Any thoughts on aux input for MP3 player? ('97 burb)

[Mark Hubley]

I have a '97 Suburban with a factory stock AM/FM cassette deck and a separate single CD deck in the dash below. My MP3 player now makes the CD player more-or-less obsolete, and I would like to run a line into the head unit for my MP3 player. Has anyone out there done anything along these lines?

To get sound from the CD player, I push the AUX button on the head unit. So, the head obviously has an auxiliary input. I am guessing that I can replace the connection to the CD player with a cable that terminates in either RCA plugs or a mini plug (1/8" I believe). Does anyone know what kind of connection goes into the head unit???

I think what I would like to do is plug something into the head that terminates in two female RCA plugs or a female mini. I'm thinking I could remove the CD deck and replace it with a blank panel. I could drill a hole or two in that, and have the female plugs exposed. Then I could just plug the MP3 player into that whenever I wish to use it.

I guess I'll find out what's going on in there once I start to take it apart but it would be nice to have some idea of what's going on before I dig in.

Of course, I could continue to do what I'm doing now, which is run my MP3 player through a cassette adapter. But that's not very elegant. Besides, I like to tinker.

[jtmarten]

I just picked up an adapter for this from Circuit City. It plugs into the aux/cd port on the back of the head unit. If you have an ipod it'll allow you to control the ipod like the cd deck, plus it'll keep it charged. It also has a 1/8" input for other mp3 players, etc. The one I got unfortunately doesn't work, the deck shows ERR upon powering up, then won't switch to aux. It must be my deck because 2 of these have done the same thing. My cd slave drive works perfectly though.
Here's a link: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Metra...oductDetail.do

[Mark Hubley]

Well, I tried my luck with one of those adapters from Circuit City, and my luck was all bad. I got everything connected, followed the instructions, and I cannot get my MP3 player to play through the stereo. I also get the Error message. I can't speak for the iPOD portion of the adapter, since I don't have an iPOD. But the 3.5 mm aux input sure doesn't work.

Oh well, I can always use the cassette adapter, and I don't drive the Burb that much anyway.

[Mark Hubley]

Well, after my not-so-good experience with the item from Circuit City, I found the following product online and purchased it:

http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=347

I installed the product yesterday, and it works fine. I removed the single CD player that was located below the heater controls, and replaced it with an OEM storage bin that I picked up from the dealer. I drilled a hole in the back of the bin to allow a connector to pass through. I then drilled four holes in the top of the bin to mount the box for the auxiliary adapter, and mounted the adapter in the bin. So, the connector goes from the back of the head unit, behind the heater controls, and into the back of the bin to the aux adapter.

Here is a pic:



I'd say this worked out pretty good!

By the way, although the item from Circuit City didn't work, my service from Circuit City was fine. No problems with the return.

[jtmarten]

Good deal, thanks for the link! I'll have to order one of those. I'm thinking of doing the storage bin as well to put the mp3 player in for easy reach.

[midnightsliding]

so has anyone used this with an ipod? im looking into doing this mod. but i want to keep my cd player.