iPod Install In 2001 Miata With Bose Radio

MAY 4, 2011 UPDATE: This installation page is now out of date. Dension has released a newer model of their iPod Cradle that supports +5-volt charging. That makes it compatible with the newer iPhones and iPods. I have created a new page at my blog that details the installation of this newer Dension iPod Cradle. •••••••••• CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE INSTALL PAGE FOR THE NEWEST DENSION IPOD CRADLE •••••••••• This web page is an update to THIS PAGE I posted back in 2004. The information on this site is provided on a USE AT YOUR OWN RISK basis. Readers are advised to be comfortable with their electirical and soldering skill before tackling this project. I can not be held responsible if you melt your radio or set your Miata on fire. The risk is entirely your own. This site is intended to document the installation of an iPod with Dension Cradle into my 2001 Mazda Miata with factory Bose Radio. This modification should be compatible with the following Mazda Miata models : * 1999-2000 Miatas with Single-DIN non-Bose factory radio * 1999-2001 Miatas with Single-DIN Bose factory radio. Summary: The above Miata models have a 16-pin connector located on the rear of the factory radio. This connector is normally used to add the cassette player option to the car. Present on the 16-pin connector are direct (Line-In) inputs for Audio Right, Audio Left and Audio Ground. The 16-pin connector also has a pin that, when +12v is applied to it (through a 1K ohm resistor), switches off the AM/FM circuitry and switches on the "Line-In" circuitry. This allows the direct connection of external audio devices, such as the iPod or other MP3 players. Wiring harness description: Pin 1 of 16-pin connector (Audio Right) goes to Pin 1 of 8-pin DIN Pin 2 of 16-pin connector (Audio Ground) goes to Pin 2 of 8-pin DIN Pin 3 of 16-pin connector (Audio Left) goes to Pin 3 of 8-pin DIN Pin 6 of 16-pin connector (Line-In Trigger) goes to SPST Switch Pin 9 of 16-pin connector (+12v) passes through a FUSE and 1K Ohm resistor and goes to SPST Switch Pin 4 of 8-pin DIN (+12v) goes to switched +12v source in vehicle (cigar fuse via Add-A-Circuit Adapter) Pin 6 of 8-pin DIN (ground) goes to vehicle ground Parts needed for this project are: * Two Molex .100 KK Housing & Terminal 8-Circuit connectors (Molex part #WMLX-104) * One Dension iPod Cradle * One PanaVise Dash Bracket * One 8-Pin MiniDIN Female connector * One In-Line Fuse holder with fuse rated at 1A or less * One Add-A-Circuit Mini Fuse Adapter (available at Pep Boys and Autozone stores) * One Single Pole/Single Throw (SPST) rocker switch * One 1K Ohm Resistor * 3M Double-Sided Foam Tape * Female spade connectors to fit the male spade lugs on the switch * Male & female bullet connectors for power connections * And, of course, an iPod or other audio device It should be noted that the one of the most important updates to this page (versus the page I posted 3 years ago) is the inclusion of an in-line fuse in the +12v connection off of the 16-pin connector. While this page deals specifically with the installation of an iPod via a Dension iPod Cradle, the information provided should be enough to allow you to adapt the installation for other types of iPod connector cables or cradles. If you have any questions, please refer to THIS THREAD on Miata.net Forum. This site was created in February 2007