I had been meaning to post K9spud’s VWCDPIC audio interface adapter ever since our first auxiliary input hack… and today I finally remembered to. It really is one of the best out there. Normally the the Volkswagen OEM head unit has the CD changer channels muted unless you’ve got a factory changer. The VWCDPIC interfaces with the already present CD changer plug and fools the head unit to connect any audio device you want. It also provides remote control of your audio device using the head units buttons. It’s very clever and can work with any audio device.
Exactly what I’ve been looking for. Once again hackaday reads my mind and saves me a few quid. What’s more, it’s compatible with my Seat Ibiza’s radio. Excellent!
If you go to the vwcdpic development page, there is a link at the bottom that says “cd changer controls.” That link goes to this page: http://www.mictronics.de/?page=cdc_proto
Which contains information on the CD changer protocols for may other types of head units. Could be really useful for building things like this for other makes of cars.
Awsome, now i just need to interface my Rockford Fosgate in my Honda, then I don’t need to get a tape deck for my Mini-Disk Player. Awsome stuff man, great hack.
So would you just build the same circuit but alter the code for a different head unit?
The circuit may be different for other car makes. It all depends on what type of signals the CD changer generates. I was interested in Ford changer specs because I have an Explorer. The Ford spec is at the end of that page I posted. There is also a link at the end to the SAE spec for Ford’s control protocol. In there they show an example interface circuit to a microcontroller. Ford’s appears to be based on the RS-485 electrical spec. Other makes of radios may be completely different.
I’d be more than interested to know how to do this for a Toyota …
Yes this page http://www.mictronics.de/?page=cdc_proto has different protocols, but unfortunately far from not for all cars.
If you have a renault or dacia take a look at this project: http://tlcdcemu.sourceforge.net/
There are already many aftermarket products that do this. I had one installed over a year ago that brings the input jack to the front seat. The Belkin adapter for the iPod keeps it charged and increases the volume to work with the stereo.
I bought this for my 2003 Vdub Wolfsburg Jetta that has a factory CD changer in the trunk and took the RCA to stereo jack to my satellite radio with no luck. Can’t seem to switch it to “Auxilliary Input” to recognize my satellite radio…. :( now I’m fresh outta ideas after disconnecting/reconnecting my battery.
Any idea how to work the Factory installed changer with an aftermarket head unit?? I’d like to continue to use my original changer but my head unit is going bad.
The original K9Spud site appears to be gone – shame since I have only just bought an Audi and just decided to get involved. Good news though!! Somebody appears to have archived the site along with many of the files and documents at http://www.dashwerks.com/misc.orig/websites/www.k9spud.com/vwcdpic/devel/archive.php
I may even dedicate a bit of my webspace to do the same. Watch this space.
Where can I get the content of this site? Links are no longer working