Nissan Quest iPod Custom Integrated Installation
There are a number of steps to properly integrating the iPod into the Nissan Quest. I will break out these instructions into their distinct phases:
1. Creating the 1/8 inch phone jack patch cables.
2. Removing the console molding
3. Installing the auxiliary adapter and jacks
4. Plugging in the iPod
My reason for breaking these out is pretty simple: these are isolated tasks, and in particular you may find yourself only wanting to remove the console for any number of reasons. Makes sense to keep it separated. Also, general electronics work is pretty optionally, depending on how tight you want the job to look.
I have created a general disclaimer post for DIY jobs posted on this forum. Please make sure you’ve read it → click here. While I wouldn’t call this job super tough, I wouldn’t take it on if this is your first time modding a car. It took me about 2-3 hours to complete, not counting breaks and time spent taking pictures and notes. I definitely want to warn novices that you could really screw up your dash’s appearance if you fumble.
The two jacks I installed offer nice use cases. One in the drawer offers privacy, storing it out of view and harm's way. The side jack I took after our Honda Element, which has a 1/8 jack next to the DC outlet on the passenger dash. This worked out well for long trips with the family, as the passenger has easy access, and doesn’t consume the other port for charging phones, etc.
We use the Belkin Auto Kit for iPod, which has a handy line-out port and charges too (very important for my 3G lifeless battery).
Of course, there is nothing iPod-specifc about the AUX-in, you can use it for anything, DVD players, game systems, cassette players, shortwave radio, karaoke… yeah but mostly iPods.
upper guage display
Just curious if you have tackled the upper guage display. My '06 has a TPMS light that is staying on and the LED for the mileage is fading. Cost to get these parts is out the top for me. Was going to pull bulb on the light and "try" to fix the LED. Not sure if I can do somethng to the LED to get it back to normal "its partially fading out. Any suggestions?
ChemE
'04 Quest: Aux Jack Install
Of course the '04 model (and I don't think it had become really popular in any makes at that time) did not come with an AUX jack, and ALL of my wife's storage space in the van is being taken up by CD's everywhere!!! Its been like that for the past 6 years!! She has an Ipod, but of course with no AUX jack, and the horrible quality of FM transmitters, she has resorted to keeping her own personal Libray of Congress right in her car on CD's!!! LOL.
Anyways, I wanted to surprise her this Christmas with an AUX jack so she can jam to HER music. but of course I wnated it to be professional looking and use the SAT button on the radio to make it as factory-installed as possible.
Big shout out to QuestDriver for the tutorial/instructions given (http://questdriver.com/node/33). It was RIGHT ON THE MONEY!! After reading over it for about a week, I finally the the courage to take the plunge and give it a shot.
Of course, that tutorial was made in 2005, and the AAI-NIS (the electronic device that allows you to sync with your unused SAT button on your radio) had been discontinued for several years now. But in doing a quick search, and spending about an hour calling electronic stores all over the country, i was THRILLED to be able to find one left in stock at a store, that said it had been sitting there for years.
Nonetheless, my wife took rode with some girlfriends last night to catch a movie and dinner and left the van at home....which was plenty of time to handle the project. Ok, so 3 hours later, I finished up this project and it works WONDERFULLY!! I just wanted to sit in the car all night and listen to my ipod...lol.
I left the wires hidden behind the ash tray, so for the next few weeks she will still drive it completely unware that I did the install, and on Christmas day it'll probably take me about 30 minutes to get everything back into place and ready to present to her.
This will be the BEST Christmas gift my wife has ever gotten!!! LOL.
Thanx again for the detailed instructions. There were a couple of spots where the instructions seemed to skip over details and I was kind of "lost at sea" trying to figure it out on my own, but for the most part everything was spot on!
For those who are considering this and are not able to find the AAI-NIS any longer, my second choice was going to be this In-Line FM Transmitter (http://www.installer.com/item/display_item.php?it=FMM-100). it actually plugs DIRECTLY UP TO THE RADIO, so its not transmitting over the air, but rather right into your radio, so in theory it should be just as clear as a CD or an FM station. You shouldn't get any interference. You will still need to go through all of the steps in the installation instrucions of the AAI-NIS, except you are plugging up a different device.
Hope this helps someone else out and gives them the push to give it a shot!
Tj
Poor man's iPod connection
I plugged stereo RCA jacks with a 1/8" female plug on the other end into the DVD player. Set the radio to DVD and turn on the iPod. (It will also play your iPhone.)
yeah, that would be
yeah, that would be sweet....no dvd tho :-(
Doh!
LOL. Well...getting a DVD system installed would solve TWO problems, wouldn't it? ;)
Feedback requested
These articles concerning the iPod and adding aux jacks to the SAT port have been very popular this past week. I am curious to know if anyone has tried it themselves and any feedback they may have about the information provided here. I hope you found / find it useful! Thanks.
Patrick, Quest Driver Admin.