Neo Car Audio iPod Interface Install

I chose the Neo Car Audio interface because they make 2 models for the C5. One for those that have the 6 disc CD changer in the rear and one for those that don’t…and they’re both the same price. (I don’t have the changer in the rear)

Here is the PAGE That explains what the Interface does for the 2000 Vette.
The same items appear for any year 97-04. And the description of both part #’s - PODGM2V6 and PODGM4V6 are exactly the same. This is bad because it causes confusion. (ask me how I know)

If you DO NOT HAVE THE 6 DISC CHANGER IN THE REAR you want PODGM4V6.
If you DO have the 6 disc changer you want 2V6

So here’s my install for item # PODGM4V6 in my 2000 Corvette Coupe. - disclaimer - this may not be the BEST way to install it…it’s just the way that I did it.

In the box you get the Interface, the Wire Harness, the iPod Cable and Instructions.
One side of the Interface has the connection for the Wire Harness and one side has a connection for the iPod Cable and the Dip Switches. As the instructions state, all of the Dip Switches are set in the up/off position and we are to go to an Internet page (http://www.neocaraudio.com/ionapps/) to determine which Dip Switches to turn on. For us C5’ers we turn on #’s 3 and 8.

Wire Harness - In the picture below I’ve circled in Pink the two connectors that are together. The white one connects to the Interface and the black one connects to the back of the radio. The Yellow circle shows black electrician’s tape holding the wires together and circled in Green is the single connector end which connects to the car’s wire harness.

I undid the electrician’s tape on the double connector side so that I could separate the two connectors because I chose to mount the Interface in the area behind where the ash tray would be. I then retaped the two remaining wires together.



Interface - In the picture below you see the interface, front and back. I took a piece of Velcro (soft side of Velcro) and attached it to the back side of the Interface just for some cushion against the metal that I was zip tying it to. (it IS the back. The camera flash washed out the 2 screws and sticker with the version #)

I ran the Ipod Cable underneath all of the metal bracketing that supports the radio, climate control, etc. There’s JUST enough room to safely fit the cable under then up the large opening and into the Interface.



There’s all kinds of ways to mount and connect to the iPod. For now, I ran the iPod Cable into my console. I did not want to drill a hole or file a slot in the accessory input hole (I won’t call it a cigarette lighter)…and since I NEVER use the darned thing I just removed it and ran the iPod cable through there.



I only just did this today so I haven't used it much...but it seems to be working quite nicely. It only gives you basic functions of the iPod on the radio...but that and the CD quality sound is all I was looking for.

 

Great post just what I was looking for!

Thanks,
Shannon

 

Well, I did a little driving around this weekend.
Works good, sounds good. Me likes.

So now I can play a cd or listen to the radio and also have access to my iPod songs while keeping the stock look.

Now, when the day comes that they come out with a nice 1.5 din nav system with a cd player, mp3 input and automatic volume control I'll have to re-think things.

 

OK....Now I want to show you what I did today. I'm calling it my $4 iPod mount. (it really costs more than $4 because you need a spray paint can top).

I bought from flea bay a 'Car Mount Phone Holder For Samsung/LG/Nano/iPOD' for $1.95 & $1.99 shipping charge.

flea-bay image:


I took the top of a Dupli-Color Engine Enamel spray can and found that it fit pretty darned well inside the vette cup holder. (it's gotta be a fairly large spray can cover). I covered the cover with black electrician's tape (someday I'll come up with the right size 'black' cover) and secured the iPod holder on the cover with double sided tape. (the holder comes with double sided tape on it but I put my own piece on so I can use the original when I find the correct black spray paint cover).





I circled the very bottom of the cover with the electrician's tape (even though it isn't visible inside the cup holder) for a tighter fit inside the cup holder. I took it for a test drive, made a spirited turn or two. It stayed put. It fits pretty snugly.

 

I know this is an older thread - but will this setup work with ANY mp3 player, or does it only work with an IPOD?

thanks

-

 

this is just for ipod

the stock cd player can be modded to add an aux input that will work with any mp3 player

 

OK, thanks. If I added the "aux input that will work with any mp3 player" - would an IPOD work? I guess what I'm asking is - are there basically two styles of MP3 players out there; IPOD versus all the rest?

Many thanks

-

 

2 types or hook up and an aux input which plugs into the headphone jack or ur device, it wont charge it or control it (works with ANYTHING with headphone jack)

ipod specific device, charges and controls ipod

 

VetteDawg… hhmmm, you may have convinced me to do this same mod… it’s clever, clean and you mentioned the key phrase for me “the CD quality sound”. I would be doing this for an iPhone but I am thinking that whether its an iPod or iPhone it wouldn’t matter as far as hook up & functionality…

I don’t know if my 2004 will have the exact layout behind the dash/console or on the back of the stereo as yours (I hope it does) but I was hoping you have pics that show the actual finished connection at the “accessory input hole”…? It sounds like you are talking about inside the armrest area, right? I was wondering how this would work by running it into the cigarette lighter lid <?> at the base of the dash in where the ashtray would be… or reasons why not to do it that way.

Oh yah, I like your creative cup holder idea too! Great job!

 

Does anyone know if this Neo charges the ipod if the ignition key is removed / ignition not on? There are quite a few posts here where people have / had the problem of the ipod always charging regardless of the ignition on/off, and due to this fact have drained their battery.
Thanks everyone for the effort in your posts.

 

I want to say how sorry I am for not being around to answer any questions on this thread. I've been away from the forum for quite some time...wallowing in the terrible football season of my Cleveland Browns with other Browns fans on the 24/7 forum.

Bostonirish
I had spoken with the service tech at Neo. I didn't ask him that exact question (I think the instructions say to unplug the i-pod when the car is not in use), I asked if the interface would draw power when the car was not in use. Here is his answer:

I decided that I was going to wire in a switch so I could cut power to the interface when the car was not in use so I asked him which wire in the harness that I would need to interrupt (I told him that I realized that this would void my warranty). Here is his answer:

I spliced my switch into the red wire and mounted it in the console area (kind of covering the hole where the aux. power port was)

- I monitored this thread for a little while but there was no action on it so I kind of forgot about it. Please feel free to e-mail me with a question. Just put Vette or something in the subject so I don't delete it as a potentially dangerous e-mail.

All the best........

 

Good info guys!