DIY iPod/iPhone connector upgrade
Discussion
If, like me, you are frustrated by your recent generation apple product not charging when you connect it to the car, then there is a solution.
Despite Grange telling me that it was £130 and difficult to do, HWM Walton was able to provide me with a kit that took me all of 5 minutes to fit and cost £70 including P&P.
So if, like me, the idea of a Scosche adapter doesn't tick your boxes, here is how it's done:
1. Call Rob at HWM. Enjoy the pleasant telephone interaction with this pleasant chap.
2. Tell him what you need. The part number on my receipt is:
8G43-37-11078 IPOD GEN 2 UPGRD KIT
3. Wait for postman.
4. Open the armrest cubbyhole and remove the original iPhone cable.
5. Remove the 4 little screws holding the metal panel over the existing iPhone connector socket:
6. Pull the connector box out towards the back of the car. It's got a connector in the back on a short wire that will stop you bringing it out very far. With one finger, depress the tab in the middle of the connector (under the connector) and pull the box off the cable. Don't force anything:
7. You will see that there is some foam tape on the original box, presumably to stop it rattling against the panel and causing all sorts of dark thoughts about Astons and build quality. The new box, however, is devoid of this padding, so I used some double sided foam tape to make my own padding:
8. Now comes the only tricky bit - plugging the short cable into the back of the connector box. I used one finger to jam the connector against the roof of the hole to stop it moving back and teased the new box back onto it. Once the cable is inserted make sure it is in as far as it will go. You will hear a little click when the locking tab engages.
9. Push the box back into its reservation. You can see the sticky pads I put on:
10. Contemplate the now useless bits of Aston that you have removed. In particular, the Scosche adapter which was never used and curse Jockman for encouraging you to buy it in the first place.
11. Relax with a Pim's or other celebratory beverage of your choosing and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
One thing I was surprised at was that the part numbers on the parts I installed were *exactly* the same as the ones I removed. I was 99% sure that HWM had sent me parts I had already and it wasn't going to work, but it did.
Important lesson learned here: parts can be modified and yet keep the same part number.
Hope this helps.
Despite Grange telling me that it was £130 and difficult to do, HWM Walton was able to provide me with a kit that took me all of 5 minutes to fit and cost £70 including P&P.
So if, like me, the idea of a Scosche adapter doesn't tick your boxes, here is how it's done:
1. Call Rob at HWM. Enjoy the pleasant telephone interaction with this pleasant chap.
2. Tell him what you need. The part number on my receipt is:
8G43-37-11078 IPOD GEN 2 UPGRD KIT
3. Wait for postman.
4. Open the armrest cubbyhole and remove the original iPhone cable.
5. Remove the 4 little screws holding the metal panel over the existing iPhone connector socket:
6. Pull the connector box out towards the back of the car. It's got a connector in the back on a short wire that will stop you bringing it out very far. With one finger, depress the tab in the middle of the connector (under the connector) and pull the box off the cable. Don't force anything:
7. You will see that there is some foam tape on the original box, presumably to stop it rattling against the panel and causing all sorts of dark thoughts about Astons and build quality. The new box, however, is devoid of this padding, so I used some double sided foam tape to make my own padding:
8. Now comes the only tricky bit - plugging the short cable into the back of the connector box. I used one finger to jam the connector against the roof of the hole to stop it moving back and teased the new box back onto it. Once the cable is inserted make sure it is in as far as it will go. You will hear a little click when the locking tab engages.
9. Push the box back into its reservation. You can see the sticky pads I put on:
10. Contemplate the now useless bits of Aston that you have removed. In particular, the Scosche adapter which was never used and curse Jockman for encouraging you to buy it in the first place.
11. Relax with a Pim's or other celebratory beverage of your choosing and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
One thing I was surprised at was that the part numbers on the parts I installed were *exactly* the same as the ones I removed. I was 99% sure that HWM had sent me parts I had already and it wasn't going to work, but it did.
Important lesson learned here: parts can be modified and yet keep the same part number.
Hope this helps.
Edited by BingoBob on Thursday 5th July 14:42
BingoBob said:
...In particular, the Scosche adapter which was never used and curse Jockman for encouraging you to buy it in the first place.
Thanks for the destructions BB - I have bookmarked this in case I ever get round to doing a 'proper' job.
BTW you really need to moisturise a bit more. Don't get me started on those cuticles either
Too much enthusiastic DIY and not enough self-preservation instinct... 
BingoBob said:
Important lesson learned here: parts can be modified and yet keep the same part number.
That's chuffing stupid!!Imagine trying to manage stock of parts where two completely different bits have the same number... madness!
Actually on 2nd thought I realise that the HID ballasts also suffer the same issue. Can't speak for AM part numbers but in terms of Philips numbers they're the same but different
Jockman said:
Thanks for the destructions BB - I have bookmarked this in case I ever get round to doing a 'proper' job.
BTW you really need to moisturise a bit more. Don't get me started on those cuticles either
My "iPod link lead" in the hand rest works fine and charges my phone. However I now want to mount my phone on dash of car and need to extend the cable out of arm rest to dash. I bought a simple extension lead and whilst it charges the phone the car cannot connect to the iPhone for music.
Not sure why the extension will not work, but plan B would be to get a replacement "iPod link lead" for the one already in the arm rest, this time 3 ft long not 8 inches.
Anyone know where I can source such a cable?
Not sure why the extension will not work, but plan B would be to get a replacement "iPod link lead" for the one already in the arm rest, this time 3 ft long not 8 inches.
Anyone know where I can source such a cable?
I don't see what the iOS version would have to do with the cable working or not.
I initially looked for a cable that would plug into the car's socket, but I was unable to find anything. I think you will have to try a different extension cable.
Of course, it might just be a faulty cable.
I initially looked for a cable that would plug into the car's socket, but I was unable to find anything. I think you will have to try a different extension cable.
Of course, it might just be a faulty cable.
Very odd. Especially as the phone thinks it is connected to the car but the car does not see the phone.
Possibly worth me trying an alternative manufacturer's lead.
There is a guy named James or "Paralight" on Pistonheads who is into this stuff, maybe he has a solution. Thanks for your input Bingo.
Possibly worth me trying an alternative manufacturer's lead.
There is a guy named James or "Paralight" on Pistonheads who is into this stuff, maybe he has a solution. Thanks for your input Bingo.
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