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3.5mm aux jack kit for 2004 Prius with JBL, changer, Nav

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by tmorrowus, Jun 25, 2009.

  1. tmorrowus

    tmorrowus Member

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    I have a 2004 Prius with JBL in-dash 6 disc changer, and Navigation system. I'd like to find an "aux in" kit that would add a 3.5mm plug so I could plug in my ipod or other mp3 player. I don't want anything fancy, no charging, text, usb, just 2 channel analog audio in to the factory head unit. I do want it to be hard wired, no FM or tape adapter.

    I've spent an hour searching the archives and it seems the only aftermarket kits I could find would also disable the CD changer, which is not desirable to me.

    It seems like the coastal lockpick would work but starting at $229 I'd like to find something cheaper.

    Is there anyone with the 2004 In Dash changer who has installed a 3.5mm adapter that works?
     
  2. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

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    Have you looked at the Grom Audio kit?
     
  3. tmorrowus

    tmorrowus Member

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    The Grom application guide lists:
    Prius 03-04 No Navigation
    http://gromaudio.com/grom_application_guide.pdf
    Which I suppose means that it somehow is incompatible with navigation, although that seems strange. Anyone with an 04 Navigation JBL Changer Prius used the grom kits?
     
  4. GaryGarland

    GaryGarland New Member

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    I feel your pain. i've scoured the forums, and found a post on adding the aux jack to a base prius - i forgot the author, but he included some nice photos - and showed the back of his radio plug that did NOT have aux wires but he later added them (i think?)
    anyway, i want to add my XM receiver to the aux jack, but don't want to run a wire to the center console - i bought several different 1/8 stereo plugs (don't ask) and finally found the one i wanted - gold tip, 90 degree bend, then made an executive decision and cut the wire in half (so i have 2 jacks that end - i carefully stripped the wires, and there are (as you would imagine) 3 conductors. i CAREFULLY tinned those wires, and used my multimeter to check continuity and make sure what was what - tip, ring, and ground (check wikipedia) - i bought quick taps (or whatever they're called - basically the same wire taps as from the coastal EV kit) - and when next weekend comes around, i'll take the dash apart and tap into the existing aux wiring behind the radio. i don't see why you can't follow those pins to add aux, unless your radio won't support it.
     
  5. tmorrowus

    tmorrowus Member

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    In my old Honda Civic I tried tapping into the CD changer signal wires to connect a 3.5mm jack, but I could never get it to work reliably. I tried those squeeze tap connectors on the original harness, and also tried soldering my own harness. I got lots of noise and sometimes even static. I think it was some combination of poor connections, inadequate shielding, and perhaps ground loop issues. I think those plastic squeeze tap connectors are adequate for power purposes, but for low level signals I just don't trust them.
     
  6. Oneaxepony

    Oneaxepony Junior Member

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    Gary - keep in mind the aux wiring has four conductors: the 3 audio wires you described plus an aux sense wire. The aux sense tells the radio whether something is plugged into the aux jack or not. If nothing is plugged in, when you cycle thru the modes using the steering wheel button it will skip over aux. So when you tap in your 3 audio wires for XM the aux may not work unless you have a 3.5MM plug connected to the aux jack in the center console. Also, Toyota may have added a line filter to the '09s to get rid of aux noise induced by using the car's 12V supply to power devices like iPods. If there is a filter you should really tap in so the filter is between your taps and the radio. If you tap in after the filter you may have noise issues. Just some things to think about. Good Luck.
     
  7. nat

    nat Junior Member

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    If your system also has the tape deck, I have used and old cd to tape plug in adapter and you can plug any 3.5mm jack appliance into the adapter and use the tape option to listen. The adapter is the same shape as a tape and has a 3.5m mail plug ready to go extending from it.
     
  8. nat

    nat Junior Member

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    oops ignore this I then read you statment you want it hardwired
     
  9. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    i put a cassette to minjack adapter in the cassette player..

    3 dollars or so and plug and play haha
     
  10. GaryGarland

    GaryGarland New Member

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    thanks Pony - i thought about the interference issue. i don't think the 4th wire will be an issue as a stereo jack is only 3 conductor anyway - i've also thought about running a wire behind the panels, under the carpeting, and into the center console aux jack - if my experiment doesn't work i'll order yet another stereo cable and give that a shot - the cables are about $5 each on ebay, so cost isn't huge, and i'm going behind the cigarette lighter by the floor anyway to hard wire the receiver, so that just leaves getting the audio where it needs to be.
    i've used cassette adapters in the past - sound isn't as good as other methods, you hear the cassette spinning, and oh - the prius doesn't have a cassette player! (maybe they'll come out with a cd adapter -- naw!)
     
  11. tmorrowus

    tmorrowus Member

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    Returning to the original topic, 3.5mm aux jack kit for 2004 Prius with JBL, changer, Nav...

    Grom tech support said they were having trouble with supporting the 2004 Prius with Navigation, but that they were looking into it and that I should try them back in a few weeks. It's sort of mindblowing that 5 years after this car was introduced we're still weeks away from a reliable hardwired aux solution.
     
  12. tmorrowus

    tmorrowus Member

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  13. tmorrowus

    tmorrowus Member

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    Update: Grom Audio got back to me saying that they fixed the issues with 2004 Prius with Navigation, in the USB product (but not the AUX or Ipod products which should be fixed in September). I'm thinking of giving the Grom USB interface a try; looks like it might even be easier than hassling with connecting and starting an mp3 player every time I want to listen to music.