Member Since: 06 Oct 2011
Location: Pangbourne
Posts: 61
Aux input socket
Need a bit of help on this one.
I wanted to add an Aux input socket at the front of car for Spotify etc. (I have one on rear passenger console) so having read numerous articles, YouTube etc. I located connector block at rear of head unit and tee'ed into the red, blue and black wires, connected to Aux socket, which I located at bottom of centre trim......!
It works, but only just, very quiet even though I've played through a booster App on my Android phone. Any ideas? I am thinking my ground wire (the black one) is wrong but not sure what to do next?
The Disco is HSE with the Harman Kardon unit
7th Dec 2023 1:51 pm
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18454
Try it with a cable plugged into the rear socket (but nothing playing).06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
7th Dec 2023 1:58 pm
ofob69
Member Since: 06 Oct 2011
Location: Pangbourne
Posts: 61
Well that's interesting, that works.......!
You are obviously better at electronics than I am, although I'm pretty handy on other stuff.
Is there anything I can do other than leaving a cable permanently in the rear socket.
Also I get a bit of interference using either socket, sounds like a faint galloping horse - any ideas?
Pete
7th Dec 2023 2:23 pm
Dr Jones
Member Since: 20 Feb 2012
Location: Pretoria
Posts: 55
I trimmed most of the odd bits off the headpone jack plug, leaving the Tip , Ring , Sleeve and about 2 mm, then just stick it in the aux input and close the cover.
Has been going for the last 10 years or so. Need to give it a turn every few months lately as it is oxidizing between the plug and socket, losing left channel input.
7th Dec 2023 3:52 pm
HairyFool
Member Since: 04 Jan 2023
Location: Essex
Posts: 526
It would indicate the socket has a switch built in to sense the socket is in use, not just the ground, left and right.A visitor from the dark side, my other vehicle is an MG5 EV
7th Dec 2023 7:04 pm
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18454
When nothing is plugged into the back, there’s a switch which grounds the left and right channel to get rid of noise.06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
7th Dec 2023 7:20 pm
KPTV8
Member Since: 05 Feb 2012
Location: Itinerant
Posts: 136
Maybe just plug a dummy jackplug into the rear socket (nothing connected to it), and see if the "piggyback" front jack socket then produces a full-strength signal ?
8th Dec 2023 9:41 pm
TheWojtek
Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Poznan, Poland
Posts: 80
It will. Most, if not all, kits that add a hardwired external source to the AUX input (Carplay adapters, I am looking at you), include a dummy plug that needs to be put into the original AUX minijack socket to get the sound.Wojtek
L319: dad's
L320: mine
8th Dec 2023 11:13 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10365
I just unplugged the rear socket from the back.
Bit of a faf as one screw in the fridge area. And it’s recommend this screw is not refitted
9th Dec 2023 12:00 am
TheWojtek
Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Poznan, Poland
Posts: 80
Double-checked my system: cuts the sound off if the dummy plug is removed.
Since no conductivity is needed and it only acts as a switch, I 3D printed a plastic dummy with a flat surface (https://www.printables.com/model/123402-tr...dummy-plug) and used it instead of the plug I was provided with (this one looks like you cut it off a headphone cable).
Now it sits flush and completely invisible, the sound plays OK.Wojtek
L319: dad's
L320: mine
13th Dec 2023 10:42 am
KevinD3
Member Since: 05 Aug 2020
Location: Sutton Coldfield
Posts: 1207
Might be a daft question, but are you using the rear aux plug? If not, the the wiring for it comes from the front anyway so may be as easy to pull the rear plug wiring back through the loom in the Center console and just reposition where you want it?2008 HSE Stornoway Grey
My Wife thinks the D3 is a hobby, The D3 thinks the wife is 💕
13th Dec 2023 11:34 am
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10365
Wiring will be bundled with power socket and heated seat switches I think.
You could also unplug the loom in the front left footwell.
13th Dec 2023 11:36 am
loanrangie
Member Since: 18 Jun 2017
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 600
I'm sure i read on here years ago that is you connected both ground wires when tapping into the aux plug at the back of the head unit that it fixes the low volume issue.
Never got try it out since going to an android head unit which made the aux plug superfluous.
14th Dec 2023 10:08 am
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10365
Interested to hear what you mean by both ground wires
14th Dec 2023 10:10 am
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13650
Personally I bought a pre made radio loom that had the added aux socket already incorporated which was just plug and play, carefully installed the 3.5mm aux into the centre dashboard
Hope that may also help
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Last edited by gstuart on 14th Dec 2023 12:08 pm. Edited 1 time in total
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