RCA Inputs...

[Raviaan]

Can someone direct me to the kit needed to install a set of RCA inputs for a 2001 Bonneville SSEi with the delco bose system... I just can't stand to listen to my zune over FM transmitter nemore... THANKS!

rayray

[Red Rocket]

I'm pretty sure there isn't any way to add on RCA inputs on the 00+ Bonnevilles. I know that a few members have tapped into the XM box if you have that.

[lewis26]

Yes sir that was I who did that. Do you have factory XM?

[Raviaan]

No I don't have factory xm... :( I really want a set of rca inputs.

[lewis26]

Hm, do you have the factory cd changer?

You can also add the pins into the harness. read this thread.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... t=ipac+oem

It would also be much easier to add a 1/8" headphone jack instead of RCA inputs because the 1/8" jacks already have a common audio pin and wire.

[Raviaan]

No... no factory cd changer either... just the tape and cd player in dash... will this work ok?

http://www.soundgate.com/index.php?requ ... referrer=1&

[lewis26]

I doubt it. i dont think the antenna on our cars has a place to insert that.

I would look at that thread i linked you to, and think about doing something like that.

hawkjet would be able to help you also. PM him a link to this thread.

It may seem like a lot of work, but modifying the wiring of the car will yield far better results then an in line fm modulator or tape adapter.

[Raviaan]

I am a pretty qualified mechanic, and wiring doesn't scare me at all, just haven't really had time to look into it...

[clm2112]

I'll add a ditto to that... instead of trying to fake out a signal on the antenna side of the radio, I'd be looking for using an aux input on the radio. Based on what I'm seeing in the FSM's, the radio looks like it has the aux inputs whether they are connected to the remote CD changer, XM, or nothing at all. On the radio connector shell, pins A9, A10, and A11 are the common, left chanel, and right chanel inputs on the radio. I'd try hooking into them and seeing if the radio will let you then select it as a source.

[Raviaan]

Yeah I was looking at that... it is almost like you could just straight wire a set of RCA's into that C215 connector as long as I contact GM and get a set of correct pins. But I am wondering... the serial date line... I think it needs that to know the CD changer is present, to allow for you to select it as a source.... is there a way to simulate that signal... what is the buss looking for? Also, which pins are what (A9 - 10 - 11)... which one is right/left/common...?

[pete25]

If you want something less intensive you could do what I do. I have a cassette adapter thing. Put into the cassette thing and plug the cord thing into the headphone jack on your music player and it plays through the cassette. It's not perfect(the cassette thing tends to click as it turns) but the quality is decent.

[lewis26]

If you look at the topic i linked you to, hawkjet identified which pins are which on that connector under the dash.
here is the link again
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... t=ipac+oem

Like i said though, I think the 1/8" jack would be a better idea because it already has the common audio built in. RCA connections usually do not.

Also, do not go the cassette route. I used that for all of two minutes before i realized the quality was unbearable.

[Raviaan]

Sorry I did read it, but I must have missed that part... you are right about the jack, that is the route I will go... but if I wire that right into the connector, will the radio allow me to select another source, without the use of the Data line being hooked up to something?

ray

[lewis26]

That's something i'm not completely sure about. I have a hunch that it will need the data line. To me it seems like the radio won't know anything is connected unless the data bus line is connected. I wonder if it could just be hooked up to a 12v power source or something. hmm, I really don't know.

I used the XM route, but I'm sure hawkjet would be able to help you out. I would PM him, and link him to this thread and see if he can help. He helped me tremendously when i first did my direct in.

Its a shame GM didnt put an easier way to add a direct in to our stereos, especially in the age of the ipod, and the G8 includes an aux input standard!

[Raviaan]

Ok I found my option. PAC makes a kit called the AUX-BOX, if I do the in dash upgrade to the c215 harness, and hook up this kit, it will give me the option to use the headphone jack style, or RCA inputs... and comes with a ton of connection harnesses for diff apps. Where can I get the CD changer harness though? GM?

[hawkjet]

Ok I found my option. PAC makes a kit called the AUX-BOX, if I do the in dash upgrade to the c215 harness, and hook up this kit, it will give me the option to use the headphone jack style, or RCA inputs... and comes with a ton of connection harnesses for diff apps. Where can I get the CD changer harness though? GM?

Ray,

You are correct that you can hook up the wires to C215 but the head unit will not select that source without the Class 2 Serial bus command. The PAC AUX-BOX is basically the same thing as what I installed (iPAC-OEM) with different labels and a different harness.

There IS NOT a CD changer harness available from GM. That is why I did what I did and why I documented it for others.

[Bugsi]

I think the 1/8" jack would be a better idea because it already has the common audio built in. RCA connections usually do not.

Are you seriously talking about the single common ground pin on a 3-pin phone jack -vs- separate signal and ground pins on a pair of RCA jacks? Ummm. . .connect the RCA grounds together.

[lewis26]

I find it simpler to have the wiring already existing instead of having to connect different wires and such. it is my opinion, and i also believe that a 1/8" jack is more ascetically pleasing then having a pair of RCA jacks on the dash. My 1/8" jack is hidden in the ashtray, and I like it like that.

If you would like to use RCA jacks, please go ahead.

[Bugsi]

I wasn't arguing against your preference. That's cool, I totally respect the preferences you just mentioned. I asked, because you implied that the phone jack was something that was either supported where RCA's were not, or that a phone jack was somehow otherwise superior to the RCA's, when electrically it makes no difference, so long as the connections connect. I thought maybe you knew about some incompatibility I was not aware of, and wasn't sure if you were just talking about the grounds, or something else. As it happens, *yes*, you were just talking about the signal ground.

Definitely a 1/8" phone jack is more elegant, and if one needed RCA jacks or plugs, there are simple adapters to go from phone jack or plug to a stereo RCA pair, available for a couple bucks at Radio Shack, etc. I understand now that you were just stating a preference, but it appeared as though you were saying RCAs were not compatible, and when I read it and re-read it, I just went "Huh???"

Again, no problem with your preferences. I just wanted to clarify what it was you were talking about, and whether we were giving advice based on knowledge of an incompatibility, or based on personal preferences. (My own aux input to my head unit is a cable that terminates in a 1/8" stereo phone plug, although I also have a dedicated iPod connection, no audio-only cable required.)
-Mark

[Raviaan]

hawkjet... do you know the p/n for the terminals I need for the c215 connector? And thanks again for all the help!