So I recently got tired of having to burn new CDs all the time to listen to my mp3s in the car. The stock radio that plays mp3s is a great feature for the Scions but I can't burn a CD just to add one song. Plus it seems I got a lot of glitches on my CDs which was annoying enough. So I figured it was time to step up and get an iPod.

From my research it seemed the best way to attach the iPod is with a hardwire. They sell FM modulator ones but the quality is garbage so I wanted to stay away from that. I looked online to see who made kits for it. Best Buy had a kit for like $200 and Circuit City had one for $150. I went to each store to take a look, Best Buy was all out because maybe it is a popular kit or something. Circuit City did not have any in the stereo section or the iPod section and I had to track one down in the installation bays on the side of the building. I got a kit by a company called Metra, you can search Circuit City's website to find what I am talking about. It is a complete kit and allows recharging of the iPod when it's plugged in and you can control the iPod from the stock radio buttons. There is another type called "USA Spec" for $40 but that is more of a rig to get sound out of the speakers and it doesn't charge the iPod or allow you to control it. So I chose to stay away from that. So I got the Metra Toyota kit and installed it into my car today (before I even owned an iPod at that!).

When I installed it I wanted to do it as cheaply as possible with minimal permanent modifications to the interior. The only modification I had to make was one small hole in an unnoticeable area. So those of you concerned about selling your car later on I doubt any future buyers will notice or care.

Here are pictures to illustrate installation of this kit into a 2005 Scion xA with stock radio...

Grab the silver pieces on each side of the center of the dash and pull outwards, there is one piece on each side obviously...


Pull the two outer ***** straight off and remove the 4 screws circled in red...


Grab the piece and pull it outward...


Unplug the 3 wire harnesses behind the plastic piece...


Remove the 4 screws highlighted in red that hold the radio in (2 of them cannot be seen in the picture but they are in the location of the circle...


Here is the wire to connect the iPod interface with the stock radio. The large plug goes to the interface and the smaller ones to the disc changer plug in the back...


On the very bottom of the console pull out on each side to pop out the plastic clips and then just pull out on the "drawer" at the bottom to remove it. Then drill a 1/2'' diameter hole in the corner...


Feed the white iPod cable through the hole, the fit is tight and should be exactly the right size you need...


Feed the wire up through to the radio area, try not to run it through any of the sharp metal pieces behind the dash as they may cut into and sever the wire in the future. I tried to guide it around plastic pieces and other wires...


I ran the cable up through some other wires so it would not touch any sharp metal. Now pull it towards the front to get up all the slack...


Plug the interface box into the Toyota harness adapter. I added a large zip tie around it to keep the plug from ever coming out by accident...


Shove the box into the dash and zip tie it to some wires to keep it from moving around, one tie should do...


The Toyota adapter comes with a female plug you don't have to use, it's for adding other accessories. I just zip tied it up to keep it out of the way...


With the dash all back together all you can see is the head of the iPod cable poking out. When need be you can pull the cable out as long as you need and when you are done feed it in through the hole. This makes for minimal mess and no messy wires all over the place...



The iPod can sit comfortably in the tray at the bottom of the console. Since the controls are worked through the stock radio you don't really have any need to mount the iPod anywhere, in the tray it will be just fine and out of the way...


I thought this was funny...


I guess that is Apples disclaimer. It's a funny thing to see that when you first open up your iPod box.

Anyway so far this setup has worked fine. The only thing this Metra kit lacks is it will not show track titles on the stock radio. I believe you need to buy a little screen to make those read out on. I will look into that and maybe install one of those as well in the future.

 

Nice write-up! I just purchased the Monster FM modulator, so I won't be doing this mod for a while. The Modulator works ok...but you can't beat the hard-wire for sound quality. Looking forward to seeing your title screen mod next

 

I searched online to find the title screen box but couldn't find it on CC's website. So I will have to look a little harder.

 

BTW - I purchased the same unit you had, but had some issues with it. Over the course of a couple of weeks, the sound would cut in and out on the left side due to poor manufacturing of the adaptor. I decided it was worth a little extra, and exchanged it for the Harman Kardon Drive and Play unit. The sound quality is not as good, but it's good enough. Plus I have an external source of changing the songs, and the all-so-important screen to show me what song is playing.

Cheers,

Erik

 

pics broken?

 

Pictures definitely don't work for me either.

 

a bunch of red X's

 

looks like a tech-worthy write up, but...

"The requested URL /pix/2005/091105/ipod_091105_steal.jpg was not found on this server."

Please don't hesitate to let me know if you need a place for these images to live. I have a server I can put them on.