anybody has experience installing an audio jack for your car

[bigtiger]

I am planning to install an audio jack for my car. anybody got any experience? Basically, I plan to install (or create) an audio jack so that I connect my mp3 player to it directly.

I have a 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I think the electronics should be very similar across different makes as far as car audio is concerned.

No, I do not like to install an DVD player with MP3 support. I do not like to create DVD or CDs anymore.

Cassette adapter or CD adapter is not an option either. I currently have this setup but I do not like it.

Thanks.

[jamiphar]

Where are you planning to mount the jack? Would you just drill a hole on the existing head unit? If you're going to have it tap into an existing signal, then it might be best to use a switching jack, so it'll interrupt the existing signal whenever you plug the wire in.

[bigtiger]

Where are you planning to mount the jack? Would you just drill a hole on the existing head unit? If you're going to have it tap into an existing signal, then it might be best to use a switching jack, so it'll interrupt the existing signal whenever you plug the wire in.

I actually plan to use a switching jack. Ideally, I would like to drill a hole. I wonder if current wirings are easy to mod. I hope there are RCA-like jacks readily available.

[rkawakami]

Last year I installed a Sony CD player in my daughter's 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It came with auxilary input jacks, which unfortunately, were mounted on the rear of the unit. I had wanted one with a front panel jack but couldn't find any models that I (and my daughter) liked.

I bought a long cable (about 12') which I plugged into the rear jacks when I installed the deck in the dash. It was fairly easy to snake the cable around under the dash since the Jeep has the "double-DIN" opening. Brought down inside the dash, placed under the center console, it ends up next to the armrest where my daughter has her MP3 player. I think it ends with a mini male stereo plug which fits the regular headphone jack on the player. The only possible problem with this arrangement is that the plug is exposed and therefore could be accidentally grounded to the car if it touches any metal. If I were to do this over, I would terminate the connection with a female jack and use a male-to-male patch cord to hook up the player.

As long as your receiver has an AUX input, this should be very easy to do. If not, then the only other way to get this to work is to use an FM transmitter. Most of them, from what I hear, do not work too well in areas where there are many powerful FM stations.

(edit: I was interrupted while composing this post and you apparently are trying to drive your speakers directly from your MP3 player, correct? If so, then ignore my ramblings above, but be careful if you are thinking about leaving the receiver on without being connected to any speakers. Some audio amplifiers do not like being run without loads.)

[bigtiger]

Thanks, rkawakami, your post is actually very helpful. What I want is basically a AUX input (1/8" headphone type of jack).

A cd player with front aux in jack should work. But I heard it will extrudes out.

I agree, FM transmitter is not good. I am currently using a tape adapter, the quality is not good at all.

[rkawakami]

Yes, there is somewhat of a visual objection to seeing a cable sticking out from the dash. Which is why I wasn't too worried about buying a radio with rear connectors. When I looked around a year ago, there weren't too many radios with front panel aux input. I bought the Sony from crutchfield.com. I would highly recommend them. Along with the radio, they provide the proper install kit for the Jeep's opening and the interface cable between the radio and the factory wiring harness.

Although, if you can get a right-angle plug then the cable will drop down, instead of sticking out.

[jamiphar]

My brother's JVC has a line-in jack on the front. Pretty nice to use.