Aux Input How To

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="12ba11c3.png"> <div> Aux Input Install</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id383.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Radio 1"><U>My Radio 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id384.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Radio 2"><U>My Radio 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id385.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Radio 3"><U>My Radio 3</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id392.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aux kit 1"><U>Soundgate Kit 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id388.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aux kit 2"><U>Soundgate Kit 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id389.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aux kit 3"><U>Soundgate Kit 3</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id390.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aux kit 4"><U>Soundgate Kit 4</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id391.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aux kit 5"><U>Soundgate Kit 5</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id386.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Clarion Aux 1"><U>Clarion Aux 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id387.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Clarion Aux 2"><U>Clarion Aux 2</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id411.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Xterra"><U>My Xterra</U></A></div> <div> _________________________</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>This Aux Input kit was added to my 2000 Nissan Xterra SE (4wd).  It is also suppose to fit the following make/models:</B></div> <div> <I>NISSAN</I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">03-04 350Z without "SAT" button on radio</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">98-01 Altima (All)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">98-03 Frontier (All)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">98-03 Maxima (All)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">98-02 Pathfinder (All)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">00-03 Xterra with AM/FM CD player, Non-Fosgate</div> <div> <I>INFINITI</I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">98-02 G20 (All)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">98-01 I30 (All)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">98-02 Q45 (All)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ccffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">98-02 QX4 (All)</div> <div> <I><B>Check out some pics of my radio in the left column</B></I></div> <div> The kit I ordered was from TSS Radio <A HREF="http://www.tss-radio.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=auxnissv3" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tss-radio.com/advanced_search"><U>(here's the link)</U></A> and was $60 shipped.  I spoke with a rep who said the Soundgate brand was bought by Stillwater Designs (Kicker) and they are discontinuing the name.  Look for a similar version possibly under the Stillwater name in the future.  The Soundgate kits are still out there, you just have to search a bit.  I've seen them from $59 to $99.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >This kit allows the folks w/ 2000-2003 Xterras (and other nissans of similar years) to add an aux port to the unused CD changer outlet on the back of the stereo (this is the mysterious 12-pin plug, not the 8-pin DIN, which I don't have). It's only suppose to work with the stereos that have the "CD/CHG" button which was an option back in the day to control the optional</FONT> Nissan <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >external 6-Disc CD Changer (manufactured by Clarion, I believe). It's not suppose to work on any of the Rockford Fosgate head units or units that have the "SAT" button.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Check out the pics of the Soundgate kit components in the left column</B></I></div> <bR> <div> I also ordered the Clarion CCAAUX <A HREF="http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_18011_Clarion+CCAAUX.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_1801"><U>(here's the link)</U></A> to mount next to the little cubby (opposite the covered 12V accessory outlet) in the lower console. This piece is a marine accessory that has the little flip-down cover, so it should compliment the 12v outlet and hopefully appear stock.  It was about $30 shipped.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Check out the pics of the Clarion Aux Input (3.5mm) in the left column</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>The Soundgate AUXNISSV3 Install</B></I></div> <bR> <div> First we need to remove the ashtray.  Go ahead and clean it out, while your at it.  Behind the ashtray are two screws <A HREF="id394.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bezel Screws"><U>(Figure 1)</U></A> that secure the Bezel (part that surrounds the radio).  Take them out and put them in your cupholder.  The Bezel should pop out using gentle tug on the sides then top.  Unplug the 12V acc. and set the bezel to the side.</div> <bR> <div> Remove the radio via the 4 screws and pull the unit out.  Unplug the two connectors (one is the main harness w/ front speakers, the other is rear speakers only) and the antenna cable.  Set the head unit to the side for now.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id410.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Connector"><U>Figure 2</U></A> shows the factory connector that houses the 12V constant and accessory pins (among other wires).</div> <bR> <div> Locate the 12V constant wire which should be pin # 6 (mine was red/yellow stripe and slightly larger gauge than the rest) and attach the YELLOW wire from the Nissan interface harness (I like using the blue wire adapters).  Now locate the 12V accessory (switched) wire which should be pin # 10 (mine was green/red stripe) and attach the RED wire from Nissan interface harness <A HREF="id395.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Attach Wires"><U>(Figure 3)</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> Connect the harness (the one with the 8-pin DIN plug at one end) to the Aux interface box <A HREF="id396.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Connect harness"><U>(Figure 4)</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> Plug the 8-pin DIN plug to the Nissan interface box <A HREF="id397.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Plug DIN"><U>(Figure 5)</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> Connect the Nissan harness to the Nissan interface box <A HREF="id398.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Connect Nissan harness"><U>(Figure 6)</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> I found some 1/2" foam padding and layered it between the two boxes and stuffed it all deep into the dash leaving only the main harness connector, rear speaker connector, Nissan interface connector (plugs into the CD changer port) and the antenna cable <A HREF="id405.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Plugs and antenna"><U>(Figure 7)</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> Grab your radio and plug in the three connectors and antenna cable <A HREF="id399.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Connect factory harness"><U>(Figure 8)</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Now you are ready connect up to two different aux input devices (MP3, Ipod, etc) to the interface via RCA plugs.  An option is to mount the Aux interface box (the one with two sets of RCA's) in a readily availble location (like your glovebox) to connect devices at will, or you can do what I did and hook up a RCA to Aux Input (3.5mm) adapter.</I></div> <bR> <div> If you opt for an Aux input adapter (and want to conceal the interface equipment), then leave yourself some room to access the RCA's before completely reinstalling your radio and bezel.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>The Clarion CCAAUX (RCA to 3.5mm Aux input) adapter Install</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Depending on whether you utilize the same aux input or not and location you decide on, you should go ahead and remove the center console (the part with the cupholders and armrest), and the lower console (the part that surrounds the shifter and contains the other 12V outlet and cubby).</div> <bR> <div> I opted to mount the aux input in the space to the left of the cubby <A HREF="id393.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Factory console cubby"><U>(Figure 1)</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> With the lower console removed, take out the 4 screws securing the cubby to the console <A HREF="id400.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Backside of console"><U>(Figure 2)</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> Mark the appropriate size hole that will accomodate your new aux input (I removed the nut from the threaded aux input shaft and traced inside) </div> <div> <A HREF="id401.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mark hole"><U>(Figure 3)</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> Drill the hole and bore it to appropriate size (I used a dremel too with a sanding bit.  I had to bore a little wider than my mark to allow the threaded shaft to fit) <A HREF="id402.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Drill hole"><U>(Figure 4)</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> There is some additional plastic in the way, so you'll have to grind it, cut it or chizel it out of the way of the threaded shaft.  Also, I had to grind down the little tabs on the nut to allow it to spin freely when threading <A HREF="id403.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grind plastic"><U>(Figure 5)</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> Hold the cubby up to its mounting location and draw a "half moon" circle where the threaded shaft of the aux input would be protruding through </div> <div> <A HREF="id404.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mark half moon"><U>(Figure 6)</U></A>.  You'll have to grind this out as well (Dremel tool w/ sanding bit works great here).  Replace the cubby.  Install the Aux Input and tighten down the nut.</div> <bR> <div> Connect the RCA's to the Aux interface and reinstall your lower console, center console, radio and bezel (if you haven't already).  The finished product should look something like <A HREF="id408.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Finished product w/ jack"><U>Figure 7</U></A> and <A HREF="id409.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Finished product covered"><U>Figure 8</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> To activate the aux device (MP3), plug in the device and push the CD/CHG button on the head unit.  If you have a CD in the unit, you may have to push the CD/CHG button again.  Other radios may be different, but mine displayed a bunch of 1's <A HREF="id406.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Note the display"><U>(Figure 9)</U></A> when the Aux device was in use.  If you want to listen to the stereo or CD, just push the respective button to activate.  You don't need to unplug your aux device.  I purchased a 3ft coiled aux cable (3.5mm) from Best Buy for about $6 to plug my BlackBerry.  I just leave it plugged in and let my phone rest on the 4wd shifter area <A HREF="id407.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blackberry is plugged"><U>(Figure 10)</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> If you have two aux devices attached to the interface, you can select which one you want to use by pressing the "Disc Up" or "Disc Down" (presets 1 and 2).  This gives you the capability to switch back and forth.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Overall Comments</B></I></div> <bR> <div> It took me about 3 hours (including a pot of coffee and multiple bathroom breaks) to complete install.  I'm very pleased with the looks and eas of use.  I did notice, however, that you loose about 1/4 of the stereo volume while playing MP3's.  What that means is if you normally listen to your stereo about 1/4 volume, you'll need to turn in up to about 1/2 volume to get a similar output.  If you normally listen to your stereo full blast, though, you'll be disappointed to know that you'll not be able to attain that level through MP3.  I did notice, however, that MP3's that were downloaded at a higher bit rate, sounded considerably better than those of lower bit rates.  Maybe this compensated somewhat for the volume, or it could just be me.</div> <div> Hope this install was helpful!</div> <div> Feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions you may have.</div> <div> Rob G.</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:rjgilliam@bellsouth.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:rjgilliam@bellsouth.net"><U>rjgilliam@bellsouth.net</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>