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$3 - 2003 Factory Radio AUX input for only $3

26440 Views 60 Replies 23 Participants Last post by  AstroWill, 
AstroWill
10
So I wanted to add an AUX input on the factory radio. I was going to do this on the 99 but I never got around to it. I figured as the front of this one is broke and the CD player skips it would be a good test. Never liked the FM modulators as they degrade the sound and I travel a lot which makes it hard to keep a clear channel. If you are in one area and can find an empty station that might work for you. This is still cheaper and doesn't require extra power.

Finished Product:
aux_input_stock_03Astro_radio.jpg


I found some instructions over here using Radio Shack part# 274-0246.
radioshack274-0246.jpg

As Radio Shack has been closing stores all over the place, it might be easier to get them online, here is a link to a similar jack on amazon. http://amzn.to/2q8LLhS
http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthr ... ?p=3315388

Here are the wires that you need to attach to after removing the bottom of the radio.
P5200009edited.JPG


I used some CAT5 wire that I had laying around, removed 3 strands as you need 5 wires if you still want the CD player to work when you remove the 3.5mm male-male headphone cable. Note: In this picture the orange and white/orange are reversed.
P5200018edited.JPG


After removing the face, you can see where it has to be trimmed for the jack to fit. You won't be using the threaded ring that comes with the jack.
P5200010edited.JPG


Here it is trimmed. 16/64th drill bit for the hole.
P5200015edited.JPG


PCB board had to be trimmed as well, here it is trimmed and the jack installed.
P5200021edited.JPG


Hot glue behind jack to prevent it being pushed back when plug is inserted.
P5200024edited.JPG


Wires attached and working!
P5200025edited.JPG


Damn it, I didn't get a picture of the radio from the front, will do that soon.
Edit: Here it is from the front.
P5200029edited.JPG


If you are powering/charging your connected device(BT adapter/phone/tablet) from the vehicle, you may also need some ground loop isolation.
I bought a ground loop isolator from Radioshack as it was local and on sale. However to reduce wiring connections here is one that already has a 3.5mm plug and jack on it to simplify the wiring. https://amzn.to/2Ilsfat

You could also install these inside the head unit/radio so there wouldn't be any requirement to have them hanging around. You could also make your own using the transformers from old computer modems if you happen to have some around.

If you are looking for a double DIN upgrade, Metro makes a kit now:

Without the wiring harness https://amzn.to/332TXj4
With the wiring harness and antenna adapter https://amzn.to/33d6EYR

If you want to do away with the radio all together and use your own bluetooth receiver/amp see this post by Wimptech: $25 Bluetooth Sound System

While this has served me well, and is still working as intended, I really like having navigation/bluetooth built-in as it is with my other vehicles.
My future plan is to go with the double DIN metra kit Double DIN Install - Alpine ILX-207 - Metra Double DIN kit
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AstroWill
Hope the pics are OK for everyone. Now of course if I keep the van, I will probably change the radio anyway. The way I look at it, it was a learning experience. I don't think you can find another $3 mod that is this cool :)

By the way, the CD player still works if you have the male to male cable removed from the jack.
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AstroWill
I wanted to have it on the face of the radio, so it was really lucky that the circuit board in that spot has nothing else there. Then again with the broken buttons on this one, I'm sure that it's going to get replaced anyway. It was still a fun project to try.
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AstroWill
Yes, it is a factory CD player.
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AstroWill
Martym said:
Hi,

Thanks for the great detail. I'm looking to do this to my unit and have a question -
You mention "Note: In this picture the orange and white/orange are reversed."

So are you suggesting I reverse the orange and white when I solder them on. And then use the hooks ups shown inside the unit in the other pictures?

Thanks
Mrty
Click to expand...
Exactly, when I took this picture I had them hooked up wrong.
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AstroWill
AstroWill said:
By the way, the CD player still works if you have the male to male cable removed from the jack.
Click to expand...
If it is wired up the way I have it, when you remove the plug it connects the wires just like stock. The jack does this automatically
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AstroWill
Looking good everyone, next I'm going to add bluetooth so music and navigation sounds from my phone will be through the factory radio.
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AstroWill
Meterpig said:
AstroWill said:
Looking good everyone, next I'm going to add bluetooth so music and navigation sounds from my phone will be through the factory radio.
Click to expand...
Fyi...I hav a bluetooth adapter and it works great except for one thing. When not in use, it puts a high pitched hiss through the system even if the adapter isn't being used. It modulated with the led on the adapter. It probably isn't quite shielded like it should be. For 12 dollars I can shut it off. Point is, I would keep the adapter where it can be shut off or disconnected.
Click to expand...
Which one did you purchase, I will try a different model.
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AstroWill
AstroWill said:
Meterpig said:
Fyi...I hav a bluetooth adapter and it works great except for one thing. When not in use, it puts a high pitched hiss through the system even if the adapter isn't being used. It modulated with the led on the adapter. It probably isn't quite shielded like it should be. For 12 dollars I can shut it off. Point is, I would keep the adapter where it can be shut off or disconnected.
Click to expand...
Which one did you purchase, I will try a different model.
Click to expand...
MP replied by PM(TY) that this was the one that was causing a high pitched hiss ---removed dead link---

So I ordered ---removed dead link---
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AstroWill
AstroWill said:
So I ordered ---removed dead link---
Click to expand...
bluetoothaudioadapter.JPG

I received my bluetooth audio adapter today and just tested it in my van. I bought the white one because they had it for $1 cheaper and I plan to mount it where it will never be seen.
The package included the white adapter, usb cap, 3.5mm audio cable, and the 110vac 1a USB power adapter.

I first connected it using the 12vdc adapter on the left, it had a horrible hiss and crappy sound. I thought to myself, great this thing is a POS, I'm going to have the same problem as MP mentioned above. Then I grabbed an extension cord and the supplied 110vac adapter. After it paired with my phone again it had ZERO hiss, great sound, perfect volume, no bass problems, with the 110vac adapter. Then I tried the next two 12vdc adapters. They were better than the first, with the one on the far right being the best but still has a slight background noise to it, really noticeable when it's a quiet part of the song.

So I need a better source for the 5vdc that is required, ideally directly from the radio itself but I would be willing to get a dc/dc adapter and connect it behind the radio to the acc power. I guess it's time to tear into the radio in search of a clean 5vdc supply.

If anyone knows of a cheap plug in adapter that has clean power, let me know.

MP- Maybe try a different power supply with yours, might be able to get rid of that hissing.

See the next post for the fix!
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AstroWill
3
I tried it in my Tiger as that has a USB supply built into the radio, and no noise issues at all. Ok, so I figured I would buy some adapters to try and here they are.
P1010266edited.JPG


Most of these were worse then the ones I already had on hand, so I did some research and found that it was a ground loop problem. What is a electrical ground loop, it is an unwanted current in a conductor connecting two points that are supposed to be at the same potential but are actually at different potentials. Well damn, so THAT is the problem, a widespread problem as well. So what is the solution you may ask yourself, use transformers to remove the electrical connection between the output of the bluetooth adapter and the input jack on the radio. You could make your own, just have to go shopping at Mouser or another parts warehouse but they are readily available already made for you as well.

I bought this ground loop isolator from Radioshack as it was local and on sale.
P1010268edited.JPG


However to reduce wiring connections here is one that already has a 3.5mm plug and jack on it to simplify the wiring.
gli.jpg

https://amzn.to/2Ilsfat

Of course my other plan was to pull the radio again and see if there is a usable 5v supply directly from the radio, I'm pretty sure that would eliminate the need for the isolator.

With the isolator installed all of my original 12vdc to USB adapters are working perfectly.
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AstroWill
That would be a good option for mono, however I always have a cd in the player anyway.
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AstroWill
I haven't been driving this van in a while, but I started it up today to let it fully warm up and move it around a bit. Plugged in my bluetooth adapter and connected to my phone to listen to some music while waiting and reading my email, still working great!
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AstroWill
Yes 20gauge wire will work.

You can buy the jacks individually from some places but often they sell the small stuff in packs. Could sell/give away the rest to the community.

Pins 1 and 3 in that picture are referring to the pins of the connector on the circuit board.

I posted the picture of the wiring for the jack because each of those could be different depending on what you buy. Once you get your jack, post an image of the jack and the diagram if you run into any issues.

I just grounded to the chassis of the radio.
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AstroWill
NP. It's pretty simple, just goes inline with the left and right channels. Breaks the connection from the CD player when the plug connection is made (inserting plug into jack).

Good luck!
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AstroWill
Should be easy to test, can pull the pin from the connector.
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AstroWill
So the pinout was the same, just different colored wires?

Congrats on getting it working!
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AstroWill
Good deal, thanks for posting! Will help the next person that comes along and wants to do the same.
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AstroWill
AstroOafAdventurer said:
You can also buy them with this mod already done:
https://1factoryradio.com/chevy-gmc-199 ... mp3-input/
They also offer with RCA outs and BT:
https://1factoryradio.com/1995-2002-che ... music-rca/

Good write up OP, I'll give this a try on my tape deck model.
Click to expand...
Ouch, for that price you can have a nice 2DIN navigation unit and the Metra kit.


Without the wiring harness https://amzn.to/332TXj4

With the wiring harness and antenna adapter https://amzn.to/33d6EYR
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AstroWill
Using the cable that runs to the remote cd player makes it even easier. They also make units that go between there that you can purchase, does the same thing https://amzn.to/3imkFw1
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