). Could you cross reference the factory diagram that you have? The pinout that you provided (thanks, by the way) doesn't match what I'm seeing on my factory amp. Or I made a mistake and I'm looking at the wrong harness. Thanks in advance for all you help, bro.
Just to reiterate, I have a '94 ES300 with the factory stereo/6-disc changer.
Thanks!
08-31-08 | 05:15 PM
#338
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 628
Likes: 0
From: where it's f*#%ing cold
has anyone figured out to wire the switch as an automatic source switch? aka plug in or hit play on mp3 player/dvd player source other than cd player and it starts right up
i read threw everything and i'm pretty sure i did not see that question answered
i read threw everything and i'm pretty sure i did not see that question answered
09-01-08 | 11:02 AM
#339
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 395
Likes: 2
From: va
As far as I know, all of the "automatic switch wires" are all internal. They are actually inside the unit to tell it to switch between sources. It would require disassembling the whole unit and experimenting on one. The only one that I would guess isn't internal would be the CD changer control button since it has to send signal to the trunk (for most) to tell it to turn on when selected. If anyone knows any different or has other ideas, please correct me.
09-01-08 | 12:19 PM
#340
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 628
Likes: 0
From: where it's f*#%ing cold
i meant instead of going from A (CD changer) to B (ipod/mp3 player) by throwing a switch manual. being able to push the CD changer button activate it then simply plugging in B not having to actually throw a switch. Not hit play on B and have the head unit go from radio to B (which it sounds like thats what you thought i meant)
09-01-08 | 01:40 PM
#341
09-01-08 | 01:46 PM
#342
i meant instead of going from A (CD changer) to B (ipod/mp3 player) by throwing a switch manual. being able to push the CD changer button activate it then simply plugging in B not having to actually throw a switch. Not hit play on B and have the head unit go from radio to B (which it sounds like thats what you thought i meant)
09-01-08 | 03:57 PM
#343
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 628
Likes: 0
From: where it's f*#%ing cold
well as of now I'm not running with the preouts and it sounds good enough, its just running off the headphone jack and sounds as good as the CD changer, any chance of a where to find those I've checked but don't know exactly what to search for and the guy at the local electronics stores look at me like I'm crazy when i try to explain it to them.
09-01-08 | 08:58 PM
#344
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 395
Likes: 2
From: va
i meant instead of going from A (CD changer) to B (ipod/mp3 player) by throwing a switch manual. being able to push the CD changer button activate it then simply plugging in B not having to actually throw a switch. Not hit play on B and have the head unit go from radio to B (which it sounds like thats what you thought i meant)
Good job on thinking outside of the box and trying something new though. Let us know how it goes. Kinda like I did when I did mine that charges and uses the "ipod plug". Or, like PureDrift did with the whole write-up. LOL. Either way, let us know. Pics would be nice too.
09-02-08 | 01:39 AM
#345
well as of now I'm not running with the preouts and it sounds good enough, its just running off the headphone jack and sounds as good as the CD changer, any chance of a where to find those I've checked but don't know exactly what to search for and the guy at the local electronics stores look at me like I'm crazy when i try to explain it to them.
preamp output will ALWAYS give you better quality sound, if you're satisfied with the quality post-amp then that's a personal choice.