iPOD Install

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Thanks to Nebulight for this iPOD install!

This is the process that I used to get my iPod hooked up to my GTI. I first was running it threw a tape adapter, but found that I had a huge lose of quality. I later found out that the double din Monsoon units were having problems due to a miswired cable. Well, I fixxed that, and it got a little bit better. But it still didn't sound the way I wanted. After doing a few hours of research, I found a website called RCAinput.com. They had a product that would convert the CD changer plug in the back to RCA. Great, I thought. Then I could just plug in a RCA to stereo cable, and just get an extension to the front glove box. That is exactly what I did.

1. Plugged the adapter into the CD changer port in the back.
2. Plugged that into a RCA-to-Stereo adapter.
3. Plugged that into a stereo extension cable.
4. Ran that cable to the front, into the glove box.
5. When ever I want to listen to my iPod, I pull the cable out, and plug it in.
6. Just hit the cd button till it changes over to the CD changer port.

Here are a few pictures of the cable, and the glove box:

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3


iPod Mount

The iPod was hooked up, and sounded great. But I had to have a way to mount it. There is a company called PanaVise that makes custom mounts for basically any car. They have two for the GTI, Jettas as well. One for the upper part, and one for the lower part. I bought the one for the upper part of the dash. I don't have any install pics, but I will tell you that is was pretty easy. The mount just comes with the mount, you need to buy a holder to go along with it. Here are the part numbers from panavise:

Portagrip 2000-Model 702 (the holder)
Indash 75138-499 (the mount)

The mount gets installed in the dash, and you screw the Portagrip to Indash for a perfect fit. Here are some of the final pictures with and without the iPod:

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Power to the iPod

Well, I have done everything else to my iPod, why not power it in my car. Though, again, I was forced with a problem of trying to hide all the cables. I could have just used a 12V adapter in the front, and let the cable hang only when I want to power. But, I just don't like to have cables shown. It's just my thing. So, thanks go to VolksWagon on this one, I am going to use the 12V adapter in the back. Here is a list of everything that was used to make it happen:

Griffen PowerPod Car Charger (You can not get any other Car Charger, it must be this one because it has a removable firewire cable)
MacAlly Firewire Repeater
SiK (Power Only) HotWire Firewire Cable
And of course, the step by step set up:

1. Plug the Powerpod in the rear 12V adapter.
2. Plug the 15 ft firewire cable (Included with the MacAlly repeater) into the 12V adapter, and run it to the front, under the glove box.
3. Plug the cable into the repeater.
4. Plug the SiK firewire cable into the repeater and run that to the glove box.
5. Pull the SiK firewire cable out whenever you want to power the iPod.

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

iPod Audio And Power Cable Run

Running the from the back of the car to the front was a challege. I just had to go threw several panels. I started in the back (Note: This might be different with Jettas, infact, I know it will be, but you should still be able to figure it out)

Figure 13

That will lead it to the back, lower portion before the bumper. Then you just need to pull up that piece and feed it through

Figure 14

Figure 15

Next, you need to run it past the 12V plug. This time, if you can, you can just push the wires up inside, so you don't have to take the panel off. This works sometimes, other times, you need to pull the panel out

Figure 16

Figure 17

Now the power is easy because I just kept the 12V plug in the stock place

Figure 18

Okay, now that you have it out of the back, now it is time to move it to the glove box. The next step in getting there is threw the lower door panels. I was stupid when I did the audio. I removed the WHOLE panel in the back seat to get it under there. I realized later, that I can just run it under the seat, and only have minimal cables showing

Figure 19


Figure 20

Next, we need to pop out the side lower kicker panels. This is really easy. Just pull up, and they will just snap off. (Don't worry, they snap back in)

Figure 21

Figure 22

Then just feed the cables to the front glove box. You will need to take the glove box off in order to get the cable in there. That is easy, you just remove the three screws on the bottom and the three when you open the glove box, and it should slide off. (It will not come undone on the left side, that is normal) Then just hide the cable behind the piece of plastic under the glove box

Figure 23

Now, when putting the cables threw the glove box, you have two options. One, you can drill a hole, like I did first, refer to Figure 3

Or, the glove box already has a hole that you can feed the cable threw. I did this when I did the power

Figure 24

Groud Loop Isolator

Well, once I had everything set up the way I wanted it, there was a problem. I was getting this horrible noise whenever I had the power hooked up. This was cause by multiple grounds, thus causing a Ground Loop. I just went to the local Radio Shack and picked up a Ground Loop Isolator. I also had to pick up two RCA gender changers because GLI is male, and so it the RCAInput adapter.

Figure 24

Final Notes

This should work with any MP3 or audio play out there. (Except the power, but you can do the idea on how to set it up)

Everything I did in this writeup was for the Monsoon Double Din CD player with Amp in the back. If you have a single din head unit, you just get a different adapter from RCAinput.com. And chances are, you will not have to run it from the back because you will not have an Amp. You should just be able to hook it up in the back of the head unit.

If you want to run this adapter with a CD changer as well, you will have a bit more work. I haven't had to deal with this because I use an iPod, and I don't understand why anyone would want to run a CD changer as well as an iPod. The iPod holds more than enough. Anyway, you might want to check out Soundgate.

Here are some useful links:
http://www.panavise.com
http://www.macally.com
http://www.everythingipod.com
http://www.ipoding.com

Materials Needed

Misc RCA and Audio Cabling

 
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