I recently purchased and installed an Axxess iPod integration kit. This kit is made by Metra, but for some reason is hard to find. The place I purchased from was very slow, so I will not even name the site...
Difficulty = 3
Tools = screw driver, 10mm ratchet with at least a 3-6in extension, recommended: zipties
Cost = $150 shipped
“O” Factor = 8 iPod w/ Text y0!
Heres what you get when you order the kit, with the iPod adapter (there are a few options, iPod, xm, aux, or any combination)
(beer) beer is much needed, as it was hot as hell out there....
If you have removed your console before, this is straight forward. Otherwise, read on.
Alright, first step, remove the cup holders and shifter surround. There are no screws, just clips, so just pull up on both to remove them. On the back of the ashtray are two plugs. The one attached to the cigarette lighter just needs to be squeezed like most other automotive plugs, but the light simply would not come apart for me, so I unscrewed it from the back of the ashtray.
PUT THE SHIFTER KNOB BACK ON to avoid scratching the delicate surround.
Next, remove the glovebox. Open it, and on the right hand side you will see a string. Remove it by pulling down on it (under the clip)
Behind the glovebox, you will see a single 10mm bolt attached to the radio. It will be behind the radio/below the lcd. Remove it.
On the bottom of the center console are 4 screws attached to the bottom of the radio surround. Remove all four (not sure if all four are required, but it worked for me)
Once all the screws are out, give the radio surround a yank, and it should pull straight forward.
On the back, you will find a plethora of connectors. One of these is clipped to a piece of metal. Using pliers, squeeze the plastic tab sticking through the metal, and it will come right apart. Disconnect all the others and remove the radio from the car.
Flip the radio over, and you will see an unused plug under the CD player. This is where the circuit board goes.
I personally did not feel this was secure enough, even with the strap of metal they give you to secure it in place, so I ziptied it to the radio.
Then attached the strap.
Next attach the wire the came with the unit to the board and the Axxess box.
I next tried to figure out where I wanted the iPod to live. We basically have two options. The armrest, or the map pocket. I decided to go with the map pocket. To remove it, simply remove the two screws under the LCD and pull forward. I then cut a hole in the bottom with my pocket knife to the size of the plug, then slipped the plug through.
Now, you reassemble everything, remember to plug in all the connectors, especially the connector coming from the map pocket for your iPod.
turn the car on and see if it works
impressions:
works well so far
I have heard that the unit can overheat, so I will watch for that and report back if it does..Otherwise, I've got to figure out how to switch playlists and stuff, but it seems to be working well
Difficulty = 3
Tools = screw driver, 10mm ratchet with at least a 3-6in extension, recommended: zipties
Cost = $150 shipped
“O” Factor = 8 iPod w/ Text y0!
Heres what you get when you order the kit, with the iPod adapter (there are a few options, iPod, xm, aux, or any combination)
(beer) beer is much needed, as it was hot as hell out there....
If you have removed your console before, this is straight forward. Otherwise, read on.
Alright, first step, remove the cup holders and shifter surround. There are no screws, just clips, so just pull up on both to remove them. On the back of the ashtray are two plugs. The one attached to the cigarette lighter just needs to be squeezed like most other automotive plugs, but the light simply would not come apart for me, so I unscrewed it from the back of the ashtray.
PUT THE SHIFTER KNOB BACK ON to avoid scratching the delicate surround.
Next, remove the glovebox. Open it, and on the right hand side you will see a string. Remove it by pulling down on it (under the clip)
Behind the glovebox, you will see a single 10mm bolt attached to the radio. It will be behind the radio/below the lcd. Remove it.
On the bottom of the center console are 4 screws attached to the bottom of the radio surround. Remove all four (not sure if all four are required, but it worked for me)
Once all the screws are out, give the radio surround a yank, and it should pull straight forward.
On the back, you will find a plethora of connectors. One of these is clipped to a piece of metal. Using pliers, squeeze the plastic tab sticking through the metal, and it will come right apart. Disconnect all the others and remove the radio from the car.
Flip the radio over, and you will see an unused plug under the CD player. This is where the circuit board goes.
I personally did not feel this was secure enough, even with the strap of metal they give you to secure it in place, so I ziptied it to the radio.
Then attached the strap.
Next attach the wire the came with the unit to the board and the Axxess box.
I next tried to figure out where I wanted the iPod to live. We basically have two options. The armrest, or the map pocket. I decided to go with the map pocket. To remove it, simply remove the two screws under the LCD and pull forward. I then cut a hole in the bottom with my pocket knife to the size of the plug, then slipped the plug through.
Now, you reassemble everything, remember to plug in all the connectors, especially the connector coming from the map pocket for your iPod.
turn the car on and see if it works
impressions:
works well so far
I have heard that the unit can overheat, so I will watch for that and report back if it does..Otherwise, I've got to figure out how to switch playlists and stuff, but it seems to be working well
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