i don't frequent this forum too much.....spend too much time on my Jeep forums, but i thought i'd throw a little write-up on here about the install of a
BlitzSafe Ipod interface model - TOY/M-LINK. i purchased this from Best Buy for $99. i happened to have $55 in Reward Zone gift certificates so it made the purchase price equal to a FM Modulated device.
this unit is designed to plug into the factory radio and allow playing of an ipod through the stereo. with this unit, you still have to control the ipod using its controls, but at least the sound quality is great and it charges your ipod while it's connected.
the total install time was no more than 15 minutes from start to finish. i'm definitely not new to stereo installs, but this was my first time doing any sort of install in my wife's 2006 camry. many of you on this forum already know how to remove the dash and radio, etc. so i guess this is more for those that have never done it or are unsure about doing it.
the first step was to pry the climate control panel off.
believe it or not, for this i used a plastic spatula from the kitchen. i needed a flat, stiff plastic device to pop the panel out without damaging the panel itself, or the dash around it. basically, you just push it in the slot and pry up and out working your way around the panel. there is enough slack in the wiring to let the panel rest out of the way, that you don't need to unhook the controls.
the next step is to remove the two lower bolts on the radio bracket, and remove the dash bezel around the radio.
these bolts are 10mm and will come out in a snap. the radio bezel is attached at several places and is a little more tricky to get out, but just take your time and work around it pulling gently. you will need to unclip the harness that connects to the clock. there is not enough room or slack to rest the bezel on the upper dash while the cable is connected.
next step is to remove the remaining two 10mm bolts holding the radio in place.
from there, you can slide the whole radio and bracket out of its place.
connect the male-end 12pt harness into the back of the radio.
we do not have a factory cd changer so the female 12pt space was empty on the radio. when looking at the back of the radio, this space is the second from the left.
*if you have a cd changer, you would unplug the harness in this space and plug that into the BlitzSafe device in the female connector end, and then plug the male end on the BlitzSafe device into the space on the back of the radio.
connect the black cable with the Ipod connector to the BlitzSafe device.
this cable is of course included. i decided to run this cable into the glove box. my wife is a huge fan of the "stock" look when it comes to her cars, so i wasn't about to start drilling holes all over the place. although, i thought about drilling a hole and dropping it into the little cubby hole at the bottom center of the dash area. since there is the cover there, when it's closed, you wouldn't know it was there. in all honesty though, that would've been an unnecessary hole in the brand new car. i ran it into the glove box and left more than enough slack to move it around where the driver could easily hold on to it if needed. when not in use, simply retract the cable and Ipod into the glove box, close the door and it's completely hidden.
best thing would be to test the BlitzSafe device at this time.
connect your Ipod to the cable and turn the key to give some power for the radio. push the DISC button twice and it will display a mess of information as if it was trying to read a cd changer. this display will show the whole time you are listening to the Ipod. if everything works properly using the controls on the Ipod (as it should), you are ready to button everything back up.
find a space for the BlitzSafe device.
there is tons of space behind the radio inside the dash area to place the device. i placed mine below where the radio sits, behind the climate control panel. there is a nice space for it to rest there. at this point, the radio should be close to its normal mounting location.
put everything back in place.
simply reverse your steps in taking everything apart. it's much easier to pop panels back into place than it is to pull them off...hehe. put the radio back in its location and bolt it in place with the rear most two bolts. reconnect the harness for the clock, and pop the bezel back into place. replace the last two bolts on the radio bracket. finally, replace the climate control panel.
that's it! you're done. sit back and enjoy.
i found that regardless of the volume on the Ipod, all volume control will come from the headunit. so adjusting the volume on the Ipod will not turn it up or down through the stereo.
Linear Mode
