... CONTINUED
11. If you had a CD changer, remove from the radio bay the hanging wire that connected the radio and CD changer before. Note that this wire may be taped to another main wire bundle (I’m kind of pointing to it with my finger below), and you may have to undo that before it will come out. At any rate, I found it easier to pull out the wire from the top than the bottom, but do whatever’s easiest for you.
12. If you want, you can put some wire jacketing on your new mp3 adaptor wires (if you bought some, or if you had a CD changer and want to swap what is on the existing wire). I didn’t bother though - I don’t think the wires will rub up too much back there.
Installing mp3 Adapter
13. You can now put your new mp3 adapter wherever you want it, but the most obvious place is in the now-open CD bay. Take the wire connector supplied in your kit, plug one end to where your adapter is now, and run the other end up to the radio deck. Connect that end to the CD changer port that was pointed out before.
14. Before closing everything up, reconnect the radio’s wiring, and put it back loosely in its drive. Turn the car on to the accessory position, and try running your ipod/mp3 player through the radio. You should make sure your mp3 player is hooked up in the manner appropriate to your adapter, and that your mp3 player is already running. For my adapter, I put the radio in the “MODE” for the 6-cd changer accessory slot (the 2nd MODE; the 1st is for the single-CD in the radio). If you bought an Ipod-type adapter, it will probably make your Ipod screen look something like this:
15. Success! You can now play your mp3 player in your car without sacrificing the very nice and easy-to-use stock radio. Take a look around the innards of your dash controls if you like (I think the climate control panel looks kinda cool when disassembled). Now if your adapter is like mine, it should now have basic control of your Ipod using the standard radio buttons (the FF/RW button controls fast forward and reverse on your Ipod, the SEEK button skips songs back and forth, etc.). It should also charge the Ipod as well. I think you can also set certain playlists using the DISC buttons as well; but I haven’t figured that out yet.
16. General note, I recommend keeping your wires tucked away and out of sight when you leave the car – car thieves tend to break into cars that have a lot of “electronic wire” hanging out, so they can steal GPS units, mp3 players, etc.
Reassembling
17. Pretty much go backwards from step 9, as appropriate. Make sure the radio doesn’t smush up your new adaptor wires when you place it back in the slot – I recommend pulling gently on the adapter end of the wire at the same time you put the radio back in, so that the wires slide nicely down as you put the radio back in. I also recommend putting the screws for the CD changer back in their place (if you have them) - it doesn’t hurt anything and you might use that drive bay for something again in the future.
18. Double check your work area to make sure you haven’t accidentally misplaced or forgotten to re-assemble something. Put your tools away.
19. If you had the 6-CD changer, see if a friend who drives a Neon or other Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep product with the same radio could use the product (it should plug neatly into their car in the same way).
***
That’s it; if you have any questions on my guide, let me know.
As for my car, there’s nothing really to say, as it’s just stock (well, plus an mp3 adapter). Maybe when I get more money!
