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2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission MP3 Player Interface with Stock Radio

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I would like to take a portable MP3 player and be able to have a connection in the back of the radio. I have an FM modulator for it but it does not work very well. I have a stock 1997 radio with FM/AM/ Cassette. The output of the MP3 player is a 3. 5mm headphone jack. Has anyone done this or have any ideas. Can an input be run through the antenna or through the connectors on the back of the radio.



Thanks,

Doug
 
I had the digital interface on my 03 briefly for an XM radio. Look at www.logjamelectronics.com or www.crutchfield.com. If your factory stereo has CD changer controls on the front, more than likely there is a digital interface that will allow you to use the CD changer port to play audio from a source such as an MP3 player.



Further, I would imagine that what you have is an FM wireless broadcasting device? It doesn't actually hook to anything but the MP3player and the cigarette lighter? If that's the case, yeah, they are crappy. An FM Modulator will hook up in-line with your antenna. They work pretty well, but are limited to the FM frequency response. Whereas the digital interfaces get the CD quality frequency response which sounds much much better.
 
The only thing that you can potentially look for is an auxilliary(sp) input on the back of the radio. I'm about 100% positive that the stock one wouldn't have it. The only other thing that I can think of is to use the tape portal for one of those tape thingy's you can plug into the MP3 player. I have a newer Alpine deck in a car that has an aux input, and I plug my MP3 player into that. Your best bet is to upgrade the stereo with a unit that has an aux input that you can use to plug in the player. Any competent stereo shop should have all the parts to make it work.
 
With a cassette player you can use the same thing used to connect a CD player to the radio. It looks like a casette but with a cord attatched. At the end of the cord is a jack that plugs into the mp3 player. It works on my iPod. I saw 2 different types in the Apple store yesterday and I'm sure that Best Buy or Circuit City woule handle them

The FM transmitters are goo in places where there aren't too many FM stations. They are very poor in the LA area.
 
Thanks for all of the info. I found an FM Modulator that hardwires into the antenna. All you have to do is flip a switch and all that is feed the radio is the component you have plugged into it. Hopefully it works, I plan on installing it tomorrow.



The next question is does anyone know what the black wire with the green tracer in the radio bundle is. It has a connector on it.



Thanks
 
The black wire with either a green or blue tracer should be the chassis ground and it should be connected to a male spade "tab" that sticks off the back of the radio.
 
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