1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

2008 no mp3 aux

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by daryl, May 9, 2008.

  1. daryl

    daryl New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2008
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    cooks creek manitoba canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I have a 2008 base model. I love my car but that model does not come with a mp3 aux jack. I am wishing that I had bought a different package but I just couldn't justify the price as it was already more than I intended to spend. Is there any affordable way to install a (non ipod) mp3 aux jack?
     
  2. Turbogizzmo

    Turbogizzmo New Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2008
    75
    1
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    isnt it in the center console? I havent checked mine yet since it plays mp3s from a cd. What package?
     
  3. daryl

    daryl New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2008
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    cooks creek manitoba canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I have the base model, I guess it is package # 1 It doesn't come with a mp3 aux jack. I would like to find a way to add one but I guess it's just not possible without replacing the stereo - or maybe even with that not possible.
     
  4. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2007
    1,555
    81
    0
    Location:
    Akron, OH
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    you could use the FM tuner / transmitter method. I used one on my previous car and they work pretty good. Look for them on eBay but avoid the cheapo ones. I hear that the ones from a company called DLO are really good and worth the extra money. The one I used to use was called an iTrip.
     
  5. 7787545

    7787545 New Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2008
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I also got the base model (or 'package 1' as they are called in Canada) for the same reason.

    I think the fm transmitter can give poor quality but you could give it a try -its probably the cheapest route. I'm considering a VAIS SLI unit, which has an ipod and an aux input. An ipod would be integrated with the car's display, but an mp3 player through aux input would not be. But its a direct connection and quality will be better than FM transmitter.

    If I get the VAIS unit I'll let you know what its like. I'd be interested to know what you end up with. There is a Canadian distributor of the VAIS units, matrixtrading.ca, and VAIS's website is vaistech.com.
     
  6. daryl

    daryl New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2008
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    cooks creek manitoba canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Thanks for the info. I tried the fm transmitter in my previous car and the quality was poor and it just didn't work very well. I will look into the VAIS SLI and if I get it I will let you know.
     
  7. Jomusich

    Jomusich New Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2008
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Same issue here, except that I have an Ipod
     
  8. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,074
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    The FM transmitters can work very well, just get a good one, and tune it away from existing stations.

    Tom
     
  9. NY-Vmax-Joe

    NY-Vmax-Joe Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2007
    20
    1
    0
    Location:
    Flowery Branch, Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    We have a base model with no Ipod jack.

    It sucks!

    My wife also couldn't justify getting the next package for 2-3 thousand more bucks. In my mind, I think it was a mistake. I miss decent sounding tunes. I'm using a FM transmitter and it works ok sometimes but then it gets annoying when ya don't get reception, ya gotta fiddle with stations, then static. The single CD stereo system sound quality sucks too. Wish we had the JBL. I also miss cruise control on long trips. The back-up camera I could do without. One thing I do like about the base model package one is the different alloy wheels. :juggle:
     
  10. Rest

    Rest Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2005
    1,210
    53
    2
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I agree!

    While I have the MP3 Aux jack in my Prius, I use a Monster iCarPlay Wireless Plus for my other vehicle. It works great and also charges my iPod.
     
  11. ivorz

    ivorz Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    36
    3
    0
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    you could purchase an fm modulator. I put one in my wifes CRV so she could listen to her ipod. Basically it is a $40 box. You pull your antenna out the back of your existing radio, plug it into the box and then plug the other end of the box back into the radio. It has 2 channel switches on it to tune to 88.1 and 88.5......that is the basics of it.
    Then plug your ipod in tune to the channel on the radio and it works perfectly with no interference.
    I got mine from Bestbuy.
     
  12. Jay Ayers

    Jay Ayers New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2007
    2
    0
    0
    Man, that stinks. I thought the AUX were in all models (well, at least after the 2007 model). Heck, that's why I got my Prius. There is the new adapter for the iPOD (I'm not sure if it will work with my Zune). It's in the Prius Chat newsletter. That may fix the problem for you.
     
  13. dsmking

    dsmking Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2008
    3
    0
    0
    I have that in my 2007 base model installed by a local dealer. I have both an AUX plug and a powered iPod connector and the interface works well.

    My only remaining complaint is my FM reception is more fragile - my favorite NPR station cuts out on my drive to work. This happens even when I switch the device off. My temporary solution is to switch to podcasts of the NPR shows when driving to work.

    David