Adding an AUX plug to car stereo

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Adding an AUX plug to car stereo

ianboag

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#140984 26-Feb-2014 07:56

Like to do this for my wife's 2008 Honda CRV. Can anyone point me at useful info or someone who can do it in the Manawatu?

sbiddle

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#994602 26-Feb-2014 08:23

Does it have an AUX input?

ianboag

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#994618 26-Feb-2014 08:39

No. I see various ideas online about ways to hack into the CD player output, but it's not intuitively obvious where I go from there .....

Klipspringer

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#994628 26-Feb-2014 08:46

ianboag: No. I see various ideas online about ways to hack into the CD player output, but it's not intuitively obvious where I go from there .....

I guess as its a 2008 model it does not have a tape deck?

That would be your easiest option, and it would provide far better sound that some of those dodgy FM type transmitters.

They sell these things at dick smiths.
http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/accessories-cables/dick-smith-cassette-adapter-dsnz-c9224

Alternately you could look at buying something like this off ebay, but not knowing your exact headunit type you would have to research it a little more:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUX-Adapter-Interface-for-iPod-iPhone-Android-Samsung-Charge-Bluetooth-HON1A3-/121255196675?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3AHonda%7CModel%3ACR-V&hash=item1c3b5f7803&vxp=mtr

The best solution though is to spend just a little more and buy a new head unit which includes bluetooth and is a much better option to aux. But it may not be possible due to the radio integration with other car controls etc ...

Does your car have the reversing camera integration? If not you can buy a dash kit to install a new radio:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2007-2008-2009-2010-2011-Honda-CRV-Dash-Kit-For-Radio-Install-Double-Din-/360605060837?pt=US_Car_Audio_Video_Dashboard_Installation_Kits&hash=item53f5bc8ee5

ianboag

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#994648 26-Feb-2014 09:00

Thanks. My intention is to add a bluetooth dongle on the end of it too - I know where to get that (aliexpress) but the Aux bit seems to have a few mysteries ....

Klipspringer

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#994657 26-Feb-2014 09:07

ianboag: Thanks. My intention is to add a bluetooth dongle on the end of it too - I know where to get that (aliexpress) but the Aux bit seems to have a few mysteries ....

I would not bother trying to hack into the existing headunit, chances are that if there is any information out there on how to do it, it may not be reliable and you may just end up damaging the unit anyway.

At the end of the day consider the costs of all of this. The bluetooth dongle (they not very reliable from my experience), and your time involved etc .. its just a far better option to replace the entire thing. You will end up with a better solution with an all in one unit that works as intended.

Edit: As its your wifes car, I suppose there is even less room for error :-p

ianboag

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#994688 26-Feb-2014 09:55

Oops. I just discovered the stereo already has an AUX input. They just put it in a non-intuitive place. My bad. Now the problem has moved on a bit. Now I want to do the bluetooth phone thing. She already has a unit-on-the visor bluetooth thingo, but the killer is that it has to be plugged into a charger every so often which doesn't/won't happen. A wire hanging down off the visor doesn't work :-( The current stereo has steering wheel controls so replacement with an after-market unit is probably a bit hard and loss of that functionality is a nono. We could always upgrade the vehicle I suppose, but the cost of that means I can spend quite a few $$$ on this phone project and still come out ahead :-)

I'm happy to forget bluetooth music streaming. Now I just want a simple bluetooth thingo with its own speaker and mike that works seamlessy with no need to remember to recharge it.

Klipspringer

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#994694 26-Feb-2014 09:59

ianboag: Oops. I just discovered the stereo already has an AUX input. They just put it in a non-intuitive place. My bad. Now the problem has moved on a bit. Now I want to do the bluetooth phone thing. She already has a unit-on-the visor bluetooth thingo, but the killer is that it has to be plugged into a charger every so often which doesn't/won't happen. A wire hanging down off the visor doesn't work :-( The current stereo has steering wheel controls so replacement with an after-market unit is probably a bit hard and loss of that functionality is a nono. We could always upgrade the vehicle I suppose, but the cost of that means I can spend quite a few $$$ on this phone project and still come out ahead :-)

I'm happy to forget bluetooth music streaming. Now I just want a simple bluetooth thingo with its own speaker and mike that works seamlessy with no need to remember to recharge it.

Thats good news. These units are pretty good and they charge via the cigarette lighter.

http://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-F4U037/

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ianboag

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#994714 26-Feb-2014 10:36

Thankyou. The drawback of course is that they only go through the stereo if the input source is set to AUX, not if you were listening to the radio like the factory units do. I've been round and round on this one :-( I think I'm just going to settle for a unit that has its own speaker/mic .. which is where all this started.

ubergeeknz

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#994717 26-Feb-2014 10:40

ianboag: Thankyou. The drawback of course is that they only go through the stereo if the input source is set to AUX, not if you were listening to the radio like the factory units do. I've been round and round on this one :-( I think I'm just going to settle for a unit that has its own speaker/mic .. which is where all this started.

Definitely easier, I have a Jabra Cruiser 2 and it works superbly. I just added a long USB cable which routes inside the A-pillar trim, so it's tidied away and always charging.

Klipspringer

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#994766 26-Feb-2014 12:17

ianboag: Thankyou. The drawback of course is that they only go through the stereo if the input source is set to AUX, not if you were listening to the radio like the factory units do. I've been round and round on this one :-( I think I'm just going to settle for a unit that has its own speaker/mic .. which is where all this started.

Thats a problem I use to have.

I have a pioneer headunit which is very smart. I can be listening to any source and it will switch to the phone function when a call comes in. The other advantages is that the headunit allows you to view your phone contact list, last dialled numbers etc ... Also lets you program a couple of numbers.

I have started using the SMS+Car app which adds convenience. It reads out new SMS/IM messages (googles Text to speech) without me having to do a single thing. It also utilizes the bluetooth phone microphone for online voice control to the phone.

The best thing is no wires. I can just climb into my car and go. It just works even when my phone is in my laptop bag in the boot.