Okay so I have to admit that I'm really getting sick of the quality that Wireless FM transmitters provide and am pretty sure the alternatives are all very complex and way over priced. In my research I've seen a module that supposidly hooks up to the stock deck some how and is not cheap. Has anyone discovered a cost effective and high quality approach to integrating an iPhone or iPod to our Corvette's factory head unit? Thanks for all your help!

 

This is if you are wired for a stock 12 disc CD changer.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piegm10aux.html

I believe this is if you don't have the 12 disc changer.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piegm12aux.html

I am sure others will chime in.

These are what I am looking at, since I am in the process of hooking an IPOD to my stock CD changer unit, too.

If you have an aftermarket stereo. The aftermarked companies usually have interfaces designed for their units. I got one for my son, cost about $100, he has a KENWOOD unit. He can actually operate his IPOD using his stereo controls. The music info is even displayed on the aftermarket radio.

Good luck......

 

Thanks for posting this. For the record I will be keeping the factory head unit and would like it if I could use the AUX button for my iphone. I also do not have the 12 disc changer. I think I read about some problems between using the 2G vs 3G iphone. Any other pointers would be greatly appreciated!

 

Under the computability section it does not list any Corvettes.

 

I took my radio apart and spliced a switched headphone jack into the signal coming from the radio. Works flawlessly and cost about $3. I have no idea where the write up is for it tho.

 

try this web site for an ipod kit: Autotoys.com kit #s are PXHGM1 & GMH20TC was $ 109.95 no shipping if you use Paypal name brand

I purchased a universal kit that plugs into the cd chg'er in the back of the unit. I havn't installed it yet I may just replace the unit w/an after market one.

 

Try this web site too: http://www.installer.com/cars/by_car.php?car=CHEVROLET

Although it is higher it might be the solution to your problem too.

FSTFRC

 

http://www.icarkits.com/product_info.php?products_id=99


Get this one! It will charge every type of I-pod no others out there charge every i-pod. tried tested true

 

Yum, this one looks tasty! Anyone else have success with this? A little pricey though! About what I paid for my darn iPhone

 

The adapter in the first link will work if you have a 12 CD changer and plugs directly into the 12 CD changer harness that runs along the right side rocker panel. From what I understand many cars that never had the CD changer still have the cable (pull the right rocker panel and look (its just velcroed and clipped on, no tools required). Mine didnt have the CD changer and sure enough when I pulled it apart, the cable for it was right there. If yours doesnt have the CD changer cable, you can get that also online.

The adapter in the second link connects directly to the back of the radio. That will require you to get to the back of the radio, not a big deal, but you will have to pull the center console apart. If you do go this route, make sure you either leave the power connector connected to the radio while you are moving it to get to the back, or that you write down your theft lock code (or insure its not enabled (if the security light blinks on your radio, you have theft lock enabled, if it doesnt you dont, and its not enabled by default)) so that you can enter it when you reconnect the radio, or it wont work until you do.

Either one you use (once connected, either to the cable for the CD changer or directly to the radio) is a piece of cake to use. It will get its power from the connection (so you dont have to run any other wire), and once its connected, just plug whatever you want into the rca jacks and it will come through the OEM radio when you hit the AUX button.

You can run whatever you want into either of the adapters, you can even run more than one device in. I currently have my XM unit and my PC both running into the adapter. Its just an audio input, if both devices are sending sound both sounds come through the radio (an example would be when Im listening to XM and also using the GPS/NAV on the carpc, the voice directions just speak over (but dont interrupt) the XM music thats playing). So you could run an ipod in and also the sound output from a phone or a GPS unit.

Nice addition.

 

Is the auxilary input converter necessary to have if your just hooking up an ipod using the harness that plugs into the factory cd changer wiring located in the passenger footwell?What exactly is the inverter used for? By hooking up an inverter,does it allow you to hook up an ipod through it and still maintain the function of the factory cd changer?Is this possible?

 

Try this.
iSimple - Apple® iPod® Direct Connect Kit for Select GM Vehicles
Model: ISGM74 | SKU: 8760888

I have had a ISGSM73 in my 04 for two years with no problems what so ever. You can get this at Best Buy, Fryes ect. Its $149.00 and has all the necessary cables. If the search worked on the forum here you could see the install procedure and pictures.

 

Wow Great write up! Thanks a million! With that being said, does anyone have pictures of the passenger rocker panel being dismantled? I'd love to connect to that tap/connection point without tearing the dash/center console apart!

Please & Thank You!!

 

Sorry, no pictures, but I can do one better ;

Go out to your car, open the passgenger door, grab the rocker panel (actually its probably called something like a sill plate) by the rear end closest to the seat belt roller, and lift a perfect 3d representation. Its just clips and velcro, you re not gonna hurt anything. Just do it easy. the cable will be either coiled up and secured to the right kick panel under the dash or doubled up and run along the right rocker panel under the carpet. If its there you'll see it, its not a small thing. Its enough cable to reach the rear of the vehicle and its about a half inch thick.

If its not there, you can either buy something like this http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piecorhar.html or you can just get the one that attaches directly to the back of the radio.

I know how you feel about taking the console apart, I fet the same way in the first few years owning the car. But once I did it, it really is a low skill project.

If you had to take the radio out to get to the back of it:
-D/C the negative battery cable
-Engage the Emg brake
-Pop the littel cap off the air temp sensor to the right of the steering wheel and remove one screw (possibly a #15 torx if my memory isnt shot)
-Remove the ashtray and remove another screw behind it.
-Pop the Active Handeling / Airbag switch insert out of the center console by the shifter (just pops out with a small bladed screwdriver), d/c the wire attached and set it aside.
-loosen the two bolts onder the switch you just removed.
-Open the center console compartment and pop the caps off and take out two bolts.
-lift the compartment unit and slide it back towards the rear of the car a few inches. this will make sense when you do it, its only so you can then lift the center radio surround bezel off of the bolts you just loosened under the AH switch. You dont need to d/c the wires going to the center compartment, there is enough play to slide it back enough to get the radio bezel up.
-Turn the key to accessory, so you can move the shifter. Put it in drive (so the radio bezel clears when you lift it off and over the shifter)

The bezel is held in by the two bolts under the AH switch and a few pegs/clips around the edge. Dont be bashful, it will lift from the rear and then pop the top out from the dashboard. Maneuver it over the shifter, and its out.

-Put the car back in park.

Once the center radio bezel is out, you can see everything. The radio is held in by two screws, you will probably be able to remove them and get enough play to plug something into the back of it (although I didnt have to move mine). If you find you ahve to unplug the radio, just review what was said earlier re the theft lock.




For the previous poster re: "do you retain the function of the CD changer . . .' I would think not. The unit I have (sorry dont remember exactly which) is the end of the loop. It goes on at the connection that normaly would plug into the CD changer, so I dont think it acts like a pass through. Not sure why we would use the 12 CD changer if we are adding a connection for an Ipod or MP3 player in this day and age though.

 

Dumb question (I'm sure) but how do you plug your iPod into RCA jacks?
Are you running from the head phone output?

 

Once you have RCA in, well, you go to Radio Shack or Best Buy and they have a wall of cables that can connect anything to . . .well . . .anything


And yes, I use an RCA to D sub mini.

 

Jistari - pardon my ignorance, but I don't understand The 'auction site' has got the following combo for $68 shipped...but my 2000 corvette is not listed. The write up shows for 2005-2008.
The PIE website says the GM12-AUXv2 fits GM vehicles 2002-2008.
- so I'm outa' luck, correct? (I've got the stock CD/radio - no 6 disc changer)






right now my vette is undergoing minor surgery in my garage. I've shipped the console and radio surround to the manufacturer (aftermarket hydrostatic carbon fiber dimpled on me)...and today, the Fedex Home delivery driver should be bringing my flasher/hazard switch...so it's the perfect time to get set up for my ipod.

 

Now bearing in mind that Im not a car audio installer, just a guy who has done a few things (one of which seems to answer the question the OP asked) . . .

I was commenting on the products listed in Vmaquerra's post above. They seem to be identical (albeit older) versions of what you linked to here.

First things first, regarding the compatibility. I agree, I read the ad and our cars are not listed on the drop down, however, in their product description I read . . .

""The GM factory radio must have CD Changer controls (the ability to control an externally mounted GM CD changer (CD/AUX) button or XM Ready (Band) Button on the radio face. Radios that do not support one of these options are not compatible with this part.""

Your car has the CD/AUX button, that would put it in the section of radios that are compatible with this part.

As I said, I have the older version, I dont really feel like pulling the underdash panel down and squeezing in there to read the exact model number, but it is one of the two linked in vmaquerra's post above.

This is not a difficult application. We dont need high level integration with the sound system, and we are not attempting to control a remote tuner or player (your Ipod or XM tuner) through the factory radio. All we are doing is connecting a peripheral that will allow us to send an analog audio signal into the AUX channel, so that when we press the AUX button the head unit routes that signal to the amplifier and then out to the speakers. You are going to control your Ipod or XMtuner with the controls on the unit itself.

All I can say at this point is:

If your car is wired for a 12 CD changer already, the unit in the first link in vmquera;s post will allow you to connect whatever you want to the AUX channel on the stock C5 radio.

If your car is not wired for the 12CD changer the unit in the second link will allow you to do the same.

As I said, for me, my car was wired for the CD changer, so all I needed was the adapter, which plugged in to the CD changer cable under the pass side dash.

So either buy #1 http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piegm10aux.html, plug it in under the pass side dash, connect the RCA to D sub mini cable (that would be the small cable on the lower left corner of the bottom picture you posted, the one with what looks like a headphone jack on one end and the red and white RCA plugs on the other end) to the adapter and plug whatever you want into the d sub mini (headphone) end. When you hit AUX, whatever you have connected will play through your factory head unit and amplifier.

Or

Buy #2 http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piegm12aux.html, get to the back of the factory radio, plug the adapter directly in there, connect the RCA to D sub mini to the adapter . . . as above.

I have zero problem talking about this stuff, its a hobby, and I enjoy it but if you would like a professional's advice, I know where to get that also

Either PM Pentavolvo (he is a member here on corvette forum, and a highly qualified audio tech for the C5) or you can stop by the Audio/Electronics forum here on corvette forum http://forums.corvetteforum.com/audio-electronics-20/

You will get it sorted out and be enjoying your music soon enough

Keep the faith

 

well, I pulled the radio out last night...and...I certainly cannot use the set up that I pictured above. Mine has 4 smaller connectors that plug into 4 slots in the radio.

looking at the area that the radio sits in (with radio removed) how can I tell if I'm wired for the cd changer?

thanks for your efforts Jistari.

so...I think that THIS is what will work for my '00:

 

Let's keep this thread going. This is great info!!!