Thread: Cheap and Painless MP3 alternative

Purchased a Scosche FM-Mod02 from Amazon for $25.
Install was fairly straight forward.
Remove the ignition bezel.
Remove the face plate, carefully so as not to break/crack it. Do not pull all the way out until you unplug the DIC.
Unbolt and disconnect the radio. Remove the hvac controls( do not have to disconnect), and cubby.
Connect power wire to power wire on radio harness.
Connect ground to radio harness ground.
This next part takes some rigging..
You're supposed to connect the vehicle antenna to the female antenna from the Scosche harness, but the factory antenna harness is smaller than what they provide so I cut both male antennas and swapped (factory male antenna on scosche antenna and vice versa). This allows the Scosche antenna to fit into the factory radio*** Note- purchase an antenna adapter in stead of cuttingm( thanks to KeithGTP03 for the reminder)




I ran the Aux adapter by "drilling" a tiny hole in the bottom of the cubby at the bottom of the radio. Then I cut the mat just enough to pass the wires through. Once all is done, run the wires so that the radio will fit snugly and put back together.

http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/a.../FMMod/060.jpg



When it's all said and done, admire your work look , and collect your accolades from your girlfriend.
**I used scotch tape as I could not find any electrical tape, but it was just for initial mock-up. Once I got things the way I wanted, I did purchase some electrical tape.

** Also, before you close everything up, ensure you select the fm station on the side of the modulator and set you radio to that station, ensure it works as you would hate to put everything back together only to realize you didn't select the station.

** Results may vary.. ** Not responsible for any problems, issues, situations that may unlikely arise. Yadda yadda yadda..

Nice write up................But, FM modulated is terrible. If you want to go this route, I would suggest a $5 antenna adapter and not cut up your original antenna. But that's just me.

Thanks for the info. I didn't think of the antenna adapter but it isn't bad at all. No static whatsoever, either on the regular radio or when the mod is turned on.

Originally Posted by SlprGS

I didn't think of the antenna adapter but it isn't bad at all. No static whatsoever, either on the regular radio or when the mod is turned on.

You won't notice a difference in the normal radio signal, because it is your normal radio signal. But you will not get the CD/MP3/IPOD (digital) quality out of a FM modulator. You will get FM quality out of anything you connect to it. It will work, but it is no different than the old tape in the tape deck auxiliary. I don't mean to knock on you. You put together a great write up with good pics and a clean install...Im just sayin it's a digital world now.

I appreciate the constructive criticism. Points well taken. It was something simple for my girlfriend who really won't notice or care. As long as she has her tunes while driving she's not gonna complain about the mods on my vehicle.