OT: not e30 related auxiliary input on stock H/U

[jrobie79]

considering some of you guys who browse this section of the forum seem leaps and bounds more knowledgeable about car electronics than the donkeys on the ford explorer forums I got a question:


Is there anyway I could hook up my mp3 player to a stock H/U on a 1999 Ford Explorer XLT?

I have a stock 6 disc CD changer that I never plan on using anyways, is there a cable like aftermarket headunits where one end is the bus end and the other end is female RCA. From there I could use a 3.5mm jack to male RCA and just plug it into my mp3 player?

I've heard of the FM modulator, but I'm skeptical as to the quality because the transmitters pretty much suck anways.

Thanks

[StereoInstaller1]

1. AFAIK, no one makes an adapter for pre-2002ish Fraud decks. Check around.

2. WIRED FM modulators are surprisingly good. I wouldn't have one, but they suck less than you think. Wireless are absolute junk.

On such an easy car to swap decks, why would you put up with that bullshit though? $150 will get you 100X the deck and it is easy to install, unless you are factory amplified or it has a power antenna (generally Ediie Bauers only)

[jrobie79]

this is just my winter and work vehicle, obviously the e30 takes precedence, but shes hibernating for the winter, and im so sick of regular radio, although once I hook up my sirius that will help, but I'd also like to hook up my sirius to be hardwired and digitally hooked up to my sound system as opposed to wirelessly transmitted....the search continues....might just go with the tape mp3 adapter

why cant spring come faster, i miss the e30

[joshuafr]

Its hard to tell from pictures online, but im guessing it doesnt have a cassette deck? Otherwise you could just throw one of those cheap cassette to aux things in it.

[jrobie79]

it does have a cassette deck, but I was hoping for a digital connection, I think I found something, some guy on the explorer forums said I just unplug the CD changer from the back of the deck and plug in one of these little things:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1998-2003-Mercury-Mountaineer-Aux-Audio-Input-Adapter-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1c08239956QQitemZ120395635030QQptZCarQ5fAudioQ5fVideo

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORDNAUXINPUT35-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3363c2b118QQitemZ220717035800QQptZCarQ5fAudioQ5fVideo

and it should work

[stumble_t]

here you go.

[element6]

1. AFAIK, no one makes an adapter for pre-2002ish Fraud decks. Check around.

Seriously dude?


OP; look for one of those iSimple adapter boxes, an AUXBOX2, or a Metra AXXESS XIA-D01. If you can't find one of those, that simple RCA to CD Changer plug will work fine if you just want a line in. Like StereoInstaller1 said too, a RCA line in that feeds into your FM antenna will also work good for just a line in and be very clear.. may be your cheapest option depending on what kinds of prices you can dig up on a XIA-D01.

I ended up getting lucky a few months ago when I put one of the metra axxess boxes in my girlfriends car. She has a MKIV ('00) Jetta and I actually got the XIA-EU1 box for $5 on eBay.. then I went over to SonicElectronix.com and got the vehicle specific harness for $8, the ipod cable for ~$10, and the aux-in wire for ~$9. There was no reason to change out her monsoon head unit when it sounds so good to begin with and an aftermarket headunit just attracts attention.

The Axxess/isimple/auxboxes are great because they allow you to make use of your stock head units cd changer controls. You can stick your ipod into the glovebox and skip tracks and seek with the next/prev track buttons on your stock radio.

Here is an XIA-D01 that comes with the GM adapters.. I'm pretty sure nobody will bid on it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-ipod-adaptor-2002-2007-gm-vehicles-/300513745320?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item45f803d9a8#ht_500wt_1141

SonicElectronix adapters for ford:

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/search_new.php?keyword=ford+aux&action=search

Just do some price shopping on eBay, Amazon, SonicElectronic, etc.

YMMV.. just my attempt at giving you some options.