Aux2Car mixed success, tip, question

[dmichaelson]

Yesterday I installed an Aux2Car on my base single CD, 2006 Vibe. Installation wasn't too hard and with a little work I was able to fish the input cable straight down into the little closeable bin below the gearshift, without cutting anything and without removing any trim besides the radio bezel. So when that bin is closed, you can't see any evidence of the modification. I decided that bin is a good place to put an MP3 player, or also I left a couple feet of extra cable coiled up in there so it can go from there to the cupholder area or the passenger seat, without getting in the way of the dashboard. Sometimes I also might want to power the MP3 player from the cigarette lighter, and when I do that the cable from the lighter down into the little bin, with the bin open, also doesn't get in the way too much.My only concern about the above is that I have a manual transmission so I hope the cable doesn't get tangled up in the innards of the shifter mechanism, which is what it passes through on its way to the bin. Not too worried though.There's no alternator noise.. The cable harness it came with, required me to wire into both constant +12v and ground, both of which I tapped into on the factory stereo's 24 pin harness (blue+white wire, and brown wire, respectively).After I put it all back together I noticed the volume was very low, even with my MP3 player at the highest settting. I had to turn up the factory stereo's volume at least twice as high as for a CD or radio. Suprisingly it still sounded ok even with that much amplification, but still I wasn't too happy.Following a tip I found on the web from someone with a different kind of car, I found that by flipping DIP switch 6 on the Aux2Car from "off" (the recommended position for the Vibe) to "on", the volume became higher. Still not as loud as a CD but closer. And the sound quality is still good. So I was happy..However, I managed to damage the "air recirculation" button of the climate control. To fully remove the radio bezel I had to unplug that cable, which is a mechanical plunger similar to the cable from a bicycle handbrake (that plunger is what physically prevents you from pressing the recirc button when you're in windshield defrost mode, and pops the recirc button out when you switch to defost). After plugging it back in and putting everything back together, now basically I can never press the button, it always pops right back out again as though I'm in defrost, even when I'm not. Later I messed with it some more and now it's just kinda sticky and weird. The button assembly doesn't look damaged to me, I wonder if the cable itself got a kink in it or something.. or if it might even be the assembly on the other end, where the cable plugs into the defroster switch, in which case it could have been broken to begin with (possible, I never used it). Anyway pretty annoying.. Car's under warranty but I guess they might not cover this? Any suggestions? Should i try to order the button assembly, or the cable?..

[Jahntassa]

I think the recirc button is electrical, not mechanical. That cable connects (at least in the 03) to the 'defrost' part of the vent selector, and pops out the recirc button when you switch to the defroster.As for the volume, you might try getting an in-line amplifier. I had to use one with my XM unit and it works pretty well. I think I got it online for about $20.

[satur9]

my pac aux does the same i replaced a xm fm modulator with it.i like the sound quality better so i just crank the volume and live with it.

[GMJAP]

I have the same thing. I think it's because it's designed to take line-level inputs. This problem happens when using it with headphone jack outputs on the device. I'll have to try your DIP switch setting...

[dmichaelson]

Quote, originally posted by Jahntassa »I think the recirc button is electrical, not mechanical. That cable connects (at least in the 03) to the 'defrost' part of the vent selector, and pops out the recirc button when you switch to the defroster..Yeah that's correct I think, the button is both electrical and mechanical.. When the button is in it closes an electrical circuit and activates the recirc; but the mechanical cable pops the button out so when that's defective it prevents it from working..

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by dmichaelson »Yeah that's correct I think, the button is both electrical and mechanical.. When the button is in it closes an electrical circuit and activates the recirc; but the mechanical cable pops the button out so when that's defective it prevents it from working..You can just leave the cable disconnected.... it won't really hurt anything. Just remember to turn off recirc when defrosting (though if you forget it shouldn't hurt anything.... just may not defrost as quickly)

[dmichaelson]

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »You can just leave the cable disconnected.... it won't really hurt anything. Just remember to turn off recirc when defrosting (though if you forget it shouldn't hurt anything.... just may not defrost as quickly)Good idea, thanks... the pop-out thing is maybe a little too old school anyway...

[dmichaelson]

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP »I'll have to try your DIP switch setting...Yeah flipping DIP switch 6 to "On" definitely increased the volume by about 50%. It takes about a second to take effect, but you don't need to reset the Aux2Car, you can do it while everything's running/playing.