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

[AstroWill]

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 (121.8 KiB) Viewed 1897 times

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

RadioShack 274-0246

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.

Pin1 is left Pin3 is right

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.

Jack and Cat

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.

To be trimmed

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

Trimmed and 15/64 hole drilled.

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

PCB Trimmed and Jack installed

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

Hot glue behind jack to prevent from being pushed through when plug is inserted

Wires attached and working!

Wires attached and working!

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.

Finished product closeup

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: https://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=101457

[Leeann_93]

Cool - thanks!

[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.

[Drummernaut]

Nice find on a spot to place it in. I still have not decided on were to put mine.

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=21266

[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.

[markmitch]

So this is a factory stereo with you adding on a jack for an MP3 player?

[AstroWill]

Yes, it is a factory CD player.

[akmo23]

I sleeved the 5 wires with a piece of heat shrink coming out of the radio.
Grounded on the antenna screw.
I was basically eyeballing the internals of the jack instead of diagram. ( It wasn't that hard)

I was sort of worried the CD changing tracks would interfere but no it does not.

Picture has the model of radio.

Also mine is a 2001 LS Chevy Astro - with rear door speakers and tweets.

[catbones]

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.
I found some instructions over here using Radio Shack part# 274-0246.
http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthr ... ?p=3315388

radioshack274-0246.jpg

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. 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.

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

Awesome job and documentation of it. I'll actually try this in mine since I'm hating my pioneer that's in the van right now and if you got a hookup to an iPod in a factory, why bother having aftermarket.

[michaeltd]

I have a 1995 Astro and it was the base model radio with just am/fm, so I went to the lkq and found a gm radio that had a cassette player and DNR. I went to wal mart and bought a aux converter that plugger in the cassette player and the DNR makes it sound pretty good the whole thing cost me about $25 and I still have the OE look!!

[Martym]

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

[AstroWill]

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

Exactly, when I took this picture I had them hooked up wrong.

[Martym]

Thanks!
I'll let you know how it turns out...
Marty

[Martym]

Thanks again. I recommend this to anyone considering it.
This fix took about 30minutes total - not bad for my first home electronics job.

One last question.
With the audio in plug installed, my cd player no longer works. I'm guessing its because we cut the black and white wires feeding the cd input and spliced in the aux plug in between. Is there a way we can make it switch back to the CD feed when wanted? Maybe by using an audio plug that has the wires jumped to create back the connection that is cut? Does this make sense? Any risk of shorting anything out?

Thanks
Marty

[AstroWill]

By the way, the CD player still works if you have the male to male cable removed from the jack.

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

[Martym]

That's awesome! Thank you

[KickballerATL]

Great guide. I knocked this out today. I didn't want to mess with drilling into the head unit so I put my input in the empty slot above the rear AC controls:

[Mmusicman]

Excellent write up... even MORE excellent with such detailed photos!

[ssbf1]

This mod. is fantastic! Write up is great and easy to follow.

[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.