How add aux connector for iPod to car radio?

I don't know about the specifics of the connector on your radio, apart from saying that it must be capable of taking standard line-level in, if it's for hooking to a separate CD player. This is fine for what you want to do, as the iPod's headphones output is well within the range of what is generally considered to be 'line level', and of course, you can fine-tweak that using the iPod's own volume setting. I use my iPod Touch all the time as a source of test audio for hifis and amplifiers that I am repairing, and I use an absolutely standard cable of stereo 3.5mm jack to 2 x RCA, obtainable from pretty much any electronics / hifi store. Provided you can obtain the correct plug to fit your radio, it should be a trivial soldering task to graft it onto a cable with a 3.5mm stereo jack on the other end, or better yet, if you can obtain a ready-wired adaptor cable to go from the 8 pin socket on your radio to say 2 x RCA line sockets, then it would just be a case of plugging them together. I dare say your local auto repair shop could advise on what cables are available to fit your radio. Friend of mine specialises in car stereo installation / replacement, and he stocks all manner of ready-made adaptor cables to make his life easier.

Arfa

There would be electronics in the accessory adaptor pretending to be a CD player, so that play/stop requests from the head unit are observed.

On my Philips car radio, I just got the schematic, figured out the connections to it's internal audio selector switch IC (FM/AM/CD) and interrupted one of these source connections with a small switch. I then led screened wires out of the unit to my external player.

However, ye'd have to be careful not to overload or upset other circuit specific conditions (DC offsets, grounding etc) in that area, and also not to short out anything. It's a small risk of damaging a maybe costly to replace bit of electronics (unless you can find a replacement radio set from a clunker).

So, another attack vector may be to find (cheap, eBay clunker class) an actual CD changer and make a connection there?

Or alternatively, why not treat yourself to a better equipped replacement head unit?

Instead of hacking into the OEM radio, try an aftermarket FM transmitter with iPod charger: $7US on ebay

I don't have an iPod, but do use a similar unit that plays MP3's from an SD card so I can take the grandkids' music from car to car. Plug it into the 12 volt accessory socket and set the radio to the proper frequency.

John

FM should only be considered a temporary solution. Sounds is mediocre at best.

If you head unit doesn't have an aux unit, replace it. A replacement unit, superior in every way to the OEM unit and with an AUX input, can be had for less than $150. A stereo shop will install it for $100 or so. No hacking of the OEM conectors is needed, adapters for most cars are available and it is just a matter of wiring the stereo to the adapter plug then plugging the OEM connector into the adapter instead of the OEM radio.

There's probably some electronics inside the P.I.E. box to tell the head unit that there's something there that can be switched to -- I assume it masquerades as a CD player.

Depending on how much time you want to invest and your level of expertise, it should be possible to reverse engineer what's going on at the DIN connector. Alternately, there's a good chance somebody has already done this and posted some info on the 'net.

Replacing the whole works is certainly an option. Be aware, though, that the keyless entry for that generation functions through the stock radio. There is usually enough room to secure the radio up inside the dash so that it still has antenna and door-control connections, but the installer won't necessarily be aware of that requirement.

Good point. I once did a stereo install on a grand am that had such a setup. The dome light controller wasin the head unit! I ended up pulling the board out of the old head unit and stuffed it in back connected to the wiring harness sandwiched between to sheets of cardboard.

Yes. The "AUX" button won't even work unless the "radio" thinks there is something there "of interest".

Most of those "somebody"s are folks trying to sell $100 boxes that do this. :<

It also can end up being a significant chore and runs the risk of cosmetic damage right where you will see it most!

A car is a tin box on wheels with all sorts of interfering noises and reflections and in no way is it ideal acoustic listening environment what soever, FM modulators are for the cost a perfectly acceptable solution.