redneck iPod in-car connection

Pcking - Can you give me a link to the CD changer input that you're talking about?

I'm trying to avoid using the mini-plug/headphone jack output and instead use the 30-pin dock connector.

So far my redneck solution would be a 30-pin to RCA cable into a RCA to mini-plug adapter into a double female mini-plug adapter into the mini-plug to tape adapter. I doubt the sound difference would be worth all of the cables and adapters sitting in the truck. Maybe I wouldn't hear any difference at all.

Almost as much as the potential for better quality, I hate having the volume on the iPod in the loop.

I did actually stop by Car Toys a few months ago and because of the way the factory system is installed they basically told me to upgrade the speakers or nothing at all. The stereo is so integrated that they would basically have to rewire the entire truck for any changes.

Kbarkamian - I have the premium JBL head unit. Car Toys told me that it was too integrated into the rest of the electronics to replace without rewiring the entire truck. For the money I was willing to spend they suggested either just upgrading the speakers or leaving things alone. I tend to trust people that essentially tell me to keep my money.

This morning I had an iPod integration unit installed in my 2004 Toyota Sequoia with the premium JBL sound system. The mobil tech came to the house and attempted to install a unit that would allow some iPod control through the head unit, but he couldn't get it to work. It appears that even though the head unit has a plug for an auxiliary CD changer there isn't any switch mechanism built in to any of the button to activate it. I've heard that this head unit is a difficult mess and I'm wondering if it's one of those features that Toyota has built in for manufacturing purposes that isn't actually functional on my head unit.

In the end, he installed a unit that connects into the FM antenna and seems to sound just fine. Since it's hard wired it shouldn't have the same types of interference issues that the cheap-o ones do. The final bill was $120 and now we have a much cleaner connection compared to the tape adapter and the iPod gets charged when connected.