Motopod: How to Rig Your Ride for MP3s

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Technology & Work  
car ipod mp3 music stereo
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  • 13-ipod
    Bring your car stereo into the digital age.
ReadyMade

Posted by ReadyMade  
Project by Jill Hudes; photos by Jeffery Cross

Clocking a per-capita average of 17 gazillion miles per week in our cars, why should we Americans be deprived of our favorite music tracks just because we’re on the road? Pull over and say hello to the hottest trend in modding. It’s just you, your playlists, and the highway.

To be a player, your car stereo must have an “Aux In” input socket. If it doesn’t, there are work-arounds. Dension USA offers the ICElink, a car connection kit that supports all iPods (www.densionusa.com), but it’ll set you back about $150.

Skill Level

Easy

Active Time

Less than an hour

Cost

$

    Materials

  • Car
  • Digital music player with “audio out” jack
  • Y-adapter audio cable (RCA to phono)

    Tools

  • DIN radio removal tools (specific to car model), or the stereo manufacturer’s keys
  • Pliers
  • Drill (optional)
 
1

Turn off your car.

2

Open the hood and disconnect the negative (black) terminal line from the battery.

3

Read the instructions for your car stereo model and for the removal tools, then insert the DIN tools or stereo manufacturer’s keys as recommended.

4

Depending on your car stereo, you may have to remove the faceplate first.

5

Push the tools in gently until they click.

6

Remove the unit with the tools.

7

On the back of the stereo unit, find the input socket labeled “Aux In” or refer to your manual.

8

Take your Y-adapter, and plug the red RCA cable into the red input and the white RCA cable into the white input.

9

Snake the cable through your dashboard and out through a dash panel or the glove compartment. (If there is no exit for the cable, drill a hole through your dashboard or glove compartment.)

10

Slide the stereo unit back into the dash until it clicks into its original position.

11

Reconnect the battery and start your engine.

12

Plug your MP3 player into the jack and hit the road.