trhs75

I plan to wire an iPod adapter into my daughter's '99 RX. I did a test hookup and all worked well. I want to run the wire for the iPod connector from the center of the dash under the carpeting into the back part of the center console on the floor wher she can plug in her iPod. I have searched quite a bit and I see how to remove the trim around the shifter, but I don't know about accessing underneath the carpet and possibly removing the center floor console to get underneath it. Can anyone offer me some tips? My downloaded service manual doesn't cover this, either.

Thanks for any help!

code58

I did Code 3 outfitting for a living and had to do plenty of "under the carpet and in the headliner" cable running. I can say that having been under the carpet SOME in my DIL's RX, that is a different animal than I was used to working one, much more complicated. I fabricated 3/32 and 3/16 steel flexible cables with a narrow loop at the end to tie the wires onto. I would "fish" the appropriate cable under the carpet or through the headliner, fasten the wire or cable to the narrow loop and pull it through. You might use an electricians "fish line" to fish under the carpet and then attach the cable or wire and then pull it through. From what I remember there are flat tubes (channels) under the carpet that carry A/C and heat to the rear, so the floor isn't so unobstructed as what I was used to working on. It will probably be nearly impossible to do without pulling off the step plate trim, and may well require removing one of the seats.

hypervish

I tucked the wire under the center console underneath the plastic, and brought it up into the console from the back. I'll post pictures sometime this week when I get a chance.

trhs75

I'd love to see those pictures, hypervish. Thanks to you both!

code58

Trust me, Hyper's idea for cable transit is MUCH better than UNDER the carpet!

hypervish

Here are the pictures.... As you can see I pulled the wire from the center of the console, the wires are coming from my fm modulator. There are two wires in the first picture, one of which is tucked under the plastic, the other one just hangs out down there tucked away into the bottom drawer because I use it only when the iPhone is on the dash mount (when I'm using it as a gps). Once the wire reached behind the drivers side, I loosened one of the screws on the center console (near the heat vent's) I then pulled the top part of the console off, it just pops off it has a few clips. < I believe there's a DIY for it, in the sticky.

trhs75

That's pretty discreet! The car is off at school with my daughter, and I didn't remember how little distance the wires have to travel between the shifter/dash console and the center console. I may do it that way, but it also wouldn't be much distance to have to pull the wire under the carpet, would it? I could even cut some access holes where the carpet is covered by the consoles, I suppose.

Thanks so much for posting all that -- it will be a big help to me!

hypervish

Your welcome! Let me know if you need anything else!

If you are running a 3.5mm cable for aux you should be able to extend it if need be, and it likely won't result in any noticeable audio quality loss.

themacks

With only removing the center console and trim around the shifter, I was able to fish a couple wires under the carpet. If you cut a piece of the carpet under the console you should be able to fish your arm under the carpet and reach a dangling wire beneath the shifter. I was able to run usb, ipod and 3.5mm cables to the bottom drawer of the center console doing this. If you need I can try and take some pictures of what all I did.

Spence1978

themacks- how did you hook up 3.5mm cables? I want to run one so i can play mp3's on my phone instead of a fm transmitter.

trhs75

Photos would be great, too. Thanks!

themacks

I'm using a grom adapter, has ipod, 3.5mm and usb. I'll get pictures in the next couple of days.