Installed an iPod connecter in my Ford Fiesta. Power & Audio but no control....??

peanutismint · 5 Jan 2014 at 00:40

So I bought one of these iPod cable adapter kits from Connects 2. It's one of these cables that allows you to trick your radio into thinking that your iPod is actually the CD changer, so it streams audio through the head unit whilst also supplying power to charge your iPod and letting you send commands to skip next/previous track, shuffle and repeat, and also select playlists all from the buttons on your standard Ford radio (a 6000CD in my case).

Unfortunately, after installing it I am only getting audio passed through/power supplied to my iPod. I've tried several models of iPod, iPhone etc and none of them can be controlled from the radio head unit as promised on the website.

The guys at Connects 2 reckon it's because my Fiesta already has the Aux input port for connecting MP3 players etc, but I can't see how that would stop the CD changer from sending commands to the iPod....

I've seen it working fine with the head unit buttons controlling the iPod in videos of the same 6000CD head unit online, so I know that it is possible. I also know that certain models of Fiesta were released with the ability to have the Aux port added but not actually activated, so I'm wondering if there's a way to disable the Aux feature and if that would allow me to use the head unit buttons as promised.

Anybody know anything about this stuff or know anybody who might??

MatteH Oxford · 5 Jan 2014 at 05:31

I thought the Aux port was just a cable that plugged in to the back of the head unit & hence can be unplugged?

rodenal · 5 Jan 2014 at 08:43

I can't see how the aux port has anything to do with it, especially seeing as your issue is to so with controlling the ipod ( which you can't do through the audio in- only aux) but, as above you should be able to simply unplug the connector I would have thought

Mucky_Pup · 5 Jan 2014 at 10:24

I've got a similar product in my focus, my iPhone or iPod doesn't work on it, don't think it was advertised that it would though, so I just use a USB stick with folders of music on, the steering controls work for that. Have you tried plugging in a USB stick with some folders and tracks on as a test?

peanutismint · 5 Jan 2014 at 12:29

MatteH Oxford said:
I thought the Aux port was just a cable that plugged in to the back of the head unit & hence can be unplugged?

Yes, I believe it is, located somewhere behind the glovebox (and in my car's case it trails down to a 3.5mm jack socket beside the gear stick).

rodenal said:
I can't see how the aux port has anything to do with it, especially seeing as your issue is to so with controlling the ipod ( which you can't do through the audio in- only aux) but, as above you should be able to simply unplug the connector I would have thought

I agree, unplugging the aux port would probably just stop me from using that other aux socket. Worth a try though - I'm scratching my head at this point!

Mucky_Pup said:
I've got a similar product in my focus, my iPhone or iPod doesn't work on it, don't think it was advertised that it would though, so I just use a USB stick with folders of music on, the steering controls work for that. Have you tried plugging in a USB stick with some folders and tracks on as a test?

The problem is, this device ends in a standard 30-pin iPod dock connector, rather than a USB port. I've seen USB varieties, and I might give one of those a try, but I reckon there's just as much chance of that not working either, as it seems the problem lies elsewhere (with my radio perhaps??). Also, an 80GB iPod with days and days of music vs an 8GB USB stick of MP3s.....!! I know which I'd prefer. Unless it has enough power to plug in a 2.5" USB HDD? But then I'd be worrying about leaving that plugged in in the glovebox in case it drained my battery or other such dangers....!!