[ecnarfi]

Hi,
I'm wanting to add 3.5mm connectivity to the standard Blaupunkt CD head unit in my 2005 Alfa 156SW.

Having read THIS thread I ordered one of THESE.
Having read the previous thread it appears that the lead will disable the CD player, but that this can be worked around using THESE instructions.

I have a few questions about what I need to do (my lead won't be here for a week or 2 so I've plenty of time to sort it all out).

1. My car doesn't have a CD Changer and cycling through the head unit's menu options doesn't show a CD-Changer or an AUX option. Is this option likely to appear when the lead is connected or will I have to jumper the data connections and add a switch to let me choose between the CD and the 3.5mm line-in?
2. Assuming I need to do it, how do I connect the jumper wires for the data connection in the back of the blue connector? Are there specific connector spades I can buy or is it a matter of a steady hand with a soldering iron?
3. Assuming I need one, are there any suggestions for neatly/discretely adding the switch into the cabin. I'm thinking of removing the spring from the lid of the ashtray so that it sits permanently closed and fitting it to that.
4. I've been considering a switch like THIS or THIS. Those switches have 3 connections (Power, Acc & Ground) which ones will the data connectors go to? I suspect Acc and Ground, does this mean the LED won't light (if so I'll just get one without an LED eg THIS)?

Cheers,
Ecnarfi

 

[ecnarfi]

Bump bump

 

[ecnarfi]

OK, to attempt to answer my own questions;

My car doesn't have a CD Changer and cycling through the head unit's menu options doesn't show a CD-Changer or an AUX option. Is this option likely to appear when the lead is connected or will I have to jumper the data connections and add a switch to let me choose between the CD and the 3.5mm line-in?

From what I've read, I'm pretty certain that an AUX or CD-Changer option won't magically appear on the head-unit when I connect the lead. Can anyone confirm that that's the case?

Assuming I need to do it, how do I connect the jumper wires for the data connection in the back of the blue connector? Are there specific connector spades I can buy or is it a matter of a steady hand with a soldering iron?

Still no clues on this, I'll have to check the back of the connector block when it arrives, but I suspect it's going to involve soldering. Can anyone confirm that that's the case?

Assuming I need one, are there any suggestions for neatly/discretely adding the switch into the cabin. I'm thinking of removing the spring from the lid of the ashtray so that it sits permanently closed and fitting it to that.

This is still my most likely option, but any other suggestions will be gratefully received, it's a facelift 156 if that makes any difference.

I've been considering a switch like THIS or THIS. Those switches have 3 connections (Power, Acc & Ground) which ones will the data connectors go to? I suspect Acc and Ground, does this mean the LED won't light (if so I'll just get one without an LED eg THIS)?

I'm leaning towards a simple non-illuminating switch as that's much more straightforward and doesn't involve me having to splice a power feed from somewhere.

 

[jimwright_98]

Hi
From my experience of my 2002 147...

1. When you plug in the lead the "changer" option WONT magically appear as the lead stands.
You will need to short the data pins as described in the thread that you have been looking at ("right ive got my radio out....".) When these pins are shorted pressing SRC on the headunit will cycle between radio and "Changer".

2. My solution was very low tech. The blue block on the lead from ebay only has left channel, right channel and ground connected. The other non-wired elements are just hollow. From memory (check with the wiring diagram on top of your head unit when you pull it out), the data pins are top left and bottom left of the blue block as you look at it from behind when plugged in. The hollow sections are quite a tight fit and I found that if used a U shapped bit of wire I could short the required pins just by pushing this U shape wire into the required place. The thickness of the wire sheathing making a snug fit. This has stayed fine for the last 2k miles no problems. As it is hard wired I have lost the CD function. You will need to put your switch on this wire so you can break the connection and then have the CD function.

3. My 3.5mm lead I sent to the left of the cabin into the glove box and then fed it so it arrived underneath the air con controls in "no mans land" next to the ash tray. This makes a pretty discrete solution and wasnt a problem to do. The wire looks like it just comes out of the no mans land space. I imagine feeding a cable for your switch would be just as easy. When you get your head unit out have a look with a torch, you will see a fair bit of light; there are a number of holes and meeting points of fabric and plastic where you could slip a switch im sure.

Hope this helps !

 

[ecnarfi]

Hi Jim, thanks very much, that's filled in some of the blanks I had

 

[parabola]

Think I'm going to give this a go.
Thanks for the information & inspiration!

Can I just check.. after this modification, the boot mounted CD changer will no longer work. But the single slot dash CD player will work as before?

 

[ecnarfi]

From looking at Figure 1 in the diagram I think it's easier if you have a CD Changer (which I think is labelled CDC in the diagram).

Before I start, I'm only guessing here, based on what the diagram is showing. I've never seen an Alfa CD Changer so I don't know whether there's an Audio L+R connection or whether it's hard wired or a proprietary connection.

I'm assuming that there's a lead that runs from the blue connector on the head unit which connects to the CD-Changer using normal red and white Audio L+R connectors (My old Sony one used to connect unsing using red and white audio l+r to the aerial socket of my old car). In Figure 1 that link is being changed to go via a source selection switch instead (something like THIS).

So I guess you would;
- Remove the Audio L+R from the CD Changer and patch it into the output of the switch (now runs from headunit to switch)
- Patch a new Audio L+R to Audio L+R lead from the CD-Changer to input 1 on the switch
- Patch a new Audio L+R to 3.5mm plug from input 2 on the switch

As you already have a CD-Changer your headunit will have an AUX IN option so I think that this would mean you were able to use CDs in the headunit, and be able to use the switch to choose either the CD-Changer or the 3.5mm connector (You might need to switch off the headunit to get the new input recognised after pressing the switch).

Again, I've no 1st hand experience of doing this, I'm only basing it on what I've seen in the diagram.

 

[ecnarfi]

I've just been told that the postie has dropped off a package from Hong Kong, so it looks like my cable's here.

A few nights ago I fabricated a stiff cardboard shell, wrapped with black sticky-backed plastic that sits very snuggly in the ashtray (it looks better than it sounds, honest) with a switch from Maplin fitted in it. So this weekend it should just be a matter of threading a few cables around

 

[ecnarfi]

Wah...

I've shorted the data pins but when I power on the CD player the SRC still switches between CD and Radio. Is there something else I need to do, disconnect battery etc?


I've tried shorting the pins directly and via a switch as well but it makes no difference. Where am I going wrong????

 

[jwq]

Wah...

I've shorted the data pins but when I power on the CD player the SRC still switches between CD and Radio. Is there something else I need to do, disconnect battery etc?


I've tried shorting the pins directly and via a switch as well but it makes no difference. Where am I going wrong????

If shorting data pins C13 & C15 ( .:12vhifi.nl:. alles over Car Audio & Techniek ) doesn't work, you're probably out of luck. It doesn't work on all radio's, it also seems to depend on the firmware version of the radio

 

[ecnarfi]

Bums...

The sticker on top says Firmware version 2.2 anyone know whether that's good or bad?

 

[jimwright_98]

Sounds very unlucky. Have you tried running audio through the cable as you press the SRC button? Also if you press src very quickly after switching the radio on you can sometimes trick the unit into the changer mode.I only managed to do this once,and it's a long shot as the shorting of the datapins should have sorted it.

 

[ecnarfi]

Aye, I tried playing the MP3 player while switching on and toggling between SRCs but it made no difference.
I did try quickly pressing SRC when switching the radio on, but only a couple of times (it's not a solution I could have lived with even if it worked).

So I have a lead and switch for sale (I'll even throw in the the luxury sticky-backed-plastic-coated cardboard-housing that fits in a face-lift ash-tray ). The lead and switch cost me a total of around £7.50 and took about a fortnight to be delivered from the other side of the world, obviously the cardboard housing is priceless, but I'm open to offers

 

[Loknar]

Aye, I tried playing the MP3 player while switching on and toggling between SRCs but it made no difference.
I did try quickly pressing SRC when switching the radio on, but only a couple of times (it's not a solution I could have lived with even if it worked).

So I have a lead and switch for sale (I'll even throw in the the luxury sticky-backed-plastic-coated cardboard-housing that fits in a face-lift ash-tray ). The lead and switch cost me a total of around £7.50 and took about a fortnight to be delivered from the other side of the world, obviously the cardboard housing is priceless, but I'm open to offers

Did you manage to figure out what happened?

Sorry to revive this zombie thread. I'm sure it suffered enough and should be left in peace. But I'm trying the same thing you guys are saying. I've done the ipod mod with multiple Casette Front Units of Alfa 156 and it always work to short the data pins.

In the case of CD Front Units, I have one that can use the CD changer and another that can't. SRC can alternate TUNER / CD / CHANGER. I tried to unplug the changer (blue plug) and turn it on. The CHANGER option dissapears. But pressing SRC while powering it on again forces the CHANGER option to appear.

I have seen somewhere that pressing SRC while the unit is powered on seems to force it to activate changer even if it's unplugged.

On the car that doesn't work, I shorted the data pins, like it always works on Cassette models - maybe that's the problem? I can't check at the moment.

Please share more info.:read:

 

[ecnarfi]

I never managed to get it to work. I ended up buying a bluetooth head-unit instead.

 

[TheGrimJeeper]

Please share more info.:read:

This never worked on all head units
and seemed to be dependant on when
the headunit was made/what version of
internal firmware it had.