Hey guys, I FINALLY got around to installing that Dension this morning, this weeks been hell because of midterms. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to take any pics during the install because my camera battery was dead but the article on connections is already up by browncf, the article on center console removal and headunit is up by kman s, and there is an article on fuse taps by various members installing radar detectors.
Pics of the completed install are below.
I will give you as much info as possible so that you don't run into the surprises I ran into. First of all, those of you who want to install in your glove box, I just want to tell you that it's difficult, you will have to remove the glove box mount everything and the cables have to come in from the top\back of the glove box, or they will be pinched when it is closed. I had decided a while ago that I was going to do center console because I was going to have satellite radio and easy removal of the ipod is a must because it's the only way to get the Dension to get the aux-port playing.
Placement and Wire Running
To acomodate center console install the Dension has to be mounted behind the headunit because the cables aren't very long. I used some industrial "dual-lock" strips (like velcro, but use lots of little claw like connectors to grab each other). I ran the aux-box behind the headunit and mounted it so that I can get to the switch without having to remove anything, but you don't see the unsightly red\white wires from the satellite radio receiver... you'll see it in the pic below.
Getting everything powered
I used a fuse tap from the cd changer\bose amp\bose sub fuse, D10, for a permanent power connection to the Dension. I was also installing satellite radio, so I ran another power wire from the telephone control mod, B9, fuse (switches on\off with ignition).
Be very careful if you are installing satellite radio and want to hardwire, you can' t just take apart the cig-lighter plug and take wires from it as the connectors are 5vdc and have a transformer built into the plug to convert to 12vdc. You can either buy the hardwire kit (~$25-50), or you can buy a y-splitter for 12vdc plugs, and plug the sat radio into one of the ends and simply cut the wire on the splitter and hardwire that, costs 5 bucks and lets you use the transformer in the satellite radio plug. Both the Dension and the satellite receiver were grounded on the body ground next to the fuse panels. Wires were routed inside the dash with the other wires going to the headunit.
Antenna cable through to front cowl
The TOUGHEST part was getting the Sirius antenna cable through the firewall plug by the fuse box because the damn connector thing is so wide, holy crap! Apsinkus had warned me that it's fragile, so I made sure not to pull on the wire too much but destroyed one antenna anyways. Bought another micro-dot antenna, and used tons of tape and a wider hole and finally got it through after 7 tries yanking. Mounted the antenna under the carbon fiber cowl on the passengar side and it's picking up 2-3 bars around the city. You'll notice in the pics below that it has one bar, yet the pic was taken under the car port! Impressive!
Also, high remarks to the Sirius In-V receiver, it is cheap as heck (~$30 @ radio shack) and small enough that it fits flush into that little empty space under the PSM button trim. It's very easy getting all the wires into the cubby, if you slide out the rubber inside of it, there area already holes there. the buttons and screen light up the same orange as the buttons for PCM, Sport, Eco, etc.
Running wires from the back center console to the Dension
Ok, here's the good news, you don't have to take out the entire center console to get the wires into the back storage compartment. Follow Kman's article and take out the the shifter boot, black horseshoe shaped trim, ashtray, trim piece under hand brake, and bottom plate in the center console storage box. Then you can simply fish the usb and ipod cables with your hand through to back where the headunit is, run it along the wiring harness that's already there by the passenger seat. You do have to drill a hole in the bottom plate.
Fiber is fragile
Follow the instructions in the install manual to make the fiber connections, it's very straight forward. The fiber and connectors are very fragile! I broke the male connector that goes into the back of the headunit, as the instructions remove the blue clip and pull apart on the tabs that hold the fiber wires in, well the factory connector didn't have any tabs and the wires weren't coming out! I tried to play with the plastic inside the connector and it just snapped out, as did the cables. No wonder Dension gives you two extra male connectors, lol.
Ok... pictures:
These are the ipod and usb cables coming out of the center console. I won't be using USB but ran it there just in case a friend brings a memory stick with songs on it or I need to update the firmware on the Dension.
There is the aux-box with bypass switch. If you look head on, you only see the switch, no wires.
here is the center console and playing sat radio
Another pic from the back, I love how the In-V looks in there. It will stop me from putting loose change in there because it ends up going in the center console.
On a final note... I hate pine tree pollen. When I saw my car this morning I thought someone had replaced it with a speed yellow one. I washed it, and it's already starting to get covered.
- Suneet
You should submit this to the Articles section, simply click the EDIT button here to edit your post and copy everything. Then go to the Article section and in the electronics sub category click the link to Submit/Upload and Article and then paste everything in, upload a main picture and submit and you are done!
ok, will do. I just wasn't sure that it was article worthy because it's not very step by step. But, I will add more pictures to it when I get a chance to take out the h\u.
Since I saw no mention of programming, does this mean that you did not need to program the "computer" to think that you had a CD changer in order to get the Dension working?
Yes, no programming was required. As I've assertained only cdr-23 (and -24 when support comes) need programming, PCM's should pick up cd changers automatically. At first when I installed, it wasn't showing the Dension but then I noticed the switch was set to bypass
- Suneet
Looks fantastic Suneet! I've got my Dension in hand, but am (im)patiently awaiting the arrival of my CS. I'm not nearly adventurous enought to attempt this installation myself so I will use a local high end car audio shop. I will surely provide them with your notes and pix since it may help them. I also would like the iPOD and USB cable in the center console as you have done.
When you say the Dension box is behind the headunit, do you mean physically installed behind the PCM?
One other question: what firmware revision are you using, 1.0 or 1.04? 1.04 has just become available, but some folks at ******** have reported that after upgrading from 1.0 to 1.04 they can no longer access the configuration menu.
Midnight, when you take the headunit out, there is a metal bracket back there that is about an 1.75 inches behind the part that curves up to accomodate the headunit. I mounted the Dension to the bracket and then put the headunit in, theres enough room for the Dension, the wires and the headunit.
I've been following the thread on ******** too, and I'm still using 1.0. I will upgrade when a revision with good reviews comes through, so far I've had no issues with the ipod interface or the aux port.
I do have some humming on the satellite radio, but that's a common issue with sirius receivers (over 20 people on crutchfield have reported it), and the fix for it is to ditch the included a\v cable and use heavily insulated ones, or to use a ground loop noise isolator.
- Suneet
I just realized there is a crude step by step on glove box removal in K-man S's latch system install article, this will help those who opt to do a glove box install.
http://www.planet-9.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=15&cat=6
suneet
looks good...so does your dension scroll backwards?!? do you have at least 50 or so artist names (songs, etc) and can you scroll back from #50 back to #1 using the PCM with the iPod plugged in?? thanks...
ps: how quick is it scrolling forwards? any delays?
At the top of the list there is a previous list selection that takes you back to the last list, at the bottom there is a next list. No repeat issues though once I did get stuck on the loading screen, could still play songs fine but wouldn't show the track list. Fixed with removal and re-docking of the ipod. No real delays, seems to work pretty well going through songs.
- Suneet
to clarify...
it sounds like you are saying for a long list, the unit divides it into several shorter lists/pages and that within any 'middle' page there is an option to return to the previous page or go onto the next? thanks.
Dave,
My library gets divided into 9 pages. On Page 1, I have the option to go to previous page, page 9, at page 9 I can go back to page 8 or on forward to page 1. My playlists are not very long so all of them are only one page.
Loading of pages takes no more than 3 seconds.
- Suneet
thanks...
my navtv is getting upgraded tomorrow but cannot go backwards at all...i'll have to see if the upgrade fixes that otherwise i may need to consider the dension more carefully since i have about 20 gigs of tuens...enjoy.
http://www.planet-9.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=103
dave, I have about 20-30gb of tunes as well and paging is pretty quick, especially in playlists. Yes you can go forward or backwards or search, etc.
